HOLIDAY RUSH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17231, 24 December 1923, Page 8

HOLIDAY RUSH.

EXODUS FROM CITY. TRAFFIC VERY HEAVY. Th© exodus from the city at Christmas has never been greater than this Yutefcrde. The rush had set in early and as the days have passed it has grown in intensity. To-day four expresses have already left for the south, while another is to follow at 9.25 p.m., arriving in Dunedin in time for the weary passengers to breakfast, although several of the refreshment stations en Tout* 1 will have cups of tea and large sandwiches waiting when the express roars into the station in tho early hours of Christmas morning. “Tb* traffic is easily equal to—if •not greater—than last year’s, ” was the description offered by a railway official to-duy. Such times as Christmas are arduous hours for the railway officials. From tho minute they arrive on duty they are working like Trojans. The. booking staff are having an exceedingly busy time, while their cramped offices do not offer the best facilities for speeding up bookings. From early hours in tho morning till closing time, queues of intending travellers wait to get their seats booked. And hundreds upon hundreds take advantage of the convenience of tho telephone to reserve their •eats.

In addition to the heavy traffic on the main lines, greatly increased numbers of people are travelling on the branch lines. It is significant that the wonders of the scenic places of the South Island have been so well advertised by the Government and the Press that countless holiday-makers are spending the festive season in their own island. Hnndredß are going to the Cold Lakes, to the glorious Milford Sound, to the icefields, and to picturesque Stewart Island, while the attractions of the West Coast have acted as a magnet to numbers of tourists. The Hokitika Exhibition, too, will ho greatly pationised. There were twelve cars on the 8 o’clock express for the south to-day. The 8.55 a.m. train carried about 320 passengers and there were 250 passengers on the 11.50 a.m. express. Over 320 journeyed south at 12.20 p.m. The heavy traffic to the Coast is being maintained, as approximately 320 were aboard the express. HUNDREDS OF CAMPERS. The out-oi-doors life is exerting a wonuerful appeal this year, ine sunny weatner ot cue past wee as has opened the door to tne lovers of tho open air and the camp life, in the coming holidays canvas towns will spring up at the beaches, in the country and at

every pleasant and secluded nook in the province. Camp fires, happy even ings spent before tho blaze, tramps in the midst of nature, or perhaps surf bathing—nothing could be more exhilarating for the young girls and boys and the virile adults than the life in the open air. That has been realised this year, with the result that the

number of that in any previous records. People who were unable to obtain board and residence have hired or bought tents. The charges for hire are so reasonable that

they are easily within the means of most people. The charges range from 5s a week for a 6 x 8 tent complete. The price of a new tent is only 555. * One firm of tentmakers in Christchurch has 400 camping tents out on hire. All the tents have been booked up since six weeks ago, and the staff has been

working early and late to meet the de mand. The demand is the greatest ever experienced. The number of girls who are camping this vear is remarkable. Parties of girls have hired tents, marquees being the favourite accommodation. Boys and young men. too, are in more force as campers. Many families are taking bell tents with them, while some who have houses have hired tents to be used as dining-rooms. The Peninsula bays are the most

popular camping sites, but many tents will be pitched at the beaches, at Stewart’s Gully and on the West CJoast. •If all the intending Isaac Waltons

are successful there will be few fish regaining iii the coastal waters and livers when the holidays are over. All manner of fishing requisites are selling in record proportions. One angler who purchased 5s worth of line and hooks at a city shop was carrying three pounds of meat for bait to last for a week! The number of nets which have been bought by young men give evidence that trawling on the beaches and the rivers will be popular over the •New Year. » A lorry or cart loaded with matpresses, bedding, tents and poles, and boxes of all sizes, with the owner, or one of the owners, perched shore the gad. is a familiar site on tho roads ■ending to the beaches. On Papanui Hoad this morninz a number of hovs were aboard a lorry bound for Kai»fci and loaded with crieketinc. sports STKI oampmg paraphernalia. Tliev were bappy. "Many people travelling Traffic between the North aud South pianos has been very heavy over the •week-end. On Saturday two ferrv creamers, the Wahino and the Mararoa\ arrived from the north, bringing 1270 passengers, both vessels being little short of a complement. Yesterday morning the Maori brought over TOO passengers. About 1200 passengers left •Lyttelton for Wellington on Saturday night by the Wahine and Mararoa