NEW YEAR HOLIDAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 1, 2 January 1943, Page 4

NEW YEAR HOLIDAY

transport fully taxed race trains and river trips | on^ in ® weather, with bright sunshine ■ and an absence ot the strong winds ■ an?? r L e, l£ ed ln th ? Wan K an ul district ■ during the past few weeks, enabled ■ many people to spend New Year's Day ■ out of doors. I Picnics, race meetings, and up-river ■excursions were so popular that ■transport facilities were severely ■taxed. From nine o'clock In the mornling onward trams left the city for ■ Castlecllfi beach at Intervals ot 20 ■ minutes, the majority of cars being ■ fully loaded. I "we'’have used every available car ■ In the district and there Is not a spare ■ wheel to be haft anywhere,” said a ■ railway official, when explaining that ■ race specials to Marton and Stratford ■ were so popular that more people ■ were offering than there were seats ■ available. I A race train leaving Wanganui at 1110.5 a m., behind schedule, had nine I cars and 410 passengers. Approxillmately 100 people joined the train at lAramoho and when the special reachled Marton it had 645 passengers ■ The first day of the Marton Jockey ■ Club's spring meeting proved such a'- ■ popular attraction that no fewer thani ■ four special trains arrived at Marton! I before mid-dav. Two were from Palm-1 ■ erston North and in addition to the! ■ Wanganui special another was run! ■ from Talhape. In all, 3100 people! ■ travelled to the Marton races by rail.l I The Stratford Racing Club’s New! ■ Year carnival, the first day of which! I was held yesterday, also necessitated! I special trains. They were run from! IWanganui. Qpunake and Taumaru-’

nui, the total number of passengers exceeding 2200. The Wanganui special left at 7.13 a.m. and many passengers joined at intermediate stations.

The excursion arranged by the Wanganui River Services, Ltd., to Hipango Park, was so well patronised that after every available boat had been loaded to the regulation limit many intending passengers were unable to be accommodated. First to leave Hatrick’s Wharf was the naddle-steamer Waimarie, followed by the motor-vessel Wakapai and a launch.

Further special race trains to Marton and Stratford, also additional tram services to Castlecliff and upriver excursions, have been arranged for to-day.