HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19455, 20 December 1934, Page 7

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

BY ROAD AND RAIL.

DEMAND FROM THE PUBLIC. BUSY SEASON EXPECTED. Although It is not until the end of this week that the holiday season commences in earnest, there is already a brisk enquiry for seats on transport services and the indications are that on rail and road the travelling public will, in numbers at least, equal the •preceding few years. Already on some routes brisk business is-being hone, hut when the primary school vacations commence in the course of the next few days it is expected to increase a hundred-fold.

To cope with the extra volume of traffic on the Main Trunk line, the 'daylight limited express commenced to run The service will continue during the holiday season, the southbound train passing through Frankton at 10.24 a.m. and the express' fqr Auckland leaving t'he junction at 8.37 pan. 'Railway officials consider the holiday traffic experienced up to the present to be well up to the usual level, the Rotorua and Taneatua expresses being particularly well pat-' ronised. The amount of road traffic in the Dominion is predicted by. transport authorities to exceed all the totals of previous years. Mr W. G. Hopkins, the Waikato Area Officer of the Automobile Association, said this morning that there had been an unprecedented demand for route maps and other impedimenta of the tourist, and it is expected that all roads will he carrying a full load of traffic. Condition of Roads. A somewhat remarkable feature is the large number of Waikato motorists who intend t’o visit the South Island, while more tourists than ever will And their Mecca at one of the many Bay of Plenty beaches. Tauranga and Waihi are likely to be widely patronised, and the Ohope Beach, which has only come into prominence in recent years, attracts ever-increasing ■support. All roads in the Bay of Plenty area are reported to be in good 'condition.

A number of motorists are planning •to travel from .'Opotiki to Gisborne via Cape Runaway, but, although the road is open, it is not to be recommended on account 'of several dangerous sections and unbridged streams, difficult to negotiate, which call for the greatest skill from even the most experienced- drivers. At present, on account of the' surfacing work proceeding on the Great South Road between Bombay and Rarnarama, a.detour is in use, but the main route will be thrown open to ‘traffic between December 22 and January 3. In the event of wet weather there are several clay sections of the newly-formed road which may give trouble to motorists. . The typical New *Zealand bush scenery attracts a good proportion of tourists to Waikaremoana. '■ The road through this beautiful virgin' country, opened several years ago, is in good order and it Is anticipated that there will be-a good number of motorists

making use of 'the road. Through Taupo fo Napier is another exhilarating trip, and, with the summer at Napier a tempting inducement, it woul'd appeal- that a good percentage of Waikato residents will undertake the journey. Charm of Rotorua. Rotorua continues to radiate an irresistible charm, and a very large proportion of local motorists, as well as many from further afield, will spend at least a few days In the Thermal district. Accommodation is briskly demanded and a number of the private hotels in the town are unable to comply with additional applications for rooms. Taranaki roads, which are in the main tar-sealed, offer no trouble to the motorist, with the result that t'he journey to Wellington Is regarded as a mere commonplace by experienced drivers. There is usually a good number of holiday-makers who look upon North Auckland as an ideal spot for a vacation and although It is understood that the main roads have now been repaired . after the damage caused by recent flooding, there is still some doubt as to whether all routes are passable. During the holiday period the Automobile Association will have no fewer than 28 patrols stationed in proportionate .divisions of the Auckland province, and these, together with the additional services rendered by the association, will eliminate much needless worry and Inconvenience on t'he part of tourists.'