NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18889, 3 January 1927, Page 10

NEW YEAR'S DAY.

EXCURSIONS AND SPORTS. GREAT EXODUS FROM CITY. Boxing Day weather has nearly always been suspect in advance, and often the worst fears have been realised. Not so with New Years Day. It often presages the hot and dependable weather beloved of the surfer, which usually comes in January, and sometimes lasts almost without a break until March. The uncertainty of weather is proverbial, however, and last year a cold sou'-wester, veering to an easterly, followed the downpour of New Year's Eve. The obsequies of 1926 took place in conditions which gave a far better promise, and the natal day of 1927 rejoiced tlie heart of the holidaymakers and the numerous executives, which had concentrated efforts on catering for the people's enjoyment. Its warm sunshine and almost total absence of wind portended a harvest of receipts for all thp organisations controlling transport. The haze increased in the afternoon, and the sky darkened, effectively obscuring the sun. What wind there was dropped, also the temperature, but the conditions remained "muggy," and a shower of rain fell midway through the afternoon. After midday the streets of the City took on an appearance of desertion more pronounced than at any time on Sundays. Numerous Attractions. Seldom has there been a fuller programme for the holiday, the postponement to Saturday of several events which wcr© to have bfi€n hold on Boxing Day making the day's programme {supporters of the_ light harness sport gave the Addington Trotting Ground a very animated and colourful appearance. Races were also held at Wiiiflu It was a good day for bowling and tennis, in the former game, club tournaments being held, while the United Tennis Club got through a good programme. On a batsmen's wicket at Lancaster Park, Wellington treated Canterbury much the same as they did Otago, and the local side found leather-hunting a strenuous pastime. "We had a particularly good day, was the response of Mr Frank Thompson, to an enquiry by a reporter. Praoticallv all the trams to the seaside were well-filled, he said, and the Board s buses did excellent business. Six were used to convey people to South Brighton, but the number was insufficient In the middle of the afternoon three were taken off to run cbservation trips. The remainder were unable to cope with a rush of people, which set in when the shower, about 3 p.m., caused apprehension regarding tnG weather. One of the buses purchased recently by the Board gave a great deal of tron'' • tiring the day. Mr Thompson remarked that he anticipated another substantial addition to the Board's revenue today. 5000 Travelled by Rail. In addition to the express passengers there was an exodus of about _ 5000 people from the City by rail in the morning. Nearly .1500 people travelled _to Arthur's Pass in _ two special trains, each with two engines and 15 carriages. The exact number was 724 by the first, and 750 by the . second. Mr H. C. Guinness, chief clerk in the District Traffic Manager's office, was in charge of the excursion, and Mr P. A. Taylor pointed out to the people traversing the Gorge on foot the waterfalls and other attractions, which made this walk so interesting. Beautiful weather was experienced, both at the Pass ana Otira. It was evident from the excellent support which tlie Department is receiving in running the Otira excursions, . that a large proportion of the people are making more than ono visit to this holiday resort. . Up to midday there was a great rush of traffic, and no fewer than iUUU people took out tickets to Lyttelton. Bv the 8.50 a.m. express 530 people left for the south, and the West Coast express took 340. . , Ninety people were on the special train for Amberley, where sptfrts were held, and the Ohoka sports drew _ a patronage of 100 people for the special leaving Kaiapoi at 10.10 a.m. Pbpular Picnic Ground. Evidently Stewart's Gully is a popular picnicking place, as the bookings for Kaiapoi. on the excursion taking passengers tnere numbered 150. Forty Christchurch people travelled oy rail to Dunsandel, where the attraction was athletic sports, and 60 to Timaru. In addition to the attractions already mentioned, a regatta was held at Akaroa, galas at Waikuku and Rairaki, and sports at Timaru and Springstou South. A good number of motor-cars were offering for the special train run from Greymouth to Springfield for the convenience of motorists. Postponed from December 27th, the annual picnic of the Christchurch postmen was held on Saturday at Leeston, the Department arranging for the carriage of 350 people ,on the passenger train for Southbridge. At night liberal patronaige was accorded all the theatres in the City. Special trains will run to Lyttelton to-day to cater for the heavy traffic expected oil the line. In connexion with the sports a special train will run to and from Motukarara. Carriages will be attached for the annual • picnic of the employees of the Sanitarium Health Food Company.

To-day's Excursions. Two special trains have been arranged for to-day's excursion of the Rangiora Friendly Societies to Otira. Another special, with ten carriages, will take those attending the excursion of the Kaiapoi Working Men's Club to Oxford. Excellent patronage is certain for tho special excursion train for Timaru, leaving Christchurch at 7.45 o'clock this morning. Twelve passenger carriages will be provided. On Friday the passenger traffio to Lyttelton was poor, only about 500 people travelling on tho morning trains. By the 8.50 a.m. express 460 left for the south, and the West Coast express carried 216 passengers. About 500 people travelled up from Lyttelton by the morning ferry train. Fair traffic was reported on the Parnassus, and Waiau lines. Friday's fine weather induced a very large number of people to visit Sumner and New Brighton, and the trams in these lines were well filled. Saturday's ferry steamer from Wellington brought 480 people.