HOLYDAY EXODUS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 4

HOLYDAY EXODUS

BEACHES CROWDED

IMPROVED WEATHER

CITY DESERTED

Summer heat and sunshine made a belated arrival in Wellington for the New Year weekend and a l&rge section of the public took advantage of the improved conditions to spend the holidays out of doors. Beaches and picnic grounds iii all parts of the province were crowded, and the train and bus services were heavily taxed. The deserted appearance of the.,city streets since midday on Saturday indicates the extent to which Wellington residents have patronised the various holiday resorts. Sunday was the first of the holidays to be really calm and sunny, and the result was a tremendous exodus of city residents. The Day's Bay and Eastbourne beaches were very popular, and the ferry steamers and buses were fully occupied. Hundreds, of motor-cars travelled over all routes from the city all day and every bathing beach, was < thickly populated. Many pleasure craft were out on the harbour and the light winds made conditions favourable for sailing. The usual two passenger trains to Palmerston North carried more than 1000 people. ; ATTRACTIONS IS CITY. Visitors to '.Wellington and others who remained in town during the weekend were provided with entertain--1 ment according to their tastes. Repret sentative. cricket matches at the Basin ' Reserve and Woburn Road Recreation Ground attracted large attendances, and the Wellington Bowling Centre's New Year pairs tournament made city and suburban greens rendezvous for followers, of that. sport. Improved v weather also iavourabfy affected atl tendances at the Evans Bay carnival, all sessions pf which were crowded. ■ On Saturday evening and last night theatres 'were crowded, > and dances were popular.. The Zoo'and the. Art Gallery and Museum were well patronised during the weekend. There were more than 500 visitors to the. Zoo yesterday. No ( record is kept of the actual number of visitors to the Museum and Art Galv lery, but officials state that there have.been very large,crowds there all through the holidays. Wellinjgton racegoers attended the races at Tauherenikau on Saturday and yesterday in very large numbers. The ' main highway carried a record number of motor vehicles, both public and private, and special race trains were well patronised. Over 600 people travelled by the two special trains from Wellington yesterday. The meeting f was fayoured by good weather.

PICTON EXCURSION. Approximately 2300 people were on 1 board the Rangatira when she sailed \ on an; excursion trip to'Picton yesterv day. V Band >music was provided, and *■' the ship was gaily dressed with bunfr ing. ; ,The weather was good and the trippers, made good use of the fqur ; hours iat their' disposal in Picton. The , main attraction there wan the Marlborough Rowing (Regatta; in which ' ' crews from Wellington clubs competed; Launch ■ in ; .Queen Chai;lot% ' s "' Sound were also popular and many > visitors* travelled to Blenheim, and i-„ back on the special train arranged to -* fit in with. the Rangatira's schedule. h .The ship' ieaciied.Wellington again *• , shortly after &30 pan.