The Sea Beach Excursion.

Manawatu Herald, 8 December 1898, Page 2

The Sea Beach Excursion.

■ » Yesterday the first of, what we trust will be regular excursions to the sea beach took place. The train left Palmerston with about 150 passengers and only took in a few more at Jackeytown. Punctual to time, about twenty minutes to three o'clock the train arrived at Foxton. The passengers generally hastened to the wharf and boarded the p.s. Nile and the s.s. Flower of Kent. The boats got away by three o'clock, the Nile with oyer 100 on board, and the Flower of Kent with about 30. A pleasant trip down the river was experienced, and as the s.s. Queen of the South was also steaming down the river, the excursionists had a good, view of her crosssing the bar. The passengers by the Nile did not land, though they were offered the chance, but as the time for disembarking and embarking would have occupied 40 minutes in all, they preferred to remain in the comfortable position on board. The Kent's passengers did land. Both boats steamed well up the river and reached there at six o'clock when the passengers sought refreshments which their sniff of the briny made them feel the need of. All expressed themselves as having thoroughly enjoyed their outing and would look forward to the next excursion. There was one thing that struck us most markedly yesterday and that was the want of preparedness shown by our business people to cater for the excursionists and the lack of attempt to provide any amusements. We do hope that now the reality of our inland friends appreciating the opportunities for a pleasant trip as offered by railway and steamers, will bear fruit and wake up the residents to do all they can to further popularise these excursions.