DESERTED TIMARU.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 335, 16 January 1937, Page 7

DESERTED TIMARU.

I RESULT OF EPIDEMIC

' No Visitors To Beauty-spots Of Town. When Oliver Goldsmith immortal- | ised “sweet Auburn, loveliest village ■ of the plain,” his poem was inspired I by a sight similar to that whiteh I Timaru presented on Sunday last. I Timaru, loveliest “village” of the ' Canterbury Plains, was deserted. I Gone were the usual Sunday crowds; I a mere handful of peopls enjoyed I the bright sunshine on Caroline Bay; [ no strolling couples gazed into Stafford Street’s shop windows; taxidrivers read their books and dozed; the railway station, usually the town’s busiest ce'ntre on a Sunday, was deserted. Why? Because a ban had been placed on the running J of excursion trains to and from j Timaru. And the reason? Timaru i had two positive cases of infantile | paralysis (says the “Timaru i Herald”). At this time of the year it is not i unusual for excursion trains to bring ■ as many as 500 visitors to Timaru, I and while some spend the day seeing the sights, a majority use the trains ■ to pay short visits to friends. As a result of the suspension of the services, Timaru housewives were un- ’ able to extend their usual hospitality to their northern friends, and, consequently. approximately 500 people did not require catering for. The fact was reflect! d in the takings of provision merchants on Saturday, ■ to: excursion visitors require two meals during their brief stay, and , Timaru hostesses were not called upon to make any additions to their weekend orders of foodstuffs. Similarly, restauranteuis did not enjoy . their usual Sunday patronage, and lefreshment and confectionery shops also suffered a marked decline in business.