THE RAILWAY EXCURSION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1315, 14 March 1885, Page 2

THE RAILWAY EXCURSION.

The railway excursion from South Canterbury to Christchurch and Lyttelton was expected to be a great success, and it was one—far in excess of the predictions of even the most sanguine. The weather has moat unsettled lately, and this made many dubious of purchasing tickets in advance. Consequently many remained undecided as to whether they would go till the last moment, and this in a measure accounts for the rather limited carriage accommodation provided. On Wednesday night the weather looked very gloomy and unpromising, butearly on Thursday morning things changed for the bejter, and the day proved a glorious one. The first train, of thirty-three carriages, was times to leave Timara at 8 30, and he loreß ev. ry carriage was full, excepting those reserved for the convenience of voyageurs to be - embarked along the route. The Tiraaru City Band accompanied this train, but, the train,, being a long one, some of the excursionists were not aware of its presence. The first stopping place was Temuka, and here about 185 passengers took their seats, or rather places, [ Here one or two intending excursionists were left behind, in consequence of their imagining that the second train would call at. the station. This was clearly their own fault, as both the advertisement and the posters issued by the Railway Department staled to the contrary,] The number embarked was largely in excess of those expected, so it was decided that the 1 second train should pick up the Orari ( contingent, which included about sixty | from Geraldine, the majority of whom were conveyed thither by those enterprising coach proprietors, Messrs J. |

Muudell and Go. At Winchester, Itangitata and other places along the line passengers were picked up, and the tra'n w.»s crowded to its utmost. On arrival at Christchurch, where the platform was crowded with those expecting friends and sightseers, some 300 decided proceeding to Lyttelton. The others on dispersed quickly over the city ; cabs and trams reaping a splendid harvest. Neither in Christchurch or Lyttelton was anything special organised for the amusement of the visitors, but for a I that everyone found plenty to occupy the time during their stay. In Christchurch the Cathedral, Museum, Park, and Public Library were the chief attractions. In Lyttelton the N.Z. Shipping Company’s Rimutaka was lying (she leaves for Horae with the mails on Sunday), and was the great attraction, all being delighted with her appearance. The torpedo boat also took took a run round the harbor, and excited great interest. The second train, conveying the Waimate, Albury, Pleasant Point, Washdyke and Oran (Geraldine) passengers, together with the Timaru ones left behind by the first train, arrived in Christchurch about 20 minutes past I—hall ao hour after the preceding one, This one was accompanied by the Timaru Artillery Band, and on arriving in Christchurch it formed in procession and played some very good selections. As was the case with the first train, many of the passengers elected to proceed to Lyttelton, where many, with others who had arrived previously, occupied themselves with viewing the shipping, and in scrambling up the hills. The first train did not start on the return journey till six o’clock, or about half an hour late, and it was fairly crammed ; but owing to the slow rate of travelling, and the number of stopping places, it was nearly an hour late when it reached Temuka, where it was awaited by a large number of the friends of the excursionists. Timaru was reached without mishap about 11.5. The return of the second train was delayed considerably by the failing off near Dunsandelof one or the male passengers while endeavoring to pass from one carriage (o another. One of the engines was detached from the train at Bakaia and sent back to look for him, but the search was not successful and it was at last conjectured that the alarm was a false one. The train reached Temuka at!2.22, and, having left there a few unfortunates who had missed the first train, proceeded on to Timaru, which was reached about half an hour later. Those excursionists from Waimate, Albury and other country districts had an exceedingly late ride, but ail made themselves as comfortable as possible, and submitted with good grace to the inevitable. It should be mentioned that our local stalionraaster and other officials did everything in their power for the convenience of the excursionists, and those in charge of the trains were also most careful and obliging. Considering the number travelling, nearly 3000, and the crowded state of the carriages, many having to stand on the platforms, it speaks volumes for the management of the excursion that only one slight mishap occurred, and it was clearly the man’s own fault.

The passenger who fell off the train near Dunsandel passed through to Tiraaru by the express train yesterday. Ho was stunned by the fall, and slightly scratched, but was otherwise uninjured.

We understand that the excursion will be repeated in about a month,

The Ashburton Guardian gives the following rather amusing account of the adventures of the passenger who unvolunlarily left the excursion train near Dunsandel on Thursday night “ Lest evening as one of the trains laden with the homeward-hound souihern was travelling between Dunsandel and Bankside, an alarm was raised that one of the passengers had fallen between the carriages. It appeared that one of the male excursionists hailing from Timaru, who had evidently imbibed rather freely in the Cathedral City, essayed to pass from one carriage to another, and, in so doing, fell between the carriages on the centre of the road. As so on as the lengthy train was brought to a standstill, one of the engines was sent back up the line in order to pick vp what was thought would only be portions of the dead body of the pas£? , *6 <>r ' | A search was made up and down the line for some considerable time, but without finding a single trace of the individual, and at last it was rumored that the aflair was a hoax. After a delay of nearly two hours the train resumed its journey southward. This morning the mystery was solved by an individual 'turning up’ at the Dun- i: saiidel in time for an early breakfast, where he gave an account of his narrow escape, telling the landlord that the whole train of carriages had passed over him the previous evening, and that he walked to the nearest straw stack, where he had passed the night very comfortably, The hero of the adventure, none the worse for his fall, beyond a few cuts and scratches on the legs and face,'resumed his journey to Timaru this morning by the express.”