The Departure from Auckland.

There was a large crowd of people on the platform at the Auckland station as the new express steamed out punctually. (A replica of the Auckland express left Rotorua at the same hour, 10.10 a.m., for Auckland). Our express was composed of two first-class carriages, four second-class carriages, an observation car, a guard's van, and a powerful locomotive. The train was full to capacity.

As our express gradually slackened its rate of speed and came to a standstill at Frankton Junction, we were afforded a most excellent close-up view of our twin-sister express, which had just arrived from Rotorua. Those of us who had seen Stevenson's original “Puffing Billy” and “carriages,” now on exhibition in the South Kensington Museum, in London, made a mental comparison of these relics of the railway inception period, with the artistic beauty and luxuriousness of the new expresses. In his interview with the writer, the Town Clerk of Auckland said: “I trust that the public will show their appreciation of the initiative and splendid enterprise of the railway management by patronising to the fullest possible extent the service to Rotorua. I doubt whether the great importance of the new undertaking has been adequately recognised by the people of Auckland, but when they find out what has been done I am certain that these trains will prove almost irresistible. Overseas tourists, particularly, will go away from the Dominion not only as most enthusiastic advertisers of our marvellous thermal wonders and health resorts, our magnificent lake and mountain scenery, and phenomenal trout-fishing, but will return to their home countries and sing the praises of the new express service to New Zealand's thermal wonderland.”