50 years ago

HAMILTON experienced its greatest tourist influx ever over the easter holiday break. Every hotel and motel, private guest houses and the camping ground were completely booked out, with hundreds of people unable to find accommodation anywhere in the city. Several hotel and motel operators said they had never experienced such a huge demand for accommodation in Hamilton before. The demand for accommodation was so great that many people spent several nights sleeping in their cars. Manageress of the Caledonian Motor Inn, Mrs. Helen McKenzie, said she had people knocking on the door early each morning asking if they could get breakfast and pleading for accommodation that night.