MUSEUM FLEET

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 11

MUSEUM FLEET

ANOTHER CANOE ADDED

(Special to the 'Evening Post.")

WANGANUI, April 18.

Early this week, a large native canoe, foi'merly the property of the Ngati Hau people, was deposited at the Alexander Museum. This makes the sixth in the museum collection, and the second to come in this year.

This totara canoe is 75ft in length, the second largest in the building, and is easily the oldest, as it must be well over 200 years old. It was given by Mr. Ron Hatrick.'

For the past two years the canoe, named Wakanui, has been out of commission, lying near the River Steamers' foundry. Vandals did not neglect it, and when the men arrived to move it, it was found that nearly 20ft had been so badly cracked that it was necessary to saw it off and send it to be repaired. The rest of the canoe, about 40 feet long, was pulled by a winch into the river and towed on to a convenient bank. The WanganuiRangitikei Power Board again lent its plant to transport the big canoe to the museum.

For the past 50 years the Wakanui has traded and carried passengers on the Wanganui River —at first propelled by paddlers and later by a motor engine. Long ago, it carried timber and bridge materials for Taumarunui and downwards; later it carried wool, and also passengers between the old houseboat and Pipiriki. These motor canoes were very fast, and extremely useful on the rapids, especially when the river was low, as it is at present. In fact, if the present- dry weather continues, one of the old native "dugouts" will probably have to be reconditioned for use on the upper reaches of the Wanganui.