HOUSEBOAT ON WAIKATO.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 230, 29 August 1932, Page 10

HOUSEBOAT ON WAIKATO.

£25,000 SCHEME PUT FORWARD.

FACILITIES FOR AMUSEMENT.

HAMILTON, Aug. 26. An ambitious scheme for building a large houseboat on the Waikato River, as an attraction for tourists, has been put before Mr Mr W. H. Paul, chairman of the Hamilton Domain Board and president of the Beautifying Society, by Mr E. Woolby, of Waihou. He proposes that the boat be fitted with Diesel engines, and that facilities be provided for concerts, vaudeville, revue, j talkies, card games, etc. On other decks there would be a cabaret, dining and supper rooms, lounges, promenades and smoking and reading rooms. There would also be water chutes for launching canoes. Cheap excursion fares to the Waikato Heads and week-end excursions are contemplated. Sleeping accommodation could be provided for 300 people. Mr Woolby estimated the cost of the vessel ani fittings at £25,000, and the gross turnover at £12,000 to £15,000. The capital could be raised either by ordinary £1 shares or by premium bonds of £J.U each. He suggested that the hoard and the society combine to form an amusement company. The matter has not yet been considered by the two bodies. Mr Buswell’s report was as under: —“The object of my visit to both Palmerston North and Feilding was that the respective systems could be thoroughly investigated, in order to ascertain the relative merits of two entirely different methods. The Palmerston North system has 1190 domestio water-heaters controlled by what I will describe as the multiplecascade method. These water-heaters are all manually controlled from the power station at Terrace End by the operating engineer. Prior to a recent resolution by the council, the water-heaters were switched off for about two hours per day, Sundays excepted, thereby giving a 22-hour service.