NORTHERN WAIROA RIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18553, 10 November 1923, Page 12

NORTHERN WAIROA RIVER.

GREAT WATER HIGHWAY.

CHALLENGE TO THE WAIKATO.

A Dargaville correspondent writes: An article in Wednesday's Herald ro garding the Waikato River is causing some amusement in local circles, particularly the statement that as a commercial highway the Waikato has no rival in New Zealand. It may interest our Hamilton friends to learn that vessels of 1500 'to 2000 tons, drawing .upwards of 15ft. can navigate the Northern Wairwa River for a distance of 46 miles or more, and that the river is navigable for a further 30 miles for vessels drawing upwards of 12ft.

In the old days, when the timber milling industry was at its height it was the common experience for steamers of 4000 tons, drawing 20ft. or more, to take timber from the various milling centres on the river, the record, it is believed, being the Largoiaw, a steamer of 4600 tons, drawing 22ft., which took away 2,250,000 feet of sawn timber from Tatarariki, some 30 miles up the river. Even nowadays timber steamers of 1500 to 2000 tons periodically visit Dargaville, which is 38 miles up the river. In view of these facts the statement that after an expenditure of £10,000, in dredging between Hun'.ly and Ngaruawahia. this unrivalled Waikato waterway, will accommodate vessels drawing 6ft. is rather ludicrous reading. There is no desire at this end to belittle the efforts of the Waikato people in furthering the progress of their prosperous district, but it is just a3 well to stick to facts.