WANGANUI TOURIST TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue XV, 13 October 1894, Page 350

WANGANUI TOURIST TRAFFIC.

FACILITIES for tourists and others desirous of acquainting themselves with the beauties of the New Zealand Rhine are growing apace, as may be seen by the accompanying illustration which we reproduce from a photo taken by Mr W. H. T. Partington, photographer, of Wanganui, on the occasion of the launching of the Manu wai, Mr A. Hatrick’s new river steamer, which is expected to be fitted up in good time for the opening of the tourist season. The launch was witnessed by a large number of spectators, who were unanimously of opinion that a prettier or more successful one has seldom been seen, spite of the fact that the vessel had to take the water broadside on. The Manuwai is a very pretty example of fin de siecle energy and goaheadism. The order for her construction only went to the builders—Messrs Yarrow and Co., Poplar, London—in January last; she was put together, taken to pieces, packed and landed in Wellington by the close of July ; from thence removed to Wanganui, where the work of putting her together again was begun during the first week in August, and on the sixteenth of September she was successfully floated, and ready for the erection of the deck cabins and other finishing touches. The Manuwai measures 121 feet, with a beam of 18 feet, an estimate draught of 12 inches, and a guaranteed speed of Hi miles per hour. She is built throughout of Siemen’s steel, with seven watertight compartments (each compartment having its own ejection pump) ; her high pressure engines are really splendid, and her whole construction has been carried out on the most modern approved principles. Her fittings will be first-class, and her passenger accommodation will leave nothing to be desired. We congratulate Mr Hetrick on her highly satisfactory launching, and hope his enterprise will receive its due reward Certainly he is leaving no stone unturned in his endeavour to open to the world the beauties of the Wanganui river.