WANGANUI RIVER NAVIGATION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue II, 13 July 1901, Page 64

WANGANUI RIVER NAVIGATION.

I he V\a;-iti. the new oil motor vessel built for Messrs A. Ilatrick and Co.. of Wanganui. will prove an enormous advantage to the navigation of the upper reaches of the Rhine of New Zealand. She has been specially built and fitted with a 12 h.p. “Union” oil engine by Messrs Ryan, of Auckland; draws nine inches of water, and run- abc .t eight knots an hour; and < arrit».-. .".(> passengers, or up to 10 tons of cargo. On her trial trip up the river she acquitted herself admirably. giving entire satisfaction. She left Wanganui on 20th inst. at 3 p.m., arrived at Rmana. 45 miles up, the same evening: proceeded next (Monday > morning to Pipiriki. which was reached at 11 a.m.. towing a large < ;n »e with her. She resumed her journey at 2 p in. and went to and up the 'langarak.iu River as far as the (leaving of the water way had been done, which i- four miles short of the ultimate point to be reached by the steamer, and 91 miles from Wanganui. This is the highest point reached yt t in the history of the settlement. After a few obstacles have been renewed then will Im* no difficulty In Putikituna at all times, even

when the river is at its lowest. On this particular occasion the river was within nine inches of its lowest summer level, which only lasts for a few weeks in the year. In fact, on the date of the trip only the Ohura was able to make the trip to Pipiriki, all other steamers being unable to run owing to the river being so low. Captain Marshall, of Wanganui River Trust, who has carried out the whole of the improvements of the river, accompanied the Wai-iti on this her first trip, and he is quite satisfied that a more suitable boat for the work could not be made, and it will answer its purpose admirably later on. When one or two troublesome rapids between Pipiriki and the mouth of the Tangarakau, particularly the Ngaporo Rapids, are improved. and the Tangarakau itself has been cleared, larger steamers can be used. The Ohura itself was imported for this very service. From Putikituna the terminal point of navigation for the present on the Tangarakau. to the East Road, is only six miles, of which two miles have been widened for dray traffic, leaving four- miles for improvements.