Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUG. 6, 1903. Our River Traffic.

Manawatu Herald, 6 August 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUG. 6, 1903. Our River Traffic.

When suggestions have been made from time to time in regard to the possibility of using the Manawatu River as a means of communication between Foxton and Palmerston by steamboat traffic the idea has generally been concluded by being pronounced impracticable. It must, however, be admitted that the extreme circuitous course which the river has taken between the two places would appear to be one of the principal drawbacks to the accomplishment of such an object., A recent trial trip by a river steamboat was made to a flaxmill a short distance from the mouth of the Oroua

River, and resulted in success, although no soundings were previously taken. This was.claimed as being a record distance navigated by any steamboat up the Manawatu River Since that assertion has been made we learn from a reliable source that a steam launch called the “Pioneer ” under Captain Henson, trading on this river over thirty years ago carried stores to Government surveyors at a point- of the river adjacent to Tiakitahuna (Jackeytown), and therefore some considerable distance above the mouth of the Oroua River. The “Pioneer ” had a similar draught to the “ Planet,” a boat now running on the rivet; As far as the information we are at present in possession of the depth of water in the river above Tiakitahuna is not sufficient to permit of other than a light draught properly constructed river steamer to negotiate with any measure of success. This is ill consequence of the river apparently no longer being confined to one channel, but spreading out over a wider area of riverbed; Such difficulties have been overcome in other parts of the colony by the expenditure of certain sums of money generally made by the local authorities with the assistance of subsidies or grants from the Government. The distance from Foxton to Palmerston by river, roughly speaking, is sixty miles, or nearly three times the distance by rail, and the question is whether river steamers so handicapped may be enabled to profitably compete with the railway, at any rate as regards merchandise and goods traffic, even if the channel above Tiakitahuna Was improved to enable boats to tun as far as Palmerston. This problem has apparently never received any serious attention and remains in abeyance, waiting for someone with the mean’s or enterprise to take the matter in hand. If it can be shown that the river may be improved at the upper end without any great amount of expenditure sufficiently' to allow of light draught steamer traffic, then undoubtedly the Government should be requisitioned to assist in a similar manner as that given to the promoters of the line of steamers now plying on the Wanganui River. The owner of the steamers now plying on this river has given this matter due consideration, and if opportunity offers will endeavour to give effect to the scheme.