The “ Houseboat." on the Wanganui.

Manawatu Herald, 17 December 1904, Page 2

The “ Houseboat." on the Wanganui.

The magnificent two-deck houseboat, built at Taumarunui by Messrs Hatrick and Co., the enterprisingproprietors of the Wanganui River tourist steamer .fleet, has been safely navigated down over the rapids from Taumaranui to her destination: the junction of the Ohura and ■ Wanganui Rivera—one of the most ■ striking and picturesque spots on, New Zealand's great scenic river. The magnitude of the task in lowering this great floating house / down this swift-running river, with* rapids at almost every mile, can be' -i gauged by the fact that the work •* occupied over four weeks, the distance being 35 miles. , The work was entrusted to Cupt, Marshall, the foreman of the Wanganui River Trust Board, and he carried it out splendidly, delivering the boat at her destination without . a scratch, although on some of the rapids it took six large hawsers, made fast to the banks of the river, to hold her. With their fleet of ten vessels, their fine bouse at Fipiriki (which a recent writer termed the River Wayside Palace), containing 100 rooms, the new house-boat, capable of accommodating nearly 100 persons, together with repairing foundry and slip at Wanganui, workshop and slip at Fipiriki, wharves, cargo sheds, etc., the firm are now in a position to cater for a tourist traffic many times larger than it has yet been; The new steamers for the Tauma-runui-Pipiriki service are expected to be ready for running at Xmas. One is to be named Wairua (a spirit) and the other Waiora.(water of life), both pretty euphonious names, suggested by Mr John Stevens, exM.H.R. for Rangitikei. With three exceptions, the names of all the boats : in the fleet commence with Wai Wairere, Waimanu, Waimarie, Waiiti, Waione, Wairua, Waiora, Ongarue, Ohura, and Fariuni. If ■ untiling energy and enterprise • meantf'success, then this river boat - Arm should command it to its fullest ■ extent.