WAIKATO RIVER

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 596, 4 January 1921, Page 2

WAIKATO RIVER

DEVELOPMENT OF TRAFFIC A FINE PASSENGER BOAT. (Special to "Times.") Cambridge, Monday. During the holidays a great deal has been done to popularise the Waikato River as a scenic i and picnic resort. The Waikato ;

Shipping- Company's fine new passenger steamer " Manuwai " made several trips to and from Cambridge down the river. The ''Manuwai" is a fine steamei from the yards of Messrs Yarrow and Co., Poplar, London, who specialise in the building of river craft. Her dimensions are 116 ft by 16ft. She carries two decks, and accommodates 400 passengers without over-crowding. A dining saloon to seat 80 people is provided. The steamer also contains provision for clearing a portion of the decks for dancing. The trips proved exceedingly popular, more applications for tickets being made than the steamer could carry. During the summer months it is intended to cater for this class of trade in every way possible. Now that Cambridge has a fine concrete wharf at the river bank, a great increase in river trade is expected, and properly encouraged, there is no reason why triweekly trips to the heads should not be undertaken. It has long been a source of wonder to visitors that this great natural and national highway has not been developed and made use of by the towns and villages adjacent. That ultimately, overseas steamers will call at Waikato Heads and discharge merchandise, with suitable craft tor distribution throughout portions of Raglan, Franklin and Waikato, is, of course, quite assured, but every effort should be made to bring this about, and not allow dilatory methods to rob the rich districts referred to of their birthright. The carrying of passengers on regular summer trips is the finest form of propaganda, and will do much to awaken the people to the vast possibilities only awaiting development in connection with New Zealand's most wondrous waterway the magnificent Waikato.