RAFTING ON THE WANGANUI RIVER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12649, 10 November 1905, Page 7

RAFTING ON THE WANGANUI RIVER.

A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT

Tho fact that rafting on the Wanganui River is practicable has been demonstrated, for tho raft which Captain Hedditch and his son, Mr. Charles Hedditch, left Taumaranui with on Saturday has been safely navigated to Wanganui. The trip down the river was uneventful, the raft, which consists of 3400 feet of timber (mostly totara) coming down splendidly, and hardly touching a stone. Taumaranui was left at 8.5 a.m. on Saturday. The first rapid was negotiated half an hour later, the raft being piloted through in fine style, and not a drop of water being taken aboard. The raft reached the houseboat at 3.30, and a stop was made till 3.45. The mouth of the Retameke was reached af5.30, and camp pitched for tht night. A start was made again at 5.15 a.m. on Sunday, and at 8.10 tho raft shot through Hell's Gate at the rate of 15 miles an hour. The difficult Ngaporo rapid was also negotiated safely. As rain fell heavily as the evening set in, it was decided to stay for tho night at a Maori pa, 2 miles abovo Pipiriki. A^, 6.15 next morning tho trip was resumed, and Pipiriki reached soon afterwards. There breakfast was partaken of, and the raft was again got under weigh. Owing to the slackness of the current in the lower reaches and the head wind experienced, tho headway was rather slow. Sandy Hook was reached at 3 o'clock on Monday afternoon, and as the wind' was found to be strong at this point and the current had stopped, the raft was tied up to tho bank. It was brought down to town yesterday and moored just below the boat sheds. Considerable interest was taken in the pioneer raft, and innumerable cameras were brought to bear upon it. Tho actual travelling time was 40 hours, which, considering that the crew had not been down the river before, is n:ost satisfactory. Captain Hedditch is quite convinced that rafting can be ma do a success, and feels confident he can bring down 20,000 or 30,000 feet of timber in one raft Avhen the river is at a reasonable height. Tho raft is bound together with flax, so that there is no unnecessary material; as &oon as a raft reaches its destination, the flax is cut, and there is no expense incurred in taking back rcpes, etc. Even the "sweeps" used can be utilised on the completion of a journey, as they merely consist of boards nailed to scantling.