Paddlewheels on the Wanganui

Reid, Alec, as told By David Reid

Published by Paddlewheels Press, Auckland, 1993

About this Item

In Victorian times the Wanganui River was one of NZ's most notable tourism attractions, with paddle-wheel steamers taking passengers on three-day trips with over-night accommodation provided cruise in either a river side guest house or on a specially designed floating houseboat. That was one side of the story of the river boats. The other was to provide a regular and reliable service to the setllers and settlements along the river, which passed through rugged country were no roads existed. The river boats were able to navigate 144 miles up-river to Taumarunui, in which distance it was necessary to negotiate about 240 rapids as the river rose 500 feet from sea-level at the upper reach of the river trip. The story is based on the recollections David Reid, who tells the story of the river and its paddle boats to his nephew, Aled Reid. He describes how they "bumped and churned" over the rapids taking supplies to the riverside residents, carrying livestock, farming equipment, mails and news from the outside world. The river was the lifeline of the river's residents and a "must see" for vistors to NZ. David recalls the excitement, the hazards, the characters and hurmous incidents from his 12 years on the river, remembering also the serene beauty of the river, as well as its rushing white water on the rapids. This is a well-told personal account that records an early, but now little remembered, river boat venture that was relied on by pioneer settlers, the Maori villages and adventurous travellers. (Two Reid brothers Peter and David both sailed the river as paddle boat engineers.) These river reminiscences were first published in 1967 with this revised and updated edition in 1993. 130 pages, 21 b/w photos, detailed double sheet e/paper maps, upper reaches Wanganui River at front, lower reaches at back. Green hard covers with dark green spine strip extending one-third onto each board are NF, with white spine titles. internally also NF, no inscriptions. Wrap-round pictorial DJ is NF with inset colour painting, by Tim Minnell, of river steamer Waimarie on a circular inset to front. A scarce book.

Seller Inventory # 004929

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Paddlewheels on the Wanganui
• Publisher: Paddlewheels Press, Auckland
• Publication Date: 1993
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Photos, Maps
• Edition: 2nd
• Condition: NF
• Dust Jacket Condition: NF