A Hatrick & Co |
In 1892 Alexander Hatrick's company, A Hatrick & Co began a regular steamer service to Pipiriki with the side paddle steamer Wairere. This proved popular and later this service extended to Tangarakau and in 1903 to Taumarunui, this adding 11 more vessels to the fleet over a space of ten years. The company A Hatrick & Co continued despite the death of Alexander Hatrick in 1918, being controlled by the family. Later on Ronald Hatrick (Alexander Hatrick's youngest son) took over the business and continued trading under the name A Hatrick & Co for quite some years before changing it to Wanganui River Services Ltd. The company started to use buses after the opening of the Wanganui River road in 1934, this putting most of the old vessels out of service. As the River road was always slipping the some of the vessels were often put back into service until the road was repaired. The burning down of Pipiriki House in 1959 and the death of Ronald Hatrick in Wellington, 1964 marked the end of this pioneering service and all remaining assets were sold off. |
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