MV Tokena & MV Alert |
Tokena In 1929 Wanganui River Services shifted the upriver Terminus at Taumarunui downriver 37kms to Kirikau, making the journey from The Houseboat a lot shorter. It was decided a new, smaller vessel was needed, so the launch Tokena was built at the Foundry in Wanganui. The launch of the Tokena in 1929 made the Wai-iti's job become redundant so it was sold to The Wanganui River Trust in 1930. Type: Motor Vessel, Steel Propulsion: Single Screw in Tunnel Year Built: 1929 Builder: Wanganui River Services, Wanganui Dimensions: Length 35ft 2in, Beam 5ft 5in, Depth 3ft (As built) Gross Tons: 3.4 (As built) Registered Tons: 2.61 (As built) Machinery: 1 Thornycroft Oil 25 BHP (As built) Section Of River: Houseboat to Kirikau Fate: When The Houseboat was destroyed by fire in 1933, the Tokena was used between Pipiriki and Retaruke until it's last survey expired in May 1947. It was then laid up at Hatrick's Slipway until it was broken up in the 1950's. |
M.V. Alert |
Alert In 1937 upon introduction of the reduced timetable, the twins Wairua and Waiora were laid up. In 1938 the company replaced them by purchasing James Nixon's much smaller launch Alert and fitting it with a more powerful engine taken from the Motor Canoe Parinui, which had been out of service since 1933. Alert was a part of Nixon's small fleet of boats used in Wanganui before being purchased by Wanganui River Sevices. Type: Motor Vessel, Wood Propulsion: Single Screw in Tunnel Year Built: 1905 Builder: Lane & Son, Auckland Dimensions: Length 36ft 5in, Beam 8ft 5in, Depth 3ft 8.3in (As built) Gross Tons: 6.89 (As built) Registered Tons: 5.17 (As built) Machinery: 2 Union Oil, total 15 BHP (As Built) 1 Thornycroft Oil 25 BHP (1938) Section Of River: Pipiriki to Retaruke Fate: After 15 years of service above Pipiriki, the Alert's last survey expired in May 1953 and it was sold to Mr E Mitchell of Aramoho, Wanganui. |
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MV Tokena at the Houseboat 1930's. |
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