The Legend of the Whanganui River

My father Hugh Duncan Billington was a mate of Andy Anderson and often visited taking half a sheep in exchange for a few whitebait. We as children had a picnic on the high bank overlooking the orchards on the West bank. Wonderful memory. Pritchard's managed Hotel. Barry still alive is a son.

My Grandfather was from here...And his father was known as the "Builder of Canoes" who made canoes for all the local Maori. Listening to this clip makes me realise just how pure a life our Ancestors knew and lived. the simplicities were enough for their happiness.

cool

I always go and visit my Great grandad captain Andy Anderson's Grave at Heads rd Wanganui. I also visit the maritime museum. Some good documented information available.

Yes special times. Yet I was born 52yrs after he passed on.

Robert.Anderson

Memories. I have particularly fond recall of time spent on Captain Andy's boat. My dad Bowman Harris was a shearing contractor and and sheep musterer for Jim O'neill of Kahura Station. As ayoung girl 13 or 14 year old, I remember the shearing gang going to Kahura on Andy's boat. It was summer, we had a great time, the river was low, all the kids got out at the rapids, and helped haul the cables of the boat on to locks, then the boat was winched over the rapids. At the end of the shearing season,we helped load the boats with the wool bales which were then transported to Pipiriki. Deep waters on the way upstream I even got to steer. I am greatly attached to areas. I was bought up on the Manga-nui-o-teao River on the Makakahi Rd, and use to ride horseback with my dad overland to Kahura.

Such a lovely story. So proud to be a new zealander.

Thank you so much for your historic over view of our river and some of our people, in particular the short clip on my Dad Captain Andy Anderson at the helm of one of the "Hatrick boats" that he skippered.
At this time we lived in Pipiriki (heaven on earth). I look back at those child hood years and think to myself how lucky I was to be educated and raised in such a beautiful and real environment.

Thanks for the rekindling those memories.

Jim Anderson

Thank you so much, I walked across the old bridge and had forgotten about it and would swim from the wharf and fish what beautiful memories

absolutely awesome

Fantastic old film of Whanganui River. Even in 2010, this is relevant to our history and tourism.