Community Contributed

Foxton River Steamers

A fleet of steamers plied the Manawatu River and serviced Foxton from the 1880s continuing until 1939.

The Manawatu River was the main transport to and from early Foxton - as shown in this painting from 1879:

The Government Paddlesteamer “Luna” was used to transport the Scandinavian Immigrants from Wellington to Foxton – 5 miles up the Manawatu River. It ran aground 14-2-1871. Photo from the DeMaus Collection. Alexander Turnbull Library. Wellington:

The steamers were used on the Manawatu River for towing punt loads of flax:

Transporting Flax by Barge, Manawatu River - c1900:	Loading Hemp at Foxton:
Unloading green flax at Foxton, 15 August 1912:	Foxton - 1929:

The steamers:

Three of the steamers used on the Manawatu River for towing punt loads of flax and for excursion trips. They are from left "Mataroa", "Planet", and "Flower of Kent". Standing on the "Flower of Kent" is William Jupp, manager of the Levin and Co steamer fleet and sometime owner of the steamers.

Remaining half of "The Dolphin", Foxton - 2010:

Behind the steamers is "The Dolphin", two structures designed to deflect logs from the wharf during floods and at times used by ships to help in manoeuvring to point downstream. Only one of these remains today. The stone wall that leads out to them is no longer visible but still remains in place. In the distance are some of the flaxmills that lined the river bank.

Two of the boats used for this service were the "Ivy" and "Speedwell" built by local Andrew Jonson in 1888 and 1898 respectively. A fleet of boats was built up and in 1904 Levin and Co took this over and had the "Matara" built in Auckland. Its delivery voyage was by train to Taumaranui and then down the Wanganui River to Foxton. The "Matara" and "Planet" were both destroyed by a suspected arson in 1908 but the "Planet" was rebuilt and continued in service on the Manawatu until 1919.

A Steamer and a Punt tied up at Foxton Wharf:

The last vessel to ply the river was the "Maidi". Unfortunately when she arrived the river trade declined. She was then bought as a fishing charter boat but the 1939s depression put paid to that scheme and she was tied up:

Coastal steamers transported people and goods to and from Foxton:

A large number of steamers tied up at Foxton Wharf during the big flood of 1901:

THE FOXTON WHARF 1904. Coastal steamers were a convenient way to transport goods and passengers in a time when inland routes were not yet established.”

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 1904. For many years the legendary Queen of the South traded regularly between Wellington and the port of Foxton. She sank in 1911 after striking a rock off Port Chalmers.”

Four steamers are tied up to the Foxton wharf:

Foxton Wharf, 1906 - Three steamships are docked at the wharf including the Tamahine, and Queen of the South:

The Foxton Railway station was moved to beside the Foxton Wharf
- as seen in this 1912 photo:

The ‘S S Foxton’ at Robinson’s Bend on the Manawatu River in 1937:

S S Kennedy stranded on the bar, Foxton Beach - mural:

The steamers were also used for recreation:

1907 - Port of Foxton- people on a steamer and punt, while others are in boats and on the shoreline. In the background are to flaxmills:	1910 - Rower on the Manawatu River - interesting to see the small stern-wheeler paddle steamer in the background:
Foxton Methodist Church picnic at Long Reach, Whirokino, on the Manawatu River. A group of picnicers poses on board the steamer “Planet”:	Foxton Centennial Celebrations - 1955 - Landing at Paiaka:

Related Items