Full steam for summer

Peter and Doreen Hardy check the tickets of Dian Rose-Duering from Australia.

Whanganui Riverboat Centre manager Peter Hardy and wife Doreen, in Edwardian costume, check Dian Rose-Duering's ticket for the PS Waimarie's first summer sailing.

The sailing was on Saturday, with a two-for-one discount for Wanganui residents. Carrier pigeons were released from the Upokongaro destination.

The paddlesteamer will continue to sail at 11am on weekend days until December, with the same discount. Mr Hardy said there were about 70 people on the first sailing, and many of them went down into the boiler room to try shovelling coal.

The boat was in perfect condition, thanks to a month's work by volunteers and businesses, and Mr Hardy wanted to thank them.