Durie Hill Tower, Wanganui, New Zealand

Durie Hill Tower was built as a World War I memorial. It has 176 steps, but they are well worth climbing for the spectacular view.

 

 

Forty or fifty kilometres up the river is Jerusalem, the tiny place where James K. Baxter had his commune and where he is buried. Parts of the Whanganui River Road are unmetalled, and the car hire firm didn't allow me to drive there. There are other rather longer ways of getting there, but they would have meant taking up the best part of a day, and even then it wasn't guaranteed that I'd see Baxter's grave, so I knew I was beaten.

Wanganui Old and New

Wanganui (or Whanganui) is 193 kilometres north of Wellington, and on the river of the same name. It is noted for its art deco buildings, of which this cinema on Victoria Avenue is an excellent example.

 

Andersons store with the W. H. Watt fountain on the left.

 

'W. H. WATT FOUNTAIN

The fountain was erected in 1881 at this

intersection as a mark of appreciation by the

citizens to W. H. Watt, early settler, Merchant,

and First Mayor of the Borough for the use of

Westmere Lake as a town water supply.

 

When the Tramway system was installed in

1908 the fountain was removed and stood for many years

in Queens Park.

 

It was relocated here in 1993.'

 

I doubt that this is used much, if at all.

 

 

The 2011 Bearing sculpture by David McCracken makes an impressive new addition to the sights of the town here at the side of the river.

 

David Clifford's Balancing Act. I like the title of the Wanganui Chronicle's article on this: 'Pencil Artwork Takes Lead in Competition'.

 

And although this on first appearances might be mistaken for a work of art, it is a course a pooper-scooper.