When Palmerston North writer Denis Dwyer stumbled across the glimmers of an amazing story he knew he had to pursue the life of Tom Ryan back to the beginning. Tom Ryan was an All Black, artist, entrepreneur, sailor and adventurer and he came to Dwyer's attention while the author was filling his shift at the New Zealand Rugby Museum. "And then later I was told Ryan ran a steamer on Lake Taupō, releasing pigeons to let the hotel know how many for dinner and the coach driver how many for transport. READ MORE:* Tom Ryan: The most famous New Zealander you haven't heard of* Author Philip Hoare's mission to get under the ocean's skinSUPPLIED Captain Tom Ryan cooking trout. Dwyer has previously published two books with New Holland Publishers, New Zealand by Foot and New Zealand Adventures by Rail.

Source: Stuff October 29, 2018 20:48 UTC