THE GALE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 21 March 1908, Page 5

THE GALE.

STORMY WEATHER ON THE WEST v-OAST. RARAWA'S ROUGH TRIP. MOUNTAINOUS SEAS ENCOUNTERED. The weather on the West Coast during the last three days has been the roughest ever experience- .n the opinion of mariners who have long been identified with the West Coast trade. Strong southerly gales, of almost hurricane force, have prevailed, and shipping had been disorganised. Those vessels which have attempted to run to the time-table have had very rough experiences, and two of the boats which arrived at Onehunga this morning, the Rarawa and the Corinna, bear evidence of a very severe buffetting. The Rarawa left Onehunga on Thurfday afternoon at 4.30, for New Plymouth". The usual time for negotiating the 140 miles' run is 12 hours. mc Manukau bar was found to be in a very bad state, tremendous seas breaking for miles out. Once outside the Heads" the Rarawa headed a course for New Plymouth in the teeth of a howling gale, and as the night wore on the seas became j mountainous in size, while great quanti-1 ties of water were shipped. According to Captain Hutchings, of the Takapuna, j who passed the Rarawa after she had been battling in the storm for 10 hours, the vessel wa« at times almost at a standstill, perched high on the crest of > a wave, with her bow out of the water,! and next moment buried in the trough of the sea. The passengers were nearly all sea-sick, and out of 40 in the saloon only two made their appearance at the iiining-table. In the opinion of Captain Xorbury, the trip was the roughest he has made on the West Coast. The time occupied in negotiating the journey was 18 hours, and the Rarawa arrived in Sew Plymouth yesterday morning, six hours late. As evidence of the rough passage down, the Rarawa's for'ard rail was smashed and the deck fittings more lor less damaged. The rail is two inches ; thick, supported by an iron band an ! inch thick; yet the force of the head ] seas shooting up was sufficient to smash the iron and woodwork completely. The Rarawa left on the return trip at 8.30 last night, and arrived at Onehunga this morning at 8.15. The force of the gale had abated considerably, and the passage up was less momentous. A heavy sea was stiu running on the llanukau bar, but the strength of the gale was spent. The Corinna arrived at Onehunga this morning from Wellington and way ports, also bearing evidence of a rough passage. Her deck fittings were damaged, and the engine-room door was smashed in. The Corinna experienced the full force of the storm after leaving Wellngton, and off Terawhiti the boat had a very rough experience. Heavy seas repeatedly broke over the ship, and one of the firemen was knocked down and received injuries necessitating his be- | ing; landed at Xew Plymouth to seek ! medical assistance. From Xew Ply- ! mouth to Onehunga the conditions were more favourable, the storm being less violent, though a big sea was still running. Ihe Takapuna was unable to leave Onehunga .yesterday afternoon, owing to the terriffic sea running on the ilanukau Bar. Her departure was consequently delayed until this morning, I and the boat left at 9.30 a.m. ''"" I The coastal boats due at Onehunga : to-day are all bar-bound in the different ports from which they were expected. The Waitangi and Claymore are both stuck up at Hokianga, and the Muritai is sheltering at Xew Plymouth, waiting to go on to Opunake and discharge her cargo before returning to Onehunga.