THE GALE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 71, 23 March 1908, Page 5

THE GALE.

HANDA ISLE'S STORMY VOYAGE.

The barquentine Handa Isle, which arrived from Newcastle yesterday, was thirty-four days on the passage, having been delayed by rough weather, which was experienced from the . outset. In mid-ocean she encountered the heavy gale, which did considerable damage in Auckland on the 6th and 7th inst. The vessel's 'decks were flooded for severaj days," and Capt. Sargent remained at the wheel for two days. Tiri Tiri was sighted, on Saturday night, but it wa.i twenty-four hours later when the anchorage was reached, this delay being due to contrary winds.

GALE IN. THE SOUTH.

CBy Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Sunday.

The steamer Rotomahana, which left Lyttelton at 6.10 .p.m. on Friday, and was due about six a.m. on .Saturday, did not put in an appearance till nine p.m. About four a.m.. the Rotomahana was near Wellington Heads, but being unable to pick up the light she turned south, and steamed slowly till the weather improved somewhat; When at half-speed she made" three knots an hotir against the gale, and 11 knots with the gale. The coastal steamer Kahu arrived from Napier at 2.15 o'clock yesterday afternoon, having taken 85 hours on a trip "\Vi—-usually occupies 24 hours. She left Napier on Wednesday'night, anu except for an interval of 1- hours' sheltering at Castlepoint had been battling with the elements until two o'clock on Saturday, Her position at the heads was seridus,. ..The. sea,., according to Captain 'JLnompson, was tremendous, the weather thick, and the coal bunkers of the vessel at a low level. There was not enough fuel to take the vessel through the straits, and Captain Thompson had great difficulty in maKing port. Perhaps the toughest experience was that of the little steamer Tasman. She left Nelson for Wellington at four a.m. on Saturday, and when a few miles from Cape Terawhiti shipped a heavy sea, which washed clean over the bridge into the engine-room, and into the saloon, and baoly started the bulknead under the bridge, opening the' deck seams, and carrying away with bridge deck ladders and the hatch over the forehold. Captain Cox decided to puif back and ran into Oyster Bay, where he conferred with the captain of the Charles Edward. Captain Cox then took the Tasman to Picton, and had the deck temporarily recaulked. The vessel ran across to Wellington this morning. During the trip from Picton a heavy sea smashed in a port in the forecastle, and seas went over the vessel and again into the engineroom, the vessel having, to be stopped to enable the broken part to be blocked.