BUFFETED BY GALES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 170, 17 July 1908, Page 2

BUFFETED BY GALES.

NEW ZEALAND VESSELS HAVE. A TRYING TIME. A couple of timber-laden vessels from New Zealand, belated by the recent gales in the Tasman Sea, put in ail appearance at the port yesterday (says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" of Friday last)." Oue —the schooner Maroro—came in for a severe buffeting, the result being that her voyage from Kaglan occupied 34 day?. j The passage was marked by almost a succession oi gales from north-west to j south-west, with fierce squalls and high : seas. Although the little vessel arrived j within 40 miles of this coast three weeks I ago, it was not until yesterday that she j reached port, and even then had to be I towed down the coast from Port SteI phens, where she Lad anchored for sheli ter. I In a fierce north-west gale three weeks ] ago the schooner was driven to the southi ward of Jervis Bay, and another gale I from west to south-west and west-south-I west forced her away north again. She J was hove-to for days at a stretch, but i made good weather, pulling through the stormy ordeal unharmed. Eventually i the schooner made Seal Rocks, and as 1 supplies were short she obtained some tea and sugar from the lighthouse people ( there. Continuing her passage south, the vessel ran into a heavy south-west gale off North Head, and had to run to Port Stephens for shelter. She was taken in tow there by the tug Port Jackson on Tuesday, and reached the harbour j safely yesterday. I The barque James Craig, which follow■ed the Maroro into port, was 20 days covering the passage from Kaipara, and I she also had a hard battle with the ele- ' menta, the log showing a continuation of i strong south-west winds and gales. The land was made at Seal Rocks ten days ago, but strong west and south-westerly winds drove the barque out to see again, ; and she had a trying time getting back, owing to the adverse conditions prevailing. T£e barquentine Rio, from Greymouth, which also arrived yesterday, was more fortunate than the other vessels from New Zealand, and made a capital run of 12 days. The prevailing winds were from west to south-west, with an occasional hard blow, but the Rio made the best use of them, and picked up the Heads early yesterday.