WAITANGI DRAGS HER ANCHORS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 204, 29 August 1910, Page 5

WAITANGI DRAGS HER ANCHORS.

NO DAMAGE SUSTAINED. Yesterday's gale was the fiercest experienced on the Manukau for many years, and the shipping had a very had time. Tie Northern Steamship Co.'s steamer Waitangi, which has been lying at anchor off Onehunga wharf for some time past, began to drag her anchor about 2.30 p.m. It was at first thought that she might possibly drift into Gedd-es' basin, but this hope was not realised, 'the force of the wind and tide driving her asfhore on the point just below the Tramway Company's tea kiosk. The tide was exceptionally high, coming up to the decking of the cattle landing on the eastward side of the wharf, and this fact, together with the high wind, drove the 6teamer right up to the 'bank. Fortunately 'the beach where she came ashore is not as Tocky as some of the spote in the vicinity, and though she bumped , considerably she is not damaged to any extent. A little water was coming in, probably a rivet being started, and men were engaged this morning digging a "trench amidships on the etarboard side to discover the cause of this small leak. The boat is high and dry at low tide, and though one or two plates have been dented by the rocks, she has apparently euffered nothing serioue. No difficulty will be experienced in launching her again, as deep water can be got about half a cable from her stern, and as soon as the tides suit —probably in a fortnight—she will be refloated. HEAVY SEA ON THE BAR. The only boat to tackle the Onehunga bar yesterday was the Blackball Coal Company's well-known steamer Petone, from Greymouth, with a cargo of coal. Captain Huir says he has never seen the bar wilder, a-nd the vessel got a good dusting. The bar was breaking for a good distance out to sea, and presented a. grajid sight. Tile Petone is an excellent sea boat, but she had quite enough to .do in negotiating the channel. Seas broke over the bows continually, and even the bridge was a very wet spot till the steamer got inside the heads. Coining alongside the wharf, a big sea struck the Petone, and it was only good seamanship that prevented her striking the end of the pier. ON THE EAST COAST. While the storm was severe enough in the city, shipping on the East Coast wa3 not seriously affected by it. The Navua met with bad weather shortly after leaving Nfipier on Friday night last, but she ■was able to call at Graborne. Between the latter port and Auckland the Navua experienced strong westerly winds and heavy head seas, which prolonged the passage several hour?., the vessel not arriving at Auckland until 9.30 p.m. yesterday. A motor launch, with a man named Roberts and a companion on board, broke down, and the craft was at the mercy of the wind and sea for a considerable time. The Ponsonby police sent a launch out to render assistance but in the meantime the refractory engine was got going again, and the boat returned to town. HEAVY SNOW IN CANTERBURY. (By Telejrrapb.— T> ress Association.) CHKISTCUURCH, Sunday. The southerly ,I Diow" continued during Saturday nigiit and to-day, and the higher points of the Port mils received an additional coaling of snow, lv the city there was a siigat fall of snow durii:y the night ana early morning, but au traces soon disappeared alter tb.e sun had been shining tor an hour or so. To-day was line, but a piercing cold wind was blowing. .Reports from the Methven district record that one of the most severe gales ever experienced in the district occurred on Friday and Saturday. At ten o'clock on Saturday morning there were three inches of snow on the ground, and it was still falling. This change in the weather has come at a very critical time, as many of the /locks arc lambing, and heavy mortality is sure to result. Frost is also sure to follow this snowstorm, and feed for stock, which is none too plentiful at present, will be further reduced. Snow was still falling very heavily at Methven at one o'clock on Saturday. So heavy is the snow lying at Barr Hill and the adjacent district that the mail from Rakaia to ilethven by coach was una-ble to get through. The weather has no appearance of clearing. Very heavy snow is reported from back country stations. Twelve inches of snow is lying at Springburn and Alford Forest. WINTRY WEATHER IN OTAGO. (By Telegraphs.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sunday;. Till yesterday fairly mild weather was experienced here, but about 5 o'clock last evening a sudden change took place. Heavy showers fell for about half an hour, and about S p.m. steady rain set in with very loiv temperature. This continued for some hours, while snow fel] on high levek. The weather to-day was very wintry. In the morning heavy showers fell, accompanied 'by thnnder, and just after mid-day a violent hailstorm raged for some time. The weather now appears more settled, but the temperature is still very low.