AUPOURI IN A GALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 96, 24 April 1922, Page 6

AUPOURI IN A GALE.

SEVERELY BTTFFETED OIT THE WEST COAST.

INJURY TO PASSENGER. - After having made an unsuccessful attempt to reach Hokianga from Onehunga, the Northern Steamship Conpanv's eteampr Aupouri returned to Onehunga on Saturday afternoon. The vessel was slightly damaged as a result of the storm experienced on the West Coast, part of the deck cargo and fitting! being washed overboard. Tbe Aupouri was dispatched from Onehunga for Hokianga on Thursday afternoon "-with 30 passengers on board, and on going down the harbour received the aignal that the bar was "all clear." TOea she reached the bar at 8 p.m. the weather was fine, and the first part of the bar was negotiated safely. A particularly heavy sea struck the Aupouri when ehe was almost across, sweeping her from stem to stern, right over the captain's house on. the bridge and filling the deck* level with the'top of the bulwarks. The heavy waves stove in the iron bulkhead just in front of the smoking room.

While the crew were engaged in during away the deck, an elderly passenger, Mr. Samuel Blair, was found lying aft on the deck with a broken teg and severe bruises. Practically the only secure place on the ship was the hndga deck, where the passengers and trew sought shelter. One passenger who *& walking along the main deck was caught by a high wave, and only managed ta escape being washed overboard by grasping the open ports of the engine room. By the time the Aupouri had cleared the bar three tons of coal on deck hid entirely disappeared, wlhile practically the whole of fifty cases of oil trer* washed away, the tins being smashflat and pieces of the cases being strewn over the bridge and down into the engine room through the skylights. Other damage resulted in a broken ladder, leading from the bridge to the deck, while a paint locker had been smashed. A heavy grating( 12ft by oft, used in stowing mooring lines, was washed overboard, and t«e front of the bridge WM stove in. All the steerage, deck cabins, forecastle and officers' quarters were flooded out, more especially on the starboard side of the ship, which held about four feet of water. Fortunately no water found ito way into the holds of the Aupouri. After the bar had been crossed the weather improved, and it waß decided to make for Hokianga, which it was expected would necessitate a nine hours' voyage. This hope was soon dispelled, for about midnight the heavy sea w» greatly aggravated by a gale, and progress was greatly impeded, the Aupouri taking 17 hours to steam 47 miles. Another change eventuated on Friday afternoon, the wind veering round to west-north-west, blowing with increased violence, accompanied by heavy' ram squalls. Conditions became so bad that for a time the ship had to be kepthead on to the sea, but a wind that shifted towards the west caused her to drift toward a lee shore. Seas twenty feet high were running, making the conditions trying and uncomfortable for the passengers. At half-past five on Friday afternoon, when 10 miles off Hokianga, with no prospects of an improvement in the weather and with the barometer readinc 2f).soin. the trip to Hokianga was abandoned. The Aupouri, one* turned round with the sale at bet quarter, made srood speed hack to One* hunca to '.ncl the injured passenger. Owing: to • th? heavy sea it was rough crossing the bnr. hut the Aupouri did not ship any water. On arrival the injured passenger was placed in an ambulance and was admitted to the Hospital at 1.45 p.m. On examination bein. made it was found that he had attained a fracture of the thigh ant bruises on the body. He is progress"? favourably. The master of the Aupottrl, Captain B. Burk. rendered useful medical assistance and skilfully bandage* the fractured limb. Repairs *?•*. effected this morning, and the Auponn is expected to sail this afternoon ft' Raglan and Kawhia.