LOW TIDES IN GULF.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 47, 24 February 1923, Page 7

LOW TIDES IN GULF.

EFFECT OF CONSTANT WESTERLIES. STEAMERS DELAYED IX RIVERS. I .usually low tides in the Gulf this week have interfered with the running of many of the small coastal steamers and scows that maintain regular services to the river ports and outports. In consequence, the services have been anything but regular since last Sunday. At Waipu the trouble has been increased by the state of the bar there and the breaking out of a new channel.j The Pono has been more than a week working that port, whereas the tiipi usually takes about two days, including j time for cargo work. Leaving Auckland last Friday she arrived outside the liar] on Saturday, but as ihe heavy seas! made it dangerous to attempt to cross j inwards she proceeded on to Whangarei i Heads to shelter. On Sunday she re-1 turned to the river and crossed without.l difficulty, but while proceeding up to| Waipu she struck on a mud hank. She: was stuck in the river for three days' until some of her cargo had been lightered, and then berthed at the lower! wharf, for some time she had been awaiting an opportunity of sailing for Auckland, but is not expected to get out of the river before to-morrow. Her chances will then depend upon a change of the wind, or at least upon a modification in force. Continuous heavy weather from one quarter is always liable to affect the bars, and about a fortnight ago the Waipu River broke out in a new channel, while the old channel tilled up. The new channel has not yet been washed out sufficiently for the ordinary requirements of the small coasters that use the river. Masters of vessels trading to (oromandel. Thames Gulf, Mahurangi River, Silverdale River, and Pnhoi. all report poor tides. The Omana was stopped at Puhoi for three tides, and last, night was stuck in the Silverdale River. She hoped to get off early this afternoon when the tide was greatest and arrive at Auckland at 5 p.m. Her week-end trip to Arkle's Bay and wayports this afternoon was cancelled. At most of the other places mentioned the steamers have lost one tide. Owing to the Pono's prolonged delay her trip to Whangapoua. Kennedy Bay and Port Charles has been cancelled. and cargo for those ports will he taken by the Otiruai on Monday.