A LONG VOYAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 133, 8 June 1925, Page 8

A LONG VOYAGE.

MARORO AT GISBORNE,

45 DAYS ON THE WAY. A SUCCESSION OF GALES. (liy Telegraph.—l'ress Association.) GISBORNE, Sunday. The schooner Maroro arrived last night after a tempestuous voyage of 45 days from Xewcastle. On numerous occasions sails were carried away. The crew were rationed for water, mid luxuries were cut out of the bill of fare. On May 10 the steering gear carried away, and the vessel for three days was battered at the mercy of the gale. On May 21 the mainsail, lower topsail and inner jib carried away in a terrific gust, anil after fresh stiils had been rigged, the second mainsail carried away. At eight o'clock tbe same night the rud-. dcr chains snapped clean. An exceptionally heavy sea struck the vessel. Three days later another galo was encountered and mountainous seas were shipped. The sails continued to give trouble until Gisborne was reached. On a previous occasion the Maroro made a prolonged voyage from Gisborne to Sydney, this being at tlie end of IH2I. On that voyage she sailed from Gisborne on December IS, and when about 500 miles east of Sydney encountered severe south-east gules. The schooner was badly buffeted, and on January 2 the rudder was completely carried away. The vessel was obliged to. heave to. and for four days was at the mercy of terrific seas, which continually broke over her. However, she weathered the storm safely, and on January 0, after it had abated, Captain Holme nnd his crew set to work and fitted up a jury-rigged rudder. by means of which the vessel was headed for Sydney. The same day she was sighted by the steamer Wiltshire, which wns asked to report her condition. The schooner eventually reached the vicinity of Tort Hacking, where she was taken in tow by a tug thai had been dispatched from' Sydney. She reached there on January 15, 31 days after leaving Gisborne. The Mnroro is well known at Auckland, nnd she occasionally makes a trip from (iisborne to this port. She is a wooden vessel of 2.10 tons, fitted with an IS horse-power oil ensrine. She was built at Whungiiroa in 1021. Her port of register is Auckland, but her managing owners arc Messrs. Clare and Clare, of Gisborne.