HIGH AND DRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 141, 16 June 1928, Page 12

HIGH AND DRY.

VICTIMS OF THE STORM. SCOW PILED ON REEF. LAUNCH BREAKS MOORINGS. DRIVEN ASHORE AT PONSONBY. In the tierce easterly gaie which swept the harbour during the early hours of this morning the scow Pahiki was piled on the Point Chevalier reef, and the fishing boat Ika was driven ashore alongside the Ponsonby wharf. Neither vessel was seriously damaged.

The Pahiki was anchored off Orakei, and when the gale was at its height, at about 4 a.m.. the master. Mr. Joe Empage. made a quick decision to run for shelter. The vessel, which was in the shingle trade, was flying light With a following sea, and the harbour li-hts obscured at intervals by flying spray and rain, the Pahiki drove up the harbour. The skipper managed to get under the lee of Ponsonby foreshore. When far out in the harbour the riding lights of the Rewa were showing up an endeavour was made to shape a course for the estuary off Cox's Creek, but in another storm of wind and rain the marks were obliterated. The scow's skipper then dropped anchor in shallow water, but the little vessel got the full force of the gale, and was driven onward until she was dashed on tne Point Chevalier reef. At this time—about 5 o'clock— the tide was TiigTi. and the seas were sweeping over the well-known reef, which juts far out into the harbour between Point Chevalier and Westmere. For some time the Pahiki laboured heavily, but as the tide ebbed she settled down firmlv on the rocks.

The members of the new were not communicative when a representative of the "Star" visited the scow this morning, and the skipper was grieved his tine little vessel, well out of her natural element, was to be a pictorial subject. It was gathered, however, that it was quite an exciting trip up the harbour in the dark hour before the dawn, and good seamanship was necessary lo find a haven oi safety, albeit it was sheer bad luck that she carried on far enough to strike the reef. "It was a wild nignt,"' said one of the members of the crew, L-ut bevond that he said nothing. Nothing could be dort to-day to refloat the Pahiki, but steps - ere "taken to make the vessel secure for the following high tide. Residents of Westmere ; d Point Chevalier got a surprise wher daylight came this morning to find that a "wreck" had been stage**. metaphorically on the front doorstep. During the morning a number of adventurous spirits walked along the rough terrain of the reef for a close-up view, while others found a way across from Westmere, a route which necessitated wading through a muddy and fairly deep creek. The fishing launch Ika, Ak 1736. was anchored off Curran Street, Ponsonby, when the full force of the blow caught her. The Ika soon began to drag, and in the end was cast on the rocks near the shore end of the Ponsonbv wharf Nothing was known of the mishap until daylight, when one of the residents in the locality got in touch with Mr. Peter Smith, who was a part-owner of the craft.

In the poundinrr which she received at high tide the Ika was considerably damaged. Half of the port superstructure amidships was wrecked, and a portion of the keel was damaged. No difficulty should be experienced in refloating the launch at the next high tide.

HEAVY EASTERLY GALE.

FERRY BOATS RUN LATE. Shortly after four o'clock yesterday afternoon the wind came away with moderate force from the north-east, bringing cold, driving rain with it. It gradually incieased till at midnight it was at gale force, causing the waters of th« harbour to be lashed into foam. Early this morning the wind veered round to the south and at noon it came from the east-south-east quarter. The rain had turned into a light drizzle and the atmosphere was cold. During the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day only .34 of an inch of rain had fallen, making a total of 1.43 in for the month. On inquiry at the Chief Post Office this morning it was reported that last night s gale had not affected telegraphic and telephonic communications with either north or south. Cargo operations on the wharves were not interfered with to any great extent and reports from overseas steamers, due in port, were to the effect that, although the weather was rough, they had not been delayed. Ferry Traffic. Some delay was caused to the ferry services, but the system was not seriously affected. The 8.35 boat from Devonport to Auckland, which usually brings the largest consignment of passengers, was nearly a quarter of an hour late in leaving the North Shore tee, but most of the lost time was made up on the trip to town, and the ferry wharf was rtached soon after nine o clock.

JtO SPORTS IN NORTH.

ALL MATCHES ABANDONED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. Rain last nijzht and this morning caused the abandonment of all sporting fixtures in Whangarei. ° The rainfall at 9 o'clock totalled 1.7 inches.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, this dav. All Rugby matches under the jurisdiction of the Northern Wairoa Rugby Union were postponed to-day on account of wet and boisterous weather. The return representative match will be played against Whangarei at Dargaville on Saturday next. The first match, played at Whangarei a fortnight ago, resulted in a win for Northern Wairoa by 5 points to nil.