ROUGH TRIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 103, 3 May 1934, Page 8

ROUGH TRIPS.

HARBOUR FERRIES. NCRTHCOTE BOAT PUTS BACK LIFEBELTS DONNED. The ferry services to the North Shore were maintained under great difficulties. The Northcote boats suffered most, as they had to get more into the tide rip on the passage across. There was delay on each voyage, but the one o'clock run from Nortlicote was the most difficult, and the passengers got somewhat of a fright when the Ngoiro turned back to Xoxthcote owing to a defect in the pumps which affected the water circulation system. According to one of the passengers, lifebelts were issued to those on board. "I never want to go through anything like it again," said a young lady who was a passenger by the steamer. "There were only seven passengers, live men and two women, and we were all in the cabin on the top deck. The sea was terribly rough and we <vere into the storm soon after we left the wharf. When we were about half way across a particularly heavy sea appeared to strike the ship and there was a loud noise down below. I then saw a man come up from the lower deck and apparently go towards the captain. It was difficult to see far across the harbour, as the spray was being dashed against the window panes. "A man then came into the cabin ami told us all to put on lifebelts, which we did without asking any questions. The ferry at one time appeared to get near to one of the hulks, but eventually she was headed for 2sortbcote again. 1 don t know how long all this took, but ;it seemed a dreadfully long time while we were /rolling about. When we were heading back for Xorthcote again a man told us that everything was all right, and when off Northcote Point we took our lifebelts off."

"Nothing to Cause Alarm." Light is made of the occurrence by Mr.' Alison, manager of the Devonport Ferry Co., who stated that nothing had occurred to cause alarm, and "if some hysterical person liked to pull the lifebelts out of the racks it could not be helped." The Ngoiro certainly put back to Northcote, but it was; to adjust the. water circulation system, and that might happen to any vessel at any time. The fact remained that the Ngoiro came back and was still on the run, and no one in authority had issued the lifebelts. When it was seen from the city side of the harbour that the Ngoiro had broken down the harbour authorities, after communicating with the Devonport Ferry Co., dispatched the tug Te Awliina to tow the disabled vessel to shelter, but before she reached her the Ngoiro' was seen to be returning to Northcote under her own power.