AWATEA LASHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 85, 11 April 1938, Page 9

AWATEA LASHED.

HEAVY STORM IN TASMAN. SHIP A DAY BEHIND SCHEDULE. N"osing into big head seas and with a full gale, the I'nion Company's express liner Awatea reported yesterday that she would be a day late in making Auckland on her voyage from Sydney. She was timed to arrive here at 7 a.m. to-day. but she will not make port before 7 o'clock tomorrow morning and is being dispatched on the return voyage at o p.m. to-morrow.

La>t evening Captain A. H. Davey reported that the weather was the worst he had experienced since assuming command of the Awatea. some of the era- running so high that ports in tlie chartliouse were stove in and the water deflector on the forecastle head buckled. The promenade de<-k and passengers" accommodation, he stated, had. escaped damage.

Captain Davey added that easterly piles had been met since leaving Sydney Reads. From noon Saturday until noon yesterday the ship had been eased down to nine knots, but the captain had not been compelled to heave-to. At 5.4-> p.m. yesterday, when speikincr from his ship. Captain Davey said she was •"><*» miles from North Cape, and the worst of the heavy going was over. Conditions were still rough, but speed had been increased to 17 knots. Most of the .103 passengers ap]>eared to experience j little discomfort by the conditions.

The delay to the means that N'ptr Zealand visitors to Sydney for F.asier wil? not arrive there on Thursday, but on the morning of <;ood Fridav

The Kakapo. freighter of the same line, i®. also a day late.