A LONG VOYAGE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13876, 29 October 1910, Page 10

A LONG VOYAGE.

FIVE MONTHS FROM LONDON,

Lieut. Ronniek, one of the navigating officers, supplied a "Press" reporter with a detailed account of the eutward voyage of tlie Terra Nova from London to Lyttelton. It was difficult to imagine, after seeing the trim and tidy vessel, with her black topBides glistening -with fresh oaint and her clean Avhite-paint deckhouses and tipper structures and shining brass--rork. that tbe shin had l>ecn nearly five months on the passage from London. _Mie appeared rather to be clean osufj of dock, except that grass aud other manno growths Avere showing along the water-line.

The Terra Nova left London. \>n June Ist, ami two days later she put .into J-ortsmonth, where she remained for four days. Cardiff was reached on June 9th, and the vessel entered th_ *«!__ a. that port the following day. __ busy '-tune, followed, and tho Teasel

waa engaged for five days in loading stores and bunker coal. Amid tremendous enthusiasm, and in the presence of a huge crowd, the Terra Nova and her gallant company left Cardiff on Juno 15th, and a couple of days Liter was well clear of tho English coast. The first point touched at was Madeira, where the lerra Nova arrived on the evening of June 23rd. After a brief stay of two days, _pen. in coaling, she sailed again on the morning of June 20th. Fair Aveather was experienced through the tropics, and a month later the vessel reached South Trinidad, a lonely island well out from the coast of Brazil, and a little to the northward of the latitude of Rio de Janeiro. The island was quitted on July 28th, and after a good passage of 18 days, the Terra Nova reached Simonstown on the evening of August l'lth. The vessel relied chiefly on her sails on the passage to Simonstown, although there Avere many occasions during Avhich the engines had to be used, owing to adverse weather conditions. The best day's run was 227 knots in twenty-four'hours, both engines and sails being used. After an eighteen days' stay in port, the Terra Nova left the Cape on September 2nd, using both steam and sail for the first two days out. Strong westerly Avinds were then picked up, and the vessel made good speed under sail alone while running her easting doAvn for the next week. Strong easterly Avinds ivere met with on September 10th, and for a Avhilo the vessel had to head away to the northward. Once more tlie "westerlies blew strongly, nnd the vessel traveller! fast under* sail alone, the best day's run being made on September 21th, A.hen 188 knots were covered. The Terra Nova reached St. Paul Island at o a.m. on September 21st, but owing to heavy hail and sleet squalls and rough seas, no landing could be made, and the vessel headed for Melbourne. More or less favourable winds were experienced, and at 8.20 p.m. on October 12th the Terra Nova anchored near Gellibrand lighthouse in Port Phillip. Next morning she proceeded up the bay and anchored near the ay est era railway pier at Port Melbourne. After coaling, the Terra Nova left on the 16th jnst., and after testing tho deep soa dredge, she anchored for the night near H.M.S. Powerful, which was lying down tho bay. Next morning at 11.30 a.m. tho Terra No\*a hove up anchor, and under all sail and with a fair wind stood out past the Avarships, and headed for sea, on the final stage of her long journey to Lyttelton. Strong fair Minds and fine weather were experienced, and tinder sail and steam the vessel made {)} knots an hour. At times it Avas blowing half a gale, but the engines Avere kept going to assist the sails in driving the . vessel at full speed to Lyttelton. On Thursday. 20th inst., the wind died away to a light breeze, and finally hauled round to a "dead muzzier," Avhich hampered the vessel's progress considerably. The New Zealand coast Avas lirst sighted in the vicinity ol Puysegur Point, that headland being passed at 8.10 p.m. on Monday last. At 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday the Terra Nova passed the signal station at the Bluff, where she signalled and asked to be reported to Christchurch. This, however, was not done, the lirst intimation of the approach of the Terra Nova being received from Cape Saunders lighthouse, tvhich was passed at noon on Wednesday. Fresh to strong head Avinds and head seas delayed tne progress of the vessel up the coast, and on Thursday evening, Avhen nearing Banks Peninsula, a dense fog was met. At 7.5 p.m. tho vessel slowed down, as her commander and officers, finding that it wonld be late before she could reach Lyttelton, decided to stand off until daylight. A lift in the fog at 10.15 p.m. disclosed the welcome beam of Godley Head lighthouse. The Terra Nova cruised about until daylight, and then headed in for the harbour. The Government steamer Hinemoa passed her shortly beforo 5 a.m., but was soon lost to sight in the dense fog. The signalman at the Heads, lioavever, had seen the masts of both vessels above the low-lying fog. Captain Thorpe, harbourmaster at Lyttelton, who was in readiness, left port in the tug Canterbury to meet the Terra Nova, and pilot her into harbour. Tlie dense fog hanging about five miles off shore effectually hid the Terra Nova from sight, and it was not until 8 a m. when the tug had stood in under Adderley Head in response to a signal that a steam trawler was in distress, and wanted immediate assistance, that a lynx-eyed reporter caught sight of tho topmast and topgallant yard of the vessel shewing above the fog. The tug headed for her at full speed, and soon the Terra Nova, steaming leisurely for the harbour entrance, burst into full "new, her black hull and square yards showing up in strong relief against the tvlnte fog bank. In a few minutes the P l, 9 t . and the Pressmen were on board and hearty greetings tvere being exchanged. At 8.45 a.m. the ferry steamer Mokoia, inward bound from Wellington, passed about a mile off. Her passengers crowded along her rails, and a faint cheer came across the sunlit stretch ot water. Both vessels dipped their flags, the white ensign of the Terra Nova acknowledging the salute of the New Zealand red ensign of the Mokoia. 6]o-fl-ly the Terra Nova made her way m through the Heads, and punctually at 10 o'clock she entered the moles at Lyttelton, after a passage of 10 days 14 hours from Melbourne '