SOUTHERLY GALE ON THE COAST.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14294, 4 March 1912, Page 9

SOUTHERLY GALE ON THE COAST.

BAD WEATHER DELAYS SHIPPING.

'! he heavy rain on .Saturday delayed \vo::d:ig in Lyttelton, and several uteamors were ht-.d up. The Monowai had a very largo carg ■> l) I'j.-.d lor East Cor.J-t ports and Auckland, but the heavy ram caused a sui-po-.-'ion of work in the ev*i;ii)g. The vereoi'fl ,tii'j.-irture was iherctore postponed until to(i.i'y, mid her pnsnengers transferred to, tho Mliin. which was until 11,15 p.m. The Monowai will tail to-day- on arrival of the p.r.i. train for Wellington, Napier, Girbo-.r.e-, and Auckland. 'Jha Kini, which tirived yesterday meminrj fr~m G:\-Trncuti, hed v very dirty pas3r.se

down tho coast. Sho left Grcymouth nt 6.30 a.m. on Friday, and had a good run to Cook Strait, whore sho met a tstronjr southwest gale, which increased in foroo ns tbo vessel eamo south. Sho passed Capo Campbell shortly after noon on Saturday, and met with very heavy head onas and "fierce rain rquaJls i«ll tho way down the coast until arrival at. Lyttelton. Although tho Kini averaged ton knots an hour from Greyrnouth to Cook Strait, thoro wero times when alio was doing litllo more than threo knots an hour ufter passing Capo Campbell. Tho Yeseel shipped a good deal of water,, but canw through undamaged, and with her deck load cf timber intact.

Tho severity of the gale was such that tho ferry steamer Mara ma was 13 hours on the passage from Wellington, and. she did not reach Lyttelton until U. 25 p.m. yewterday. Captain Manning reported that the vessel encountered a very etronp southerly gulo with heavy head eons, and thick rain squalls, without any moderation until after passing Port. Robinson yesterday afternoon.

Captain Mancitig stated that tho Wakatn, which left Kaikoura at 10 o'clock on Satur. day morning for Lyttelton. was anchored for shelter behind Amuri Bluff yesterday afternoon.