EFFECT ON SHIPPING

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14657, 5 May 1913, Page 4

EFFECT ON SHIPPING

STEAMERS' LONG AND ROUGH TRIPS.

On Saturday morning the wind was blowing with renewed force at Lyttelton after a slight improvement during the night, with hard squalls, of ram and bail but with a rising barometer and'fitful gleams of sunshine between the squalls, camo promise of finer weather. It was bitterly cold, and thero was a heavy coating of snow and sleet on Mount Herbert, Steamers arriving ; reported having had a very stormy and "dirty" night at sea. After a rough buffeting in tho j southerly gale, the Union Company's] intercolonial liner Manuka arrived in Lvtteltoa from Sydney, via Wellington, at daybreak on Saturday, and her passengers wero very glad to reach port after their unpleasant experience. Tho Manuka lett Wellington wharf at 5.15 p.m. on Thursday, but was forced to anchor in J the stream shortly afterwards. Tho strong southerly gale had raised a very j high sea, and as the weather was \ery j thick and dirty, Captain Reid wisely decided not to attempt to go to sea until tho morning. -At S.lO a.m. on Saturday the weather had cleared somewhat, and the Manuka got under way and cleared Pencarrosv Heads safely. A hard southerly galo was blowing, and the Manuka had a very rough time crossing Cook Stra : t. She shipped a good deal of water, and such was the force of tho gale that for hour? she was not making more- than 8 knots against the gale and sea, and was several hours out before she passed Cape Campbell. Tho gale continued with scarcely diminished force all day, and the.passengers who had to remain below had a very unpleasant passage. After tho steamer had passed Kaikoura, the gale abated somewhat, and tho sea decreased as tho vessel got; farther south. Finally, as thero was no object to be gained in coming into port after 1 a.m., Captain Reid eased tho vessel's snopd, and sho arrived in Lyttelton at H'/iO a.m., jn=t before daybreak. In the faco of tho handling sho experienced, tho Manuka proved herself a good sea-boat, and camo into port undamaged." The force of tho gale is evidenced by t-'io fact that the turbine steamer Maori was two hours lnte arriving at Lvttelton on Saturday morninp. Sho loft Wellington at 8 o'clock on Friday night, and cleared the Heads safely shortly afterwards. There was a very strong southerly gnlc blowing and a hijrh sea running in tho Str."i f s. and for the first few hours tho Maori had a very rough time. As usual, she made a good fight, and forced her way south in fine styV She arrived in port at 8.55 a.m., and was promptly berthed without a hitch, and her passengers were awtv to Ohrisfrhiirch fit 9.30 a.m. Tho littlo steamer Cygnet arrived at 2 a.m. on Saturday, after a trip of nearly 15 hours from. Kaikoura. At Lyttelton throughout Saturday and yestorday, tho squalls were exceptionally violent, and tho heavy rain and hail disorganised cargo working on Saturday. The Maori was kept back till 11 p.m., as tho Mokoia's sailing was postponed until this afternoon- Tho Maori and the Waitomata wero tho only departures on Saturday night. Tho weather showed no improvement yostorday and steamers duo from the north wero all delayed. The Pukaki, which left' Westport on Thursday morning, tho Arapawa out from Gisborno since noon on Friday, tho Waraka from Napier since Friday evening, tho Opojiri from Greymouth since 9 p.m. on Friday, and tho Storm which left . Picton at 4 a.m. on Saturday, wore;'all. duo yesterday, but did not make .gorfc. I Tho Kittawa from Greymouth; and thb Kairaki from Gisborno are nlso on their way but aro not duo until to-night. Tiio Maiaroa experienced a strong galo and a heavy sea. which increased southward of Capo Campbell and until sho was well south of Kaikcura. At 2 a.m. sho passed tho Opouri, bound from Greymouth to Lyttelton, abreast of Cane Campbell. The Wiinincra, bound from Wellington to Dunedin, passed Lyttelton Heads at 11 yesterday morning.