MOUNTAINOUS SEAS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18148, 11 August 1924, Page 8

MOUNTAINOUS SEAS.

rough passages reported. (SFSCIiZ. TO "tb» KUfcSS.") WELLINGTON, August 9. All vessels arriving at Wellington in the past twenty-four hours report having been delayed by mountainous eeas, which appear to have been general on both the East and West Coaslf. The oil-tanker Mericos H. Whittier, which arrived yesterday from San Lsis, Obispo, experienced the worst of the gale, and on Wednesday evening; terrific Seas carried away two ventilators forward. Huge waves continually swept the ship, and the lower deck; ivas quite impassable. The vessel was in the neighbourhood of the Hippie if she had survived the storm on Thursday morning when the gale had attained hurricane proportions, but no sign was observed of any other vessel. The oil-tanker was forced to heave-to off the Heads on Wednesday night, as stormy conditions still continued, but yesterday morning an entrance was effected, although with some difficulty Huge seas were encountered! by the liner iiaahine, which arrived at Wellington this morning from Southampton. Two days out from the coast a strong northerly blew up, which was succeeded by a fierce south-westerly gale. Water was shipped in large quantities, and the .main deck was continually under water, some entering the cabins on the exposed sides. Speed had to be considerably reduced. No damage was done. Hie ship was too far oat to see any signs of the Ripple.

A member of .the crew stated that in all his experience ho h»dt never seen such seaa as were in the Strait, which swept- over the Mar*roa while fihe was searching for the Ripple on Thursday,