HUGE SEA SHIPPED.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20273, 26 June 1931, Page 18

HUGE SEA SHIPPED.

DAMAGE ABOARD MATAROA. (miss isaocuTToar teles a am.) WELLINGTON, June 25. Reports from incoming ships indicate that the southerly gale which swept the east coast of the Dominion from Tuesday night till this morning was the worst experienced for several years, the seas encountered being unusually heavy. Minor damage was done to the Shaw, Savill, and Albion liner Mataroa, which arrived at Wellington shortly after noon to-day about six or eight hours late. The ship ran .into the gale on Wednesday when nearing the coast, conditions rapidly becoming so bad that she had to reduco speed. About 1 o'clock this morning she was several hours' steam.to the northward of Cape Palliscr. Without warning a liuge sea, what is termed by mariuenT a "rover," crashed over the forecastle head and completely iilled up the forward deck. Several ventilators were knocked out of shape, rails were bent, and awning spars and stanchions, as well as the crutches on which the cargo derricks rested and other fittings, were damaged by the force of the huge sea. No one was injured. The German motor-tanker Mittelmeer, which left Auckland on Monday evening and should reached Wellington on Wednesday night, ran into the gale after passing East Cape. She was compelled to heave-to north . of Castle Point until the weather moderated, and she arrived in the stream tonight, '