MAORI’S ROUGH TRIP

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 19

MAORI’S ROUGH TRIP

~,+ , ,„., STRONG GALE AND HEAVY SEAS After one of the roughest trips she has had for a year or two, the steamerexpress Maori arrived at Lyttelton at 10.40 o'clock yesterday morning from Wellington, about three hours behind her usual time. Actually, the vessel was only two hours late in running time, as her departure from Welling- . ton on Monday night was delayed for an hour to enable 23 trotting horses to ■ be shipped. On clearing Pencarrow, the Maori met with big head seas in Cook Strait, with a fierce southerly gale and blind- v ing rain squalls. Cape Campbell lighthouse, usually abeam at 10.10 p.m., was not reached until 1.0 a.m. Kaikoura, the half-way mark between the two ports, was not reached until 4.40 a.m. In the latter part of the voyage the sea was more from the south-east, caus- ; ing the vessel to roll as Well as pitch. The Maori, however, was able to resume full speed from about 3.0 a.m. The Maori had aboard 300 passengers and the majority of them suffered : from the effects of the tossing about the vessel received. The welfare of the 23 horses was a source of anxiety to the accompanying trainers, some' of whom spent most of the night in caring : for the horses. The Railway Department put on a Special express to Dunedirt, which left at 12.25 p.m., for passengers on the Maori. '