TWO SHIPS NOT REPORTED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22445, 5 July 1938, Page 10

TWO SHIPS NOT REPORTED

WESTERLY GALE ON COAST HOKIANGA AND ROXAH OVERDUE voyage northward from ONEHUNGA (PRESS ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND. July 4. No report has been received of the progress of the coastal motorvessels Hokianga and Ronaki since they cleared Manukau heads on their voyages from Onehunga to Hokianga. They are now two days overdue.

Both vessels are presumed to have met the westerly gale which has raged on the coast for several days and, fearing a close approach to the lee shore, to have stood well out into the Tasman.

The Hokianga, of 170 tons gross, owned by A. G. Frankham. LtcL, left Onehunga on Friday morning, and cleared the Manukau bar at midday that day. The Ronqki, of 255 tons gross, owned by the Northern Steam* ship Company, left Onehunga on Friday evening and crossed the bar the following morning. The two ships normally make the journey up the coast to Hokianga in 14 or 15 hours, which would have brought the Hokianga to port early on Saturday afternoon, and the Ronaki across the Hokianga bar the same night. It is possible that the vessels are sheltering. Conditions at Hokianga heads late to-night were very boisterous, and no sign could be seen of the Hokianga or the Ronaki. It was reported that the Hokianga bar had been unworkable since late on Saturday.