STORMY WEATHER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 279, 18 August 1908, Page 5

STORMY WEATHER.

ROUGH TRIPS OF TWO SCHOONERS,

GALES AND HIGH S3AS,

(BI TELEGItAPH —rItESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, August 17.

Two schooners which arrived at Lyttelton this morning had a rough handling in the recent southerly. The vessels woro ...the Eliza Firth, from Kaipara, and tho Falcon, from Havelock; They aro commanded respectively by the Brothers Captains D. and F. M'lntyre.

The Eliza Firth, with a full cargo of timber, crossed the Kaipara bar with a fair wind thirteen days ago. Fifty miles to the southward of Cape Egmont she encountered a strong south-west gala, with high seas, which was succeeded by a two days' calm. Then followed a hard south-westerly gale, which lasted for twenty-four hours, and which was succeeded by a calm lasting for a like period. Next day the vessel was beset by a strong south-east gale, and was compelled to anchor in Guards Bay, where advantago was taken of tho respite afforded to repair, the sails, which had suffored a good deal. On Wednesday last the Eliza Firth left tho Bank with tho tail end of tho galo, which was succeeded by light winds until tho vessel arrived in Lyttelton Harbour at 1.30 this morning. The Falcon, which is commanded by Capt. Frank M'liityre, who is making his first trip as master, was not so fortunate as tho Eliza Firth. Leaving Havelock fourteen days ago tho Falcon encountered a very heavy southerly galo in the Straits, accompanied by a high sea. On Wednesday, the second day out, when tho littlo vessel was battling against the gale, the cathead shifted, causing tho guy of tho jib-boom to become slack. Suddenly tho jib-boom snapped in two. Tho forcstay sail was blown away, and tho puter jib blown to ribbons. Without her head-sails it was impossible for tho schooner to work back to-tho shelter of Guards Bay, and Captain M'lntvre ran his vessel into Rangitoto roadstead'behind Stephen Island, whore she anchored until tho following Sunday. During the wholo of that timo tho weather was exceedingly bad, and tho vessel was beset by fierce sqilalls. Leaving tho roadstead wliciv'tlio weather moderated, tho schooner oncountercd another southerly gale last Wednesday, but it beinjr impossible to hold oil without her head-sails tho vessel was worked to an anchorago .on . Guards ' Bank, whoro the Eliza Firth was sheltering. The Falcon set sail once more last Thursday, aiid experienced calm and light winds until 'arrival at Lyttelton this morning.