S.S. MAORI IN A DENSE FOO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 837, 8 June 1910, Page 5

S.S. MAORI IN A DENSE FOO.

AN ARDUOUS NIGHT.

<I!y Teleeraoh—Press Association.)' " Christchurch, June' 1. - The ferry steamer Maori was fortunate in being able to berth this morning less than an hour behind time. At 8.30, when it was reported that the Maori was' inside the heads, the Union Company's officials dispatched the , steam launch , Canterbury, with Mr. Watkins, wharfinger for the company, on board, to meet the vessel. The launch took a lint; from the Maori's bow to .assist her tc manoeuvre alongside the' wharfs Ulti-. mately, she was made fast, much to the relief of her commander and her 125 passengers, who were able to connect with the express for, the south. Captain Aldwell stated that after leaving Wellington the weather was hazy and, anticipating that he would meet with a fog, he drove the vessel at full speed .in order to have as much time in haud as possible at the latter end of the journey. The Maori entered a dense fog in the vicinity of Kaikoura Peninsula and then, proceeding with extreme caution at reduced speed, the steamer was brought down close to Lyttelton heads and, shortly before seven o'clock, the reports of the fog signal could be heard. Feeling his way in, Captain Aldwell saw the flashes of tSie exploding cartridges and, guided by them, he brought his vessel inside the. heads at 7.28 a.m., and anchored nt ■ Gnilnn's Bay at 8.50 a.m., close in shore, in order to keep the hills in view. These were so close that a young lady living in a house close to the water's edge was able to ask passengers if they knew where thej were, and to tell thern that they were at Gollan's Bay.