FOG IN THE STRAIT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1095, 6 April 1911, Page 7

FOG IN THE STRAIT.

THE SYDNEY BOAT RETARDED. Particularly heavy fog enveloped the harbour entrance and surrounding coast all day yesterday, and last night. Vessels outward bound experienced great difficulty in navigating the fairway, and, when the Maori and Manuka were proceeding to sea last night, the constant blowing of their whistles could be heard by people standing on the Queen's Wharf until they were far down the harbour. . The arrival of the weekly steamer from Sydney was also late in consequence of the fug, and other shipping increments; were retarded.

MANUKA FOR SAN FRANCISCO. Shortly after 7 p.m. yesterday the Union Company's steamer Manuka left Wellington lor San Francisco, via Auckland, Rarotonga, and Papeete with some general cargo and 160 passengers. The vessel is due at the American port on April 28.

RUATIINE SAILS AT NOON. When she leaves the Glasgow Wharf for London at noon to-day the New Zealand Shipping Company'-, Ii.M.S. Rusihino will have on board a large general cargo and about 250 passengera. The work of loading the vessel was completed about noon yesterday, and the only cargo to be taken aboard to-day will be passengers' luggage, and some transhipments ex R.M.R. Ruapchu. Passengers must see that their effects are alongside the steamer by 10 a.m. and they must embark prior to twelve noon. The Ruahine is expected to , reach Plymouth on May 17.

K.M.B. AKAWA. Now loading outward cargo at Gisbornc, tlio Shaw, Saviil and Albion Company's Ar.iwa i<3 expected to return to Lyttcltoii on Sunday or Monday next. She then proceeds to Wellington to complete, and, on April 20, will leave here Anally for Louden, via. Rio de Janeiro, TcncrifTc, and Plymouth. The vessel is due at Plymouth on June 1, ojjd at London on the lollov.ing day.

RUAPEIIU ARRIVES. The New Zealand Shipping Company's Ii.M.S. Hu'apehu arrived at Wellington from London much later than was anticipated, for «ho did not drop anchor in the .stream until 7.15 p.m. yesterday. Vessels arriving in port during the day experienced very foggy weather in Cook Strait, and no doubt this delayed the Kuapchu on the run from Farewell Spit. She passed thai headland at 8.5 a.m. yesterday, and it was expected that she would have been in port about half past four in the afternoon. After medical inspection she will berth at the Queen's Wharf No. 1 south about 9 o'clock this morning.

Ti.S.S. CO.'S TRAINING SHIP. It is expected that tUo Union Company's training ship Dartford will ho ready lo loavc Lyttelton for Newcastle and San Francisco to-day. The new quarters, which arc fitted in the after 'tween decks, provide a large nicswroom for twenty-four boys, and three large cabins, each containing berths for eight boys. The quarters are exceptionally roomy ami lofty, and well lighted, and access to them is gained by a stairway from the upper messroom in the poop. In each cabin, double tiers of iron bedsteads, fitted along the walls, aro being fitted in place of tli" ordinary wooden bunks. Lockers, and all the necessary fittings arc being provided. Twelve new boys have joined the ship, and when all the other lads have returned from their holidays there will be thirsv-siv cadets on board, llithcrlo, twelve of Chcin have lived in the forward deckhouse, but when the now quarters aro finished the thirly-six cadets will all live aft. The Dartford'r, company will number nearly sixty all told when she is ready to saU. Captain J. Macdonold will retain command of the Dartford, and will bo weoir. t allied by Mrs. Macdonald.

NORFOLK AT AUCKLAND. During the early hours of yesterday morning the I'.-H.-S. Lino's steamer Norfolk arrived at Auckland from Liverpool, via way ports, and berthed at the wharf about noon. It is anticipated that the vessel will' resume her voyage on Saturday, and she should put in an appearance at Wellington on Tuc-idny morning ucxt. MORRAKI MEETS DAI) WEATHER. Much later than usual, this week's direct boat from Sydney—the Mocraki-arrived at Wellington yesterday, the delay having been caused by bad weather and a heavy fog in Cook Strait. Leaving Sydney on Saturday at 2.30 p.m., the vessel ran into a strong southerly gale- and heavy teas ut soon an she cleared the Heads. These con. dMions prevailed until April 3; thence moderate southerly winds and culm seal until arrival. Farewell Spit wag passed at 6.40 a.m. yesterday, and The Brothers at 1 p.m. Here a. dense fog enveloped tu« Mocraki, and Captain Rolls had to slow her down for an hour and a half. At about 2 p.m. the vessel was stopped, altogether, so thick was the weather. Eventually land was picked up. and the Mocraki made port and anchored in the Etream at 4.15 p.m., berthing at No. 6 ivouth at 5.20 p.m. Imports by the vessel arc ns follow:40 cases sugar, 60 lead bars, 382 cases soap, 25 casixi electric goods, 154 hales g.ilvanlrcd pipe, 1043 eases fruit, 25 barrels oil, 216 lcugtha rails, 1322 bags salt, 315 sacks pot. lard, 35 boiler tubes, 119 cases currants, 20 bales kapok, 5 cases silk, 66 bales straw, beard, 432 sleepers, 353 cases tea, 163 bag* tapioca, 1421 pieces limber, 840 sacks rico, 100 packages merchandise, 54 eases oil, s cases tobacco, 164 drums carbide, 30 boxes plates, 15 cases woollens, 50 cases eardincs, and sundries. The Mocraki also brought transhipments ex the following vessels:—Wakatipu, Annaberg, Haimu, Westfalen. St. Albnns, Orvicto, Arniand Uehic, Perth, Mongolia, Zcalandio, Thijua, Guthrie, and Apolda.

This morning the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's steamer Rangalira, wiU leave Wellington for Timaru, where slus continues Homeward loading.

Captain H. Fcathorston has been appointed harbourmaster to tho Waimakarii'i Harbour Board.

Tho barque Glcnshea, which put in t« Wellington on a voyage from Melbourne t« Falmouth, owing to a Ehortagc in her crew, is now ready to proceed to sea. While in port Captain Aslakson signed two men off tho ship's articles, one being th» man who was washed overboard and hauled back again. The thrco men required/ have been obtained.

Up till an early hour this morning there, wan no sign of Hie Arahora, from West' Coast ports, via Kelson ami Picton. Tho vessel left" the last-mentioned port at 6.45 p.m. yesterday, and should have arrived here about 11 p.m. It is probable that she in waiting for the fog to lift beforo nego-\ lititiug Tory Channel.

Ba/1 weather at Auckland has interfered 1 with the discharge of Home cargo trora the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's steamer Kia Ora. Consequently the vessel will not leave iho northern port for Wei-' lington until Tuesday next. She will ar-' rive hero on Thursday.

Colliers: The Folicrua left Wellington for', Grcymonlli last night, and returns here onJ Saturday. The Komata- and Wanaka leave.port for Wcstport to-day, and both are duoback again aljout Sunday. All three aro' .bringing coal cargoes. Mr. H. F. Tomlinson, second ofllccr of tho l Government steamer Hineino.i, left her 'rt Wellington yesterday. The third officer (Mjv Williams] has liesu promoted a step. To-night the lilackball Company's collier Ngahcrc is expected in port with a load ol coal for It.M.S. liuapehu. Tho Kon-i nedy is due here from Nelson to-monw, and sails again on the same day for Not- ' son and tho West Coast. , Having completed discharge of her cargo ol produce, the schooner -imolia. Sims left port for Ilavelock and Lytteltou yester- 1 day morning. At 11.15 a.m. yesterday the Government cteamer IKnemou left Wellington on her tour of the northern lighthouses. The vessel is. expected to ho absent from Welling-' ton for about four weeks. Owing to the heavy fog that prevailed , outside all day yesterday, tho coastal steamer Hunt, which left port at an early ■ hour yesterday morning for East Coast, was compelled to anchor in Worscr Bay until 11.10 a.m. She. then resumed her voyage. This week the Norwegian barquo Iljordce, which arrived at Lyttolton a few weeks ago from Norway, will leave tho southern port for Went port, where ' cha loads coal—probably for Surprise Island. Tho Lyltolton-ownod barque Bona, left Melbourne ou Saturday last, in ballast, for Kdithburg. At lhat port she will load call lor Timaru and Lyttclton. Consequent upon the appointment of Can-, tain J. Maxwell .13 assistant-Marine Superintendent for the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company (resident at Auckland), soma changes arc about lo take place in regard to other commanders of vessels in the company's fleet. Captain Chudley, or the Kia Ora, will take command of the Pikcha, p.nd Captain J. Mncfie, of the Tokomaru, will transfer to tho Kia Ora. Captain Kelly, at present chief officer of the Hangatira," will be appointed to the command of the Tokomaru.