LYTTELTON WRAPPED IN FOG.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1142, 1 June 1911, Page 4

LYTTELTON WRAPPED IN FOG.

ARDUOUS TIME FOE STEAMERS. IBy Tcleeraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, May 31. All steamers for Lyttclton havo been delayed by a dense fog. There was no sign of the Mokoia from Duuedin at G p.m., and her sailing for Wellington, East Coast, and Auckland lias consequently been postponed till to-morrow. Tho harbour was completely enveloped in a dense fog in the morning.' Up till 9.30 a.m. it was impossible to see more than a few hundred yards. Tho first steamer to arrive under these difficult conditions was the Storm, from Wauganui. She came into port at 5 a.m., and left again at 10 a.m. So dense was the fog in tho harbour, however, that it was after 11 o'clock before sho cleared the heads. The fog signal at Godley Head was set working shortly after the fog crept in from the sea, and the signalmen at Adderley Head could hear the bells and whistles of several steamers in the fog outside. To enable tho ferry steamer Mararoa to get into port, the Union Company sent the steamer Purau down tho harbour to pilot her, but it was 11.20 a.m. before she arrived at the breakwater. The second express was lipid at Christchurch to enable passengers and mails for tho south to connect. Captain Manning stated that tho Mararoa ran into the fog about 0.15 a.m., when she was about 40 miles from Lyttclton Heads. Sho came slowly across Pegasus Day, and, catching a glimpse of Godley Head lighthouse through a break, he entered the harbour at 9.30 a.m., but had to anchor a few minutes* later. When the launch came down he was able to proceed slowly, and a clearance of tho fog half-way up the harbour enabled him to make port w-ihout further delay.. The fog cleared away at Lyttclton itself shortly after 11 o'clock, but, at tho heads, it was as thick as ever, and completely blocked the entrance.