FIERCE GALE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 231, 26 June 1931, Page 5

FIERCE GALE

Minor Damage to Liner STORM-TOSSED SHIPS Reports from incoming, ships indicate that the southerly gale which swept the east coast of the Dominion from Tuesday night till yesterday morning was the worst experience for several years, the seas encountered being unusually heavy. The ferry steamer Maori, which left Wellington on Tuesday night, had a particularly bad passage. Speed had to be reduced immediately the ship cleared I’encarrow Head, and for some hours she made no more than 8J knots. Passing Kaikoura Peninsula; at 6 a.m. on Wed; nesday—over four hours late —the Maori experienced very bad weather all the way to Lyttelton. Minor damage was done to the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Mataroa. which arrived at Wellington shortly after noon yesterday, some six or eight hours late. The ship ran into' the gale on Wednesday when nearing the coast, and the conditions rapidly became so bad that she had to ease her speed. About 1 o’clock yesterday morning the vessel was several hours’ steam to the northward of Cape Palliser. Without warning, one huge sea—what is termed by mariners a “rover”—crashed over the ship’s forecastle head, and completely filled up the forward well-deck. The sea wrought some damage on the forecastle head to the lighter fittings.' Several ventilators were knocked out of shape, the rails were bent, and the awning spars and stanchions, as wel las the “crutches” on' which the cargo derricks rested, apd other fittings, were damaged. No one was injured. The weather continued bad until the ’ ‘steamer rounded Cape Palliser early yesterday forenoon. The German motor-tanker Mittelmcer. which left Auckland on Monday evening, and should have reached Wellington on Wednesday night, ran into the gale after passing East Cape. She was compelled to heave-to north of Castlepoint until the weather moderated, and she arrived in the stream last night. The d'eparture of the Nelson ferry steamer Kaitoa was postponed from o.JO p.m. on Wednesday until 11 p.m.. and then until early yesterday morning.. The vessel left the wharf shortly before 6 n.m.. but the seas were still too heavy for her to clear the heads, and she returned to her berth. The Kaitoa is to remain in port until this evening, when she will leave at the usual time for Nelson, having missed one complete trip.