PORT OF GREYMOUTH AGAIN CLOSED

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 21, 19 October 1944, Page 4

PORT OF GREYMOUTH AGAIN CLOSED

Effect Of Bad Weather Dominion Special Service.

GRKYMOUTH, October 18. A recurrence of bad weather has resulted in the closing of the port of Greymouth again for coastal shipping. The Port Waikato, with timber for Wellington, has been bar-bound for four days, and there is still little prospect of her early departure. The Poolta, loading coal and timber for Napier, has been unable to work for two days because of the rain and high wind. The most serious aspect of the situation is the fact that the Kartigi, to load urgently-required coal for the Auckland gasworks, has been in the roadstead since Tuesday rfight. and there is no indication that she will be able to enter port soon. Normally she would load more than 2000 tons of coal, but it is likely that this will be considerably reduced because of the restricted tonnages as a result of the bar situation, while the slowness of the coal iu coming forward from the Liverpool mine may be a further delaying factor. The Rata, to load for Castlecliff, is also riding in the roadstead. Wind of gale force swept the district in the early hours of tiiis morning, levelling power lines and causing other minor damage. At Reefton a bank building lost part of its roof.

POSITION AT WESTPORT (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WESTPORT, October 18. With the Westport bar unworkable for more than a week, four vessels have been tied up to tile wharves awaiting departure. The Karepo has been loaded since last Tuesday week,' the Wingatui since

Friday and j_he Holmlea and Titoki since Saturday. The reason for the hold-up inis been the rough weather on the liar. The depth of water is not known, no soundings having been taken since Saturday. At low tide this evening there was a

fresh running estimated at six knots which it is hoped should eliminate the shoaling on (lie liar. As soon as the rough seas abate on the bar outside and satisfactory soundings 'are obtained, normal working of the port should be possible. A Stockton State mine official said today that, starting from tomorrow, coal would be railed to Lyttelton for shipment to tile North Island. This would be a temporary measure while the harbour was unworkable.