A COLLIER BUFFETED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 118, 20 May 1914, Page 8

A COLLIER BUFFETED

THE WEATHER IN COOK STRAIT. The mariner in Cook Strait yester- 1 day was a man to be pitied. There the j southerly gale was felt in all its sever- j ity, and boats crossing to Wellington were badly buffeted. Tliq. Whangape suffered most, and took 54 hours to do a trip from Westport, which in the ordinary course should take about 22. The vessel left the Coast on Sunday afternoon, and as soon as she rounded Farewell Spit she ran into , dirty weather. For a long time little headway was made. Subsequently shelter was sought in Guard's Bay until yesterday morning. The gale had not moderated when the journey was resumed, and the Whangape had a particularly trying time off Sinclair Head. She was heavily laden with coal, but at tho same timo she tossed about like a cork, and those on board had genuine cause for alarm when the wind increased to hurricane force, and the four heavy derricks were dislodged. Two went by tho board. Much of the rigging was broken ; also a ventilator. The crew were extremely thankful when the vessel was securely tied up to the Railway Wharf. Tho Kamo also experienced one of her worst trips, but suffered no damage. Many small boats are still sheltering in Cook Strait. SEAMANSHIP APPRECIATED. In yesterday's Poet a report of the Warrimoo's experience was published. On arrival in port, the following testimonial was handed to Captain Drewelte: Cook Strait, "19th May, 1914. "To Captain Drewetto, "U.S.S. Co.'s WaTrimoo, "Dear sir, — We, the undersigned passengers, who, leaving Auckland lGfcli May;. 1914, booked for Gisborne and Napier have, owing to rough weather and high seas, been carried past our respective ports, and aTe now leaving Wellington, desire, before dispersing, to place on record our warm admiration for your seamanship and our sincere appreciation of your attention, to the arduous duties of your command. , " We have no hesitation in saying that tho result has been that, notwithstanding our somewhat long detention on board, we, in common, with the through passengers, have throughout felt an entire and most welcome sense of security. "Wo also include in our thanks your officers and the ship's company of the Warrimoo, with a special a\ id of appreciation for the chief steward and his staff, who in difficult surroundings have doiio everything possible to minimise our discomforts. " Hoping it may be our good fortune to voyage in many vessels under your command with more favourable weather conditions, and wishing you ' Good luck.' . . ." The above is signed by fifty-four passengers. «