MARAROA UNABLE TO LEAVE PORT.

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 84, 9 April 1920, Page 8

MARAROA UNABLE TO LEAVE PORT.

The southerly gale wliiuh struck Wellington in the early hours of yesterday morning (continued with unabated force throughout the day, and,one result was the serious dislocation of shipping. So severe was the storm last evening that the ferry steamer. Mararpa made no attempt to leave Wellington for Lyttelton, and she will now remain at her berth until to-morrow evening. When the time came for the steamer to sail, a few for--lorn passengeis had gathered on the decks, and they showed little disappointment when it became known that the Mararoa would not leave. The only steamer that wag ablo to leave Wellington yesterday was the Moeraki, which sailed at 6 p.m. for Sydney, .with a number of passengers. The Moeraki would no doubt pay for her courage by receiving an unenviable "dusting." Captain P. A. Petersen, representative at Wellington for Richardson and Co., received a telephone message yesterday afternoon from Wainui-o-mata' to tt the effect that the small steamer Koutunui was off Cape Turakina, at the western extremity of Palliser Bay, and was just managing to hold her own off a.lee shore against the fury of the gale and seas. The Koutunui left Wellington at 11 o'clock on Wednesday night for East Coast ports. Captain Petersen has not received any further advice to-day regarding the Kqutunui. but it is generally thought that the little vessel will weather the storm.

The C. and D.- liner Port Napier left Picton at 6 a.m. yesterday for Wellington, but owing to the gale it was found necessary to heave to in Cook Strait. A wireless message received in Wellington from the master of the vessel, Captain Compton, intimated that a strong gale wae raging and the weather was very thick. The Port Napier will come on to Wellington at the Srst opportunity. Numerous other vessels, in fact practically th© whole of the coastal fleet, are affected by the Rtorm. The Union Company's Kaitangata, which left Westport on Wednesday afternoon for Wellington, is sheltering behind Long Island. The Kapiti and Hawora, are bar-bound at Wanganui and Patea respectively, and the Wakatu is sheltering at Kaikoura. The Kennedy, which left Wellington at 11 o'clock on Wednesday, sheltered on the coast. She was expected to reach Foxtpn at noon to-day. Other units of the coastal fleet are held up at various ports on the coast.

. For the past thirty-six hours the wind and seas in Evans Bay have been, particularly heavy and the shores' were swept for their whole length by the combers. The Union Company's Komata and two of the hulks, had a trying time at the Patent Slip Wharf, as the heavy seas were breaking, over the stationary vessels. However, little or no damage is reported from the bay. Passengers by the Wahine had an uncomfortable trip across the Straits' this morning, and their agony was prolonged by difficulty in picking up the entrance, owing to the thick weather.

A wireless message received by the Union Company to-day from the Pate'ena,, which ■ left Picton this morning, stated that the vessel was compelled to lie to in Cook Strait. The message added : "Weather thick." The City of Agra is still in the stream awaiting a favourable opportunity to sail for Sydney. The only arrivals at Wellington to-day have been the Wahine and Kaitoa. The latter vessel will not return to Nelson to-night.

HARBOUR FERRIES.

The harbour ferry steamers Duchess and Cobar fared badly in the storm. To-day on the early morning trips, Rona Bay was unworkable owing to the strong southerly, and Eastbourne residents had to make the journey to Day's Bay in order to catch the boat. The Cobar, on her last trip from town, last night,, was unable to stay at Day's Bay, and she returned to Wellington.

NO CARGO BEING WORKED.

• Heavy rain has prevented any handling of cargo on the waterfront, and this has resulted in the postponement of'the departure of many- vessels. These include the Mokoia and the Paloona, particulars of whose sailing appear eLewhere.

IN THE HUTT VALLEY.

Considering its exposed position—a position which meant that it would receive the full force of the gale—the damage done by the storm in the Hutt Valley has bee*n remarkably light No damage, of any consequence has been reported by the works overseers in either the Petone or Hutt Boroughs, while the crops in the valley were not in a position to suffer material damage from the heavy winds. It was feared that the tomatoes would have been seriously damaged, but this was not the case. Flowering plants have suffered most of all, particularly •cosmeas, of which there was a notable display in the valley. The river has not risen to any great extent, and all the protective works are in good order. The full force of the gale has been experienced by train travellers between Petone and Ngahauranga. At times the waves dashed right over the carriages, and the ballast on the track : was washed away. However, the trains have been running to schedule time. At Petone one or two plate glass windows have been blown in.