NEARLY CAUGHT BY CYCLONE

Evening Star, Issue 20089, 1 February 1929, Page 6

NEARLY CAUGHT BY CYCLONE

mm POMARE EMULATES CALLIOPE'S FEAT CRITICAL MANOEUVRING AT APIA ISPECm TO THE ‘ ST4B.’] CHRISTCHURCH, February 1. The Government motor ship, Maui Pom are, which arrived from the Islands. direct last night, encountered a cyclone at Apia on January IS. About midnight came a message from the harbourmaster at Apia warning the Maui Pomare that a cyclone was approaching, and requesting Captain M‘Donald to slip his moorings and put to sea. The cyclone, however, arrived almost as soon ns fho warning, for shortly after midnight it descended upon Apia. So sudden was it that it was impossible for the launch to let go the Maui Pomnre’s lines, and they were cast off from the ship. The motor ship then essayed to emulate the famous feat of the Calliope, to steam (or, rather, motor) out of Apia in the teeth of a cyclone. Being fairly light forward, sho was unable to keep hei head to sea, the ship falling away at every attempt An anchor was dropped to prevent the vessel being driven on to the reef, and a fresh expedient was then tried. The vessel’s stern was put to the sea, and after some manoeuvring, and many anxious minutes, the vessel commenced to move out to sea, stem first; and safely passed the reef. The vessel remained at sea for twelve hours, the gale maintaining its strength, with fierce squalls at times. As there was little hope of working Apia for at least two days, the Maui Pojnarc received a message to proceed to Niue. On arrival (here, strong squally winds wine again experienced, accompanied by heavy vain, thunder, and lightning. The vessel took shelter on the lee of the island, where sho remained for over three days. Instructions were than received from Wellington that, as the fruit on_ board was ripening, and as that for .shipment from Nine had ripened too much, the vessel was to abandon her call at Niue and piocecd to Lyttelton. The trip to Lyttelton took seven days.