SEA FOG

Evening Star, Issue 20149, 13 April 1929, Page 17

SEA FOG

SHIPPING HAMPERED The heavy fog which obscured the entrance of‘the harbour from daylight yesterday morning temporarily lifted in the afternoon sufficiently for the Manuka to onto' the harbour and the motor ship Rangitiki to sail for Bluff, The chin ranee only lasted a short time. Then the fog closed in again and the oil tanker Plume, which left Dunedin late in the afternoon, had to remain at Port Chalmers all night. Late last night the fog came in moic densely from the sea, and it gradually crept up the harbour. This morning b was so thick that the Plume was at times barely discernible at a distance of a hundred feet from where she was temporarily berthed at the end of the Geoigi street wharf. The Ma 111! ka’s sailing from Dunedin was consequently postponed.

MAORI'S SMART RUN

OSpecul to thb ‘ Stab.’] WELLINGTON. April 13. The fog which disorganised shipping from Dnnodi.i to Wellington only caused fourtto minutes’ delay to the ferrv steamer Maori on" the run from Lyttelton. Mistv conditions were exnerienced immediately on leaving harbour last, night, Godley Head being partly obscured. The steamer ran into heavy fog banks approaching Kaikoura, and wireless report from the Wahinc, steaming south, stated that it also was proceeding through fog. The crossing of two fast steamers at sea under these conditions provided some excitement lor the passengers, manv of whom kept awake on hearing the Maori’s whistle going at internals. There was a wireless report from the Wahine that it was off Kaikonra at I.J-j a.m.. in fog, and a similar message went from tho Maori, which proceeded cautiously, signalling almost continuously. At 1.30 a.m. the approaching steamer’s whistle was board, and sne was eventually picked up on the port bow half a mile iiwav. Advantage was taken of reserve power to push ahead rapidly during temnorary liftings oi heavy log banks, and Wellington'Heads were approached in good time. Then came a spectacular raising of the clouds only lor a few minutes, during which the .Maori safely passed Barrett’s Reef and made a course up the harbour. With not a single landmark available, the steamer was cautiously worked nronnJ towards the Quarantine anchorage, well off shore, ami the welcome sight, of the coal hulk at anchor gave sufficient bidication of the position and enabled 'the Maori to proceed, almost .drilting, until the wharves loomed up, though they wore invisible at 100yds. The lest was easy, and when the passengers congratulated Captain Irwin on Tns skill in landing them only fourteen minutes behind _ tune, l:o laconically replied—" luck. ’