TWO ROUGH PASSAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7862, 18 May 1886, Page 5

TWO ROUGH PASSAGES.

[By Telegraph,] [from oue own correspondent.] Wellington, May 17. THE S.S. ROTORUA. The Rotorua arrived this morning from Lyttelton, after a passage of some three-and-twenty hours, the delay being caused by the prudent determination of the master to take shelter under the lee of Cape Campbell. The steamer was due here last night about midnight, and was for that reason a source of much anxiety in the town, particularly as several of the passengers were known. Had she come on, her position would have been most critical; a narrow opening in an iron-bound coast before her; a tremendous sea running; the light on Pencarrow Head visible for but a short distance; the steamer flying before the south-west gale—such would have been the situation. Had the Rotorua kept her course, nothing hut the most mathematical exactness would have placed her between the Heads in safety. But with such a wild sea and fierce storm, mathematical exactness could not have been depended upon. It is, of course, possible that by making proper allowance for disturbing causes, the master might have brought the ship safely in; but seeing that neither the light nor the land could have been seen in time to rectify mistakes on board a vessel travelling -at such a rate towards a lee shore, the danger of attempting to ruil in would have been very great. Hence the anxiety in town, when it was known that the Rotorua had started from Lyttelton about 10 yesterday morning. In proportion to this anxiety is the general approval of the Captain's wise determination to defer the entrance till daylight. In conversation with one of the ship’s officers, I have obtained a few particulars of tbe voyage up. On getting out of Lyttelton, the ship soon found herself tearing before the heavy seas, the wind blowing with hurricane force, the air thick with driving rain and sleet, the atmosphere darkened overhead with the flying scud. Away went the Rotorua, making good weather of it, like the good sea-hoat she is, but rolling fearfully. As time wore on, there was no appearance of any sign of abatement, and not a glimpse of the land could anywhere be obtained. Things got worse and worse, till darkness fell, when the of reaching Wellington safely before morning was clearly seen to be but small. It was, therefore, determined to go into Cloudy Bay under the lee of Cape Campbell, and have a quiet night, runningacross the straits next morning, with daylight to guide the steering. As nothing could be seen, neither land nor light (there is a light on Cape Campbell), the work of making the bay was not easy. The log for the distance run, and the lead kept constantly going for the distance off shore, and presently the Rotorua came in sight of the Cape Camp- ■ bell light, about two miles distant; from there to Cloudy Bay, and behind the shelter of the well-known friendly reef, being but plain sailing. The ship found herself comfortably anchored about midnight. Soon after she resumed her voyage, which she did between four and five in the morning, the sea higher and wilder than ever, but with a clearer atmosphere, the steam steering apparatus came to grief. “ What do you mean by letting her come up like this ? ” asked the officer of the watch, noticing considerable wildness of steering. “ Can’t help it,” was the reply; “ helm’s hard over” —a brisk, brief investigation revealing the truth. The ordinary gear was at once put into use, and required the services of fdur men to steer the Rotorua through the tut moil of water. During the run across her rolling was something to remember; but no damage was done, only one sea coming on board with anything like dangerous weight. This proved nearly fatal to one of the ship’s officers, who had a narrow escape of going overboard. The ship arrived safely, without further mishap, looking none the worse for her buffeting. As for the captain and his officers, they looked as if their voyage to Lyttelton and back (the first took them thirty hours, as you will have heard at the time) had absolutely done them a great deal of good> so fresh, robust, and healthy-looking were they. This is more than can be sal'idf some of the passengers. Regarding the Rotorua’s passage from Lyttelton, every seafaring man I hat*,come across, and everyone whose opinion I have heard quoted, approves emphatically the delay under Cape Campbell. “If he had not gone in there he would have got into a mess. It was the very best thing he ever did in his life.” This was the opinion expressed by one and endorsed by all. To feel its force one has only to realise that in making the land at Cloudy Bay the Rotorua’s people did not see the Cape Campbell light (a twenty mile light) until within two miles of it, and even this they were, I have since learnt from a passenger who was on deck at the time, only enabled to do by an unexpected momentary clearing in the weather. she got safely in the weather soon became dark and dirty as ever. It is evident that had she been kept on her course she would not have found the light on Pencarrow Head visible far enough to he useful in case of error, THE S.S. TE ANAU. The s.s. Te Anau, from Napier, had a most protracted voyage to Wellington. It was expected that she would, as the gale, which old sailors and Colonists of experience pronounce the heaviest blow they have ever known on the coast, was right in her teeth. The general impression was that she would take refuge under the lee of the Kidnappers, but this proved a mistake. In spite of the tremendous sea, the ship was kept on her course, and by sheer power made her way to Cape Palliser, by 10 o’clock yesterday (Sunday) morning. From there, a few hours ought to have brought her in, but tbe weather was too thick, for the rain, sleet, spray, and low driving clouds made it impossible to sbape a course. The master, declining to run the risk, kept his position as best he could, with the aid of his powerful engines, all through the day and the following night, until the weather clearing this morning enabled him to continue his course. He brought his vessel in about a couple of hours after the Rotorua. She behaved, I learn, marvellously well throughout the whole 45 hours of the trip (the usual time is 20 hours, the distance being 203 miles) ; dry, comfortable in every way, and thoroughly seaworthy.