STORMY CONDITIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 1 September 1938, Page 15

STORMY CONDITIONS

EXPERIENCE ON COAST. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 31. Completing her round trip for the maintenance of lighthouses on the northern coast in some of the most boisterous weather she lias yet encountered, the Government lighthouse steamer Alatai returned to Auckland to-night. The easterly gales which last seriously affected shipping movements week forced the Alatai to remain in shelter at Deepwater Cove, in tiie Bay of Islands, for three days. After leaving Auckland at the beginning of last week, the Alatai had ideal conditions to Cape Afiu'ia Van Diemen, but as soon as the work there was finished a severe east-north-east gale began. The steamer proceeded to North Cape, where she was able to work in sheltered waters. Last Thursday the severity of the gale on the east coast, however, prevented her from working at Cape Brett, and the Ivlatai put into the Bay of Islands, where she remained on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visits were paid to Cape Brett, the Chickens group, and Aloko Hinau Island on the way to Auckland. During the Alatai’s vovage a number of transfers of lighthouse-keepers were effected. Work will begin at her berth tomorrow in the loading of a considerable amount of equipment to enable a start to be made on the erection of a rtdio beacon at Cuvier Island. . When the Alatai leaves on Monday morning she will also take a party of Public Works Department employees to erect the apparatus. It is expected that about four davs will be taken in lightering material from the ship to the island, where the men will be housed in a store adapted for their accommodation. Should unfavourable weather be experienced, the Alatai will leave her anchorage for the shelter of Great Barrier or Great Mercury Island. On the return of the Alatai to Auckland at the end of next week similar equipment will he loaded for the construction of a radio beacon at Aloko Hinau Island, which, , with that at Cuvier Island, will form a valuable aid to navigation of the approaches of the Hauraid Gulf, ::