SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2709, 17 June 1925, Page 9

SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

Rockets Seen Off Titahi Bay.

All Vessels Now Accounted For.

Queen Charlotte Sound a Harbour of Refuge.

Worst Gale In Years Now Abating.

The lot of those who go down to the sea in ships has been made particularly hazardous and unpleasant- during the recent raging gales that have been general along the coasts of New Zealand, and which are described by seamen of long experience as the worst they have ever encountered. Distress signals, as was stated briefly yesterday morning were observed shortly before .six o’clock on Monday evening from Tetahi Bay and that vicinity. The vessel in difficulties appeared to be about three miles off shore, but it disappeared behind Mana Island, and the lights were not Seen again. After the Government steamer Tutanekai had searched until eight o’clock yesterday morning, it was learned that the s.s. John, bound from Wanganui, about the safety of which grave fears were entertained, was safe in Queen Charlotte Sound, along with several other stormbound ships, which now have all been accounted for.

JOHN MAKES HAVEN SAFELY. AEAHURA AND TUTANEKAI SEARCH[Per Press Association.] BLENHEIM, Last Night. With the heavy weather raging in Cook Straits, Queen Charlotte Sound has become a regular harbour ot refuge for small coastal craft. Among those sheltering at present are the little steamer Cygnet, the Kohi, en route from Havelock to Nelson, and the steamer John, of the Holm Line, while there are four vessels sheltering under! Cape Campbell. Three of these have been identified as the Calm. Wootton and Wairau, The fourth is a very small craft and was believed to be the Cygnet until that vessel turned up at Picton. The unidentified vessel is possibly the traweler. Futurist, about which some anxiety has been felt, but no definite news can be obtained. The arrival at Picto>» ftt 1.45 of the John put an end to anxious fears which had been expressed as to her safety, following on the sighting of the rockets in Cook Strait last night. The little' vessel left Wanganui for Wellington at 4.10 on Saturday in company with the Titoki and Invercargill and struck the full force of the storm about, four hours after leaw ing port. The vessel was empty, carrying no cargo and though Captain Harwich, on her arrival at Picton, was not in a communicative mood, he admitted that he had never experienced anything like the weather encountered on Sunday and Monday. The John made the lee of Stephens Island on Sunday and anchored there until this morning, when she again was buffeted by the storm and reached Picton. She saw no sign of the Titoki and Invercargill after leaving WanganuL The Ripa reached Picton from Wanganui about 4 p.m. She left the northern port at 5 p.m. yesterday and hugged the coast to Kapti, then she plugged straight across the straits.

NO TRACE OF WRECKAGE. INTER-COLONIAL SHIPS BUFFETED. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Tutanekai returned to port this afternoon, after searching the area from which distress signals were said to have been seen near the Mana, Kapiti Islands and the Brothers. She saw no trace of the vessel, wreckage or cargo. The Arahura had stood by near Titihi Bay until 2 a.m., and when the Tutanekai arrived, the Arahura proceeded on her journey to Picton and Nelson. At first, it was thought it might be the steamer John, from which distress signals came, as this little vessel was coming from Wanganui to Wellington, but the latest information is that the John was at Picton, where she was sheltering, and as the gale has now abated, she may be expected to come across the Strait to Wellington. The John left Wanganui at 7.10 p.m. on Saturday, ran into the gale and arrived at Picton at 1.45 p.m. fo-day. The Kohi could not be located but at 6 p.m. information was received that she was sheltering in the French Pass. ' lehe Wootton had been sheltering at Port Underwood since Friday. The Kapiti which left Wellington cn Saturday for Wanganui, arrived there yesterday. The traweler Futurist, which went out on Monday morning was seen yesterday by the Titoki and Invercargill. The Waitemata, from Newcastle, was hove to for fifteen hours. Heavy seas smashed a horse cabin and splintered the end. of the bridge. The Moeraki also had a very rough voyage towards end and passengers were relieved when port was reached. All vessels are now accounted for. KAPITTS FIGHT AGAINST TEMPEST. "CAPABLE OP WEATHERING ANYTHING.” WANGANUI, Last Night, The little coastal steamer Kapiti, which arrived at Wanganui this morning, met the full force of the southerly gale and the trip from Wellington occupied 64 hours. The worst period was on Sunday night, when she was fighting against a raging tempest, with walls of water threatening to overwhelm her at any time. The steamer was continuously enveloped in blinding spray, as high as the top of the funnel, The Kapiti readied the river entrance, but had to put back to Kapiti Island for shelter. The Kapiti was tossed round like a cork, and the crew now think she is capable of weathering anything. T. . “Thev.oht ulsyflr ET E E E ULLMAROA REACHES SYDNEY. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Wednesday, 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 16. Arrived at 5.30 p.m.. the Uiimaroa, which was delayed through a slight mishap to one of her boilers. FORECAST. Present indications are for moderate to strong south-easterly to northeasterly winds. The weather will be changeable and showery in the East Coast districts of the North Island, and fair to cloudy generally elsewhere. The barometer has a rising tendency.

The little vessel Kohi left Havelock for Wellington yesterdct'?l'afternoon, but was glad to soek shelter in Queen Charlotte Sound last night, coming in through the main entrance. She attempted to leave by the Tory Channel to-day, but had to put back and is lying at present off the whaling station at Te Awitl. The Arawhura reached Picton from Kelson at 7 p.m. and proposes resuming her journey to Wellington at 9 p.m., but probably she will not attempt to enter Wellington Harbour till daylight. When the vessel was entering the Torj r Channel on her run from Wellington to Picton, at about 7.30 las! night, a wireless message from Wellington asked if she could see rockets in the vicinity of Tcrawhiti. Captain Prosser had a good look round, but reported he could see nothing. At about 10.30, after leaving Picton for Nelson, ho received a further message directing him to proceed to the vicinity of* Titahi Bay, where distress signals had been observed, and did so, cruising in tltc vicinity till daylight, but he saw nothing. At daylight the Arahura left the Tutanck'ai on the scene and resumed her voyage. Neither the Arahura, the Ripa, nor the John, when in the Straps last night, observed distress signals.

FIVE MEN AND A COFFIN. MAROONED ADD NIGHT ON SUBMERGED ROCK. BLENHEIM, Last Night. "A launch, in charge of Joe Wells and four other Maoris, left French Pass for Nelson, to secure the body of a relative, who died there, for burial near his own home. The coffin was duly taken aboard at Nelson, but when a few miles out, engine trouble caused the launch to be driven on the rocks and badly holed. The party with the coffin, scrambled on to a small rock some way from the shore. The rock became submerged and the party held on to the coffin, Submerged to the waist from 9 p.m. till 0 next morning, when the men were rescued by a small vessel, the Comet, all suffering badly from exposure.