Marama Strikes “Dirty” Weather

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7105, 14 March 1933, Page 6

Marama Strikes “Dirty” Weather

GROPING HER WAY IN DENSE POG

Per Press Association

AUCKLAND, Last Night.

Continuous heavy weather and dense fog oil the coast of New Zealand delayed for 10 hours the arrival of the Marama from Sydney. The conditions wero described as “dirty" the whole way over. Strong easterly head winds were encountered as soon as the steamer was outside Sydney Heads, and they were maintained unceasingly until New Zealand was approached. A wireless message was then sent to the shore intimating that the vessel’s arrival would bo delayed for seven hour 3.

About 4 p.m. on Sunday, however, the Marama ran into a thick fog and rain which blotted out all sign of land. Every attempt to pick up tho coast in the neighbourhood of Capo Maria van Diemen and the Three Kings failed, and as the fog became denser resort was made to sounding and the vessel’s fog siren was blown at intervals during tho night. At the samo time the course was set further out to sea. “It was impossible to see more than a yard in front of your nose at times,” said an officer. A special watch was kept from the steamer’s bow and some of tho officers had no sleep for 30 hours. The fog persisted all to-day until the vessel reached the neighbourhood of Cape Brett, adding a further three hours to her delay.