ROUGH WEATHER ON THE COAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13235, 21 July 1906, Page 5

ROUGH WEATHER ON THE COAST.

SEARCH BY THE APANUI.

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VESSELS ARRIVE FROM THE

SOUTH.

The Union Steam-Ship. Company's' steamer Moura, from Dunedin and East Coast ports,' airivcd yesterday after a rough trip. _ The sea was eo bad at . Napier • that the port could not;-be worked. From Gfoborne to the Hauraki Gulf the Moura experienced heavy seas, although the wind • was rather light. Gisboriib was left at ten a.m. on Thursday, in thick weather. No signs of wreckage, or of any vessel in difficulty being seen on the passage up.

Up to the present no explanation has been offered that would -throw any light upon the blue lights that were seen burning out at sea, from Whitianga., Mercury Bay. The; Northern Company's steamer Apanui left Auckland for Mercury Bay and way ports last evening with instructions to keep a sharp lookout among the islands off Mercury Bay, including Mercury Island, for : any wreckage ;or > seamen who may ; have reached the islands.

Considerable feeling has been aroused among the shipping community at the fact that H.M.S.' Pioneer and Encounter did not proceed to Mercury Island immediately the news was received of distress signals having been seen in the vicinity.. . i

:; : The auxiliary schooner Kaeo arrived from Gisborne and way; ports yesterday, all well, but after a very rough trip. . She sheltered in Little Awahui, with both anchors down, and in spite of extra precautions she dragged towards a reef, but Captain Skinner was in no way alarmed, as the Kaeo is fitted with powerful engines, and could have gob away without difficulty. The Kaeo came through the passage between Mercury Island and the mainland, but saw no signals of distress. The weather was very thick at the time,; and if signals -were< made, it is doubtful if they could have been distinguished.

When the Kaeo was sheltering in Little Awanui ; she ; was in company with the schooner Waiapu, bound to Auckland. From Captain Martin, of the Waiajju, Captain Skinner learned that the scows Alert and Tramp were sheltering in Hicks' Bay, this side of East Cape, at the end of last week. There was' a strong westerly wind blowing then, but it hauled round to the Eastward oh" Sunday, and the. vessels had to stay where they were until Monday, notwithstanding their exposed position, when the Waiapu, Alert, and Tramp, jnit to sea. The scow May, from Auckland to Toka.niarii, with a tttrgo of timber,■'■has been reported as sheltering at Mercury Island. .

. SUPPOSED DOCKET SIGNALS. - [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ( Gisuorni.. Friday.

A gentleman riding to town to-night reports having seen what he believed was a rocket fired .in the direction of AYainui beach: nothing in confirmation is vet obtainable, but the Freezing Company's steamer Karoro, with the manager and Captain 'Sewell {the marine superintendent) have gone out to investigate, and are not expected to return until a late hour.. The coast line is enveloped in a .thick fog, and the Pakarae station has no information of any vessel passing either way to-day.

V The Freezing Company's steamer Kotare was expected from Auckland to-day. - "

The break in the East Cape wires has caused a good deal of anxiety owing to lack of information as to. the movements of shipping. -, _ -• -. ■ Later. : * 'The steamer Karoro has just returned after a fruitless search off Wainui Beach, but the fog is so thick that practically nothing can be seen, and the vessel had to use great precautions when cruising about. On returning to port the anchor was cast for a time to make sure of picking up the leading lights. Tataponri Station reports having seen nothing. ,; The mystery, therefore will not be cleared up until the morning.

-. ACCIDENT TO A BRIGANTINE. The lighthouse-keeper, at Cape Maria Van Diemen, telegraphed yesterday that a white painted brigantine.' showing signs of a. stormy voyage; was sighted off the cape at half-past eleven yesterday morning. The vessel signalled that her chain plates had been carried away, but- did not give her name. She came up from the westward, and then proceeded on her voyage, keeping an easterly comse. : The identity of the , vessel is at present not known in Auckland. According to present information the only brigantine that; might be near Cape Maria. Van Diernen, is the Defiance, which left Newcastle on July 5, with a cargo of coal for Kaipara. The fact of the brigantine passing to the cast of the cape goes to show that she is making a course for Auckland.-. ~ .