SHIPS IN THE GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13744, 8 May 1908, Page 5

SHIPS IN THE GALE.

..., _ » '■ ■ - ; TRYING EXPERIENCES, CONDITIONS ON THE WEST v ; : < ■ V . COAST. " r '■■'■"•'■■''.. ■■'~/,. ■-■ '--,- ,- ,-- ::,:--'-.'■.':-'/...'. i'S ROUGH TRIP OF THE MURITAI. The weather yesterday was of a stormy. character, the wind at times blowing with extreme violence from the northwith frequent heavy rain squalls. The rain interfered with the loading and discharging of cargoes from the vessels at the > wharves in the harbour during the day. .• ■ : ■ "' .- ; The .Northern. Company's steamer Aupoiiri arrived from Tauranga yesterday morning, a day later than usual. The steamer left Tauranga Wharf at five o'clock on Tuesday evening, but when she got down as far as the Mount there was a. fierce gale raging, and the steamer anchored. The weather moderating somewhat the next morning, the Aupouri was put out to sea at daylight, but the gale again arose, with a heavy sea, necessitating shelter being taken at Kennedy's Bay, where the. steamer remained until six a.m. yesterday, port being made at 11 a.m. . Owing to the very heavy weather on the West Coast the departure of the Union Company's steamer Penguin from Onehunga- for New Plymouth has been postponed until 10 a.m. to-morrow. The stcamei Muritai, which arrived at Qnehunga from Wanganui and Opunake on Wednesday evening, had a trying experience. While lying within the Opunake roadstead she parted with one of her anchors and (.'able, whereupon it was decided to shift quarters, and the vessel put to sea, hound for New Plymouth and Onehunga. At New Plymouth a number of .cattle awaited shipment, but this port had to be passed, and a* run was made for Onehunga. Arriving off the Manukau Heads the Muritai found the bar to be in a '.Seething condition, with a. violent sea' breaking for five miles out. Captain Richards ordered the use of oil-bags, and by this means the steamer passed inwards, and berthed at . Onehunga Wharf, after a severe trip, which occupied over six hours longer than usual. ; The Northern Company's steamer Rarawa did tot reach Onehunga from New 'Plymouth until 9.30 a.m., having experienced a rough time overnight. Both the ..Rarawa and Rotoiti cleared outwards from Onehunga during the day, the latter in die morning and the Rarawa in the afternoon. The Claymore, which was to have left for Hokianga, however, remains at OneKunga until 10 o'clock this morning, it not being deemed advisable to take her o\ the trip until the sea moderates.' '>..,■-■ \ '

ANXIETY AT KAIKOURA. A tremendous SEA. ■■■'•■ ■"''-* "'" ' ''\ ■'■■■' ■'•. COACHES DELAYED BY FLOODS. [BT TELKGHArH.—O WNTiCORRESPONDENT. ] Chrisxghubch, Thursday. A telegram from Kairaura states that since, Tuesday rough westerly weather, with heavy rain yesterday,Vhas prevailed. A ■•'; tremendous sea was tumbling. into North Bay to-day, washing dean oyer into LyeHCreek, at the west end of the ..town-, ship, land causing, the residents . considerable anxiety. ~\ , The\ motor launch Fleetwinr (once, the well-known Lyttelton yacht) Vias washed on the rocks, near the new rharf site, on Tuesday afternoon, and wa\ smashed to pieces. ._■.■■. -■..;■■.■,■.■. \ -.■■■'■' Last night the coaches from Cheviot and Blenheim did not arrive, Awing to the flooded state of the rivers. I r Owing to the storm the new wharf works are ; undergoing a severe test. 1 ' .•■■',-■ — — —— — ! .