BOUGH TIMS AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14532, 21 November 1910, Page 6

BOUGH TIMS AT SEA.

' o-——_ _ ' STEAMERS IN THE GALE. THICK FOG ON THE COAST. Thk steamers arriving in port during Saturday and yesterday report having had a very rough handling in a gale encountered when nearing the New Zealand coast. The steamer Inga, which left Newcastle for Auckland on Friday, November 11, arrived in port on Saturday afternoon after a passage of' eight days. After leaving Newcastle the Inga encountered strong southerly winds and high seas till nearing the New Zealand coast on Thursday afternoon last. On that day the wind shifted to the south-east, and developed into a hard gale, with terrific squalls and mountainous seas. Hugo seas swept the vessel fore and aft, and in consequence she shipped % tremendous quantity of water. The weather conditions being so bad, Captain Benton decided to seek shelter for the night, and a course was set for Tom Bowling Bay, near Cape Maria, where the vessel arrived safely and anchored. The weather having moderated slightly during the night, the Inga resumed her voyage at four a.m. on Friday, meeting with strong winds, high seas, and continuous rain, with thick, foggy weather until arrival. The vessel behaved splendidly throughout, and, with the exception of the displacement of a few minor deck fittings, no damage resulted. The steamer Snowdonian, which arrived from Bitnbury yesterday morning, also had rather a trying time. Leaving Bunbury on November 2, the steamer encountered fine clear weather for 10 days, but on November IS she ran into a fierce gale, with severe rain squalls, which raised a high and confused sea. The Snowdonian shipped a great deal of water, and one huge sea which broke on board swept the decks fore and aft, flooding the engineers' quarters, lamproom and galley. Fine clear weather was then met with till Friday last, when fierce squalls were encountered, and the vessel again shipped a great deal of water, which broke over the forecastle in huge volumes. Approaching the New Zealand coast thick, foggy weather was met with, which continued until arrival yesterday. Leaving Norfolk Island on November 15, the Melanesian .Mission steamer Southern Cross encountered very bad weather. After leaving the island the vessel encountered south-east to easterly gales, which raised mountainous seas, with continuous blinding rain. The squalls at times were of hurricane force, and during one of them two or three sails were blown to shreds. When nearing the New Zealand coast the vessel had to contend -with thick, heavy fog for about 12 hours, thence fine weather to arrival. During the height of the gale very little water was shipped, the vessel proving herself a splendid sea boat.