ON LAND AND SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15308, 22 May 1913, Page 7

ON LAND AND SEA.

. DELAY OF SHIPPING. HEAVY SEA ON THE COAST. Exceedingly heavy seas are now running on the West Coast, and shipping in consequence has been very much delayed. The Northern Company's steamer ■ Rarawa arrived off the Manukau Heads from New Plymouth shortly after seven o'clock yesterday morning. A heavy sea was running off the heads, and it was not deemed advisable to attempt to cross the bar until high water at ten o'clock. The vessel was consequently hove to, the passengers having by no means an enviable experience. The vessel did not reach port uiytil nearly noon. Captain Nor bury, 'upon, his arrival, stated thai the sea running on the bar was one of the biggest that he had ever experienced at the Maqakau. - ( The signalman at the heads stated yesterday that it was §uito the biggest sea he had seen. He said that the bar was quite impassable for outward-bound steamers. As a result of the conditions prevailing the Rarawa's trip to New Plymouth, which should have been commenced yesterday afternoon, has been post- 1 poned. The Northern Company's steamer j Claymore, which was timed to leave One-j hunga early yesterday morning for Raglan, I Kawhia, and Waitara, was also unable to leave the port. The Haupiri is due at Onehunga this morning, but doubt is expressed as to whether she will be able to cross the bar, unless the sea moderates a good deal.

Stormy conditions seem to be also prevailing on the East Coast, and many! vessels are stormbound. The Tasman is sheltering at Whakatane, unable to put to ; sea. \ The conditions on the Waitemata yesterday were far from pleasant, some of the ferry-boats having a very rough time of it. The Britannia, which left St. Helier's for Auckland at 8.5 a.m., had to fight her way in the teeth of a 'head wind and a rough sea. She did not reach Auckland until 9.30 a.m, having taken nearly an hour and a-half to cover five miles. ' Both the V barque Thora and the collier Kamona, which arrived at Auckland from Newcastle yesterday morning, report having met ■ with very - severe weather on the voyage across the Tasman Sea. The Thora's voyage occupied 19 days, and high winds and; heavy seas were the order of the day until rounding ;■■ Cape Maria Van Dienien. On ; May 10 ; ,a big sea smashed the starboard bulwarks, and steering-wheel. A seaman - was also ■thrown from his feet, but by grasping a portion of the railing- he saved himself from being washed overboard.

' The Kamona had her progress considerably retarded by the heavy westerly gale, but she escaped damage. On several octasions it -became necessary for the steamer to heave-to until the weather moderated. ■■■"; .'■■■

The Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Karamea, which arrived from Liverpool via ports ; last : night and anchored ■ in ■ the stream, also reported having had a most tempestuous v voyage. Owing to the ves-sel-being very deeply laden, V occasional damage was done by seas breaking on board, though this was * not of, a serious nature. _ '