ENVELOPED INS FOG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15658, 11 July 1914, Page 10

ENVELOPED INS FOG.

HARBOUR AND CITY.

'DELAY' OF SHIPPING.

MINOR MISHAPS REPORTED.

FERRY SERVICE MAINTAINED.

The heavy fog which enveloped the city and harbour on Thursday night continued throughout yesterday, and at an early hour this morning there was no change in the weather conditions. In the opinion of many old residents and shipmasters the fog has lasted longer than any experienced in Auckland for many years.

The fog made its appearance shortly before midnight on Thursday, when a wall of mist crept ovor the harbour, and in a very short time objects wore only visible at close range. The weather became thicker towards daylight yesterday, and throughout tho day the whole of the northern shore was invisible fromytho city. The mists lifted at intervals during the day, but only once or twice did tho Bun pierce the heavy mantle, and then only for a few minutes. At times the King's Wharf was barely visible from Queen's Wharf. Shortly after 4 p.m. the , conditions improved slightly, but before 6 p.m. the whole city, suburbs, and harbour were again wrapped in, a denser mantle than ever. Harbour lights were completely obscured, while tho powerful flash-light on the end .of the King's Wharf was only visible at short range, '

Guidance fcr Shipping. Fortunately no mishaps* of any consequence occurred, and with few exceptions the ferry • services. were maintained, the Teasels running up to time. The powerful fog-signalling apparatus on fee end of the King's Wharf gave out its warning blast at intervals during the day and night, wh'Jo an electrically driven nell lately instated on the roof of No. 18 shed on the Queen's Wharf kept up an almost continuous peal. Both the fog-signal and bell acted as useful guides to Slipping. The Devonport Ferry Company also took tße precaution to station members of its staff on each wharf on the northern snore with a warning hell, which ga,ve the captains of the ferry steamers some idea of their position. It was reported last evening that the small steamer Minerva was aground somewhere off Howick. No definite information, however, . had come to hand. The Minerva left Whitford yesterday morning for Auckland, and had not reached the wharf up to a late hour last night.

The Condor Runs Aground. The ferry steamer Condor met with a mishap yesterday morning The steamer left Ihe Ferries at 9 a.m. lor Orakei, Kohimarama, and St. Heliers ; Bay, and succeeded in lauding her passengers. She left on the return trip at about 11 a.m., and when proceeding to the Kohimarama Wharf grounded on a bank close to the shore. The Condor remained aground until after 6 p.m., when she floated off with the aid of her engines and the rising tide. She arrived back at Auckland at 8.30 p.m., Captain R. Hamilton reporting that the fog was so dense when the vessel tool; the ground that he' could not see a ship's length ahead. As the Condor grounded . on . a soft bottom, she was not damaged, in any way. ' V A Launch Stranded. ; When the fog bank lifted 'on one occasion, those on the Condor noticed a launch stranded on . a rocky ledge abreast of the beacon which marks the reef running out from Kohimarama. As the launch— which was made out to, be the Vercola— was again lost sight of, it was not known whether she had floated off the reef iip to the time the Condor passed the spot. ' The steamer Joan Craig, ' bound from Newcastle and . Port Stephens to Auckland, pawed Tiritiri at 4 m. 1 yesterday. She was then lost sight of, and had not been reported up to an, early hour this morning. The ringing of several ships' bells, and an occasional blast from a steamer's whistle, were heard by, the signalman stationed on Tiritiri, so that the Joan Craig is evidently anchored somewhere in the gulf. ■■•

Departures • Postponed!. , Most of the coastal steamers advertised to sail yesterday and last evening succeeded in . clearing the' port,' but it was somewhat doubtful whether they would proceed very far, as the fog wsis so dense as to render navigation extremely difficult. The Wakatcre's departure for Thames has been postponed until 5 a.m. to-day. The coastal steamers Gael and Chelmsford have been detained in the North, and had. not reached port last night. The small collier Glcnclg, arrived last evening from Whangavei. Captain Jonas reported that a'-dense fog was encountered all the way, it being impossible to see far in any direction,/ . The collier Baden-Powell also reached port last evening from Whangarei. The vessel was forced to' proceed with extreme caution and at reduced speed after passing Kawau Island, where the fog became very dense. ,£oth the Glenelg and BadenPowell made creditable trips : from the Northern port, in spite of the' adverse conditions. T;. ' '•

The coastal steamer Apantii,/ inward bound from. Coromandel, was compellsd to anchor off Waiheke yesterday morning. •' ....-I, .1 „,i evening, several hours later than usual. Further Precautions. As the fr/g showed no signs of clearing late last night, the Northern Company decided to postpone the departure of several more of its fleet. The Waiotahi was tinted to sail at 7 p.m. for Mercury May and Tairua, but her'departure, for those ports has now been postponed until 8 a.m. to-day. The Taniwlia was due to sail at midnight for Paeroa, but it was deemed Advisable to postpone the vessel's, departure until noon' to-day. The Mana.ia was to have sailed at"10 p.m. for Whnngarei, but had not cleared the Northern Wharf early this morning. She was /expected to. sail at any moment. j No disorganisation of the local railway service resulted from yesterday's fog.