LONG VOYAGE ON COAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18730, 9 June 1924, Page 8

LONG VOYAGE ON COAST.

BLUFF TO AUCKLAND.

ELEVEN DAYS OVERDUE.

Storms and heavy fogs have greatly prolonged the voyage of the steamer from the Bluff to Auckland. She set out from the southern port on May 16, and under normal conditions should have reached Auckland 11 days ago. She arrived at 3.30 p.m. yesterday.

From Bluff the Wanaka. -went to Duncdin, Oamaru and Timaxu. Congestion at the two last-named ports delayed the and she finally cleared Timaru for Napier on Saturday, May 24. A hard north-easterly gale delayed the Wanaka's arrived off Napier until May 27, and? as the gale still continued, the vessel had to stand out to sea for three more days. The weather eventually moderated, and the Wanaka berthed at Napier on May 30. After discharging cargo at the Hawke's Bay port, the Wanaka proceeded, with fine weather, to Gisborne, arriving on Sunday, June 10. Before work could be started on the Monday another gale rose, and the Wanaka was compelled to pert to sea again. The stormy conditions continued for three days, and on Thursday the steamer again anchored off Gisborne, On Friday the vessel commenced working cargo, and at 5 p.m. on Saturday she left that port for Auckland. Her troubles, however, were not over, as a northerly gale delayed her considerably to Cuvicr island, which was reached at 10 p.m. on Saturday. The gale by that time had moderated, but all landmarks were obscured by heavy fog. The -vessel was then hove-to in the Bay of Plenty until daybreak yesterday, "when the fog lifted sufficiently for a bearing of Cuvier Island to bo taken, and the vessel was able to resume her trip. Misty conditions stall continued, and made navigation somewhatdifficult to port.