ROUGH TIME AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19377, 12 July 1926, Page 8

ROUGH TIME AT SEA.

SEVERAL VESSELS DELAYED. SHIPS SEVERELY BUFFETED. HEAVY SWELL IN HARBOUR. FERRY SERVICE STOPPAGE. Almost complete dislocation to shipping •was caused both in port and off the coast, and the full effects of the storm were felt by coastal "and overseas steamers, many of which had particularly stormy passages. The gale swept across the harbour with little sign of abatement daring the whole of the week-end. However, ample warning that a storm was approaching was given on Saturday, and all vessels were securely tied up before it broke. A particularly severe buffeting was experienced all day yesterday by the steamer Canadian Challenger, which was to have arrived from Halifax early in the afternoon. She was overtaken by the gale when some distance off Great Barrier, and heavy squails and high seas made it impracticable foi her to proceed. The steamer was hove-to in the morning, but intimated bv wireless last evening that conditions were little improved. She was in communication with Auckland continually, and to-day's weather forecast, supplied by Mr. H. M. Vincent, was sent to the vessel last evening by the harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant. Stormy Conditions on Coast* Vessels ou the coast had a particularly trying time. The Ngapuhi was severely buffeted on her trip to Whangarei and arrived 40 minutes late, but made port well up to time on the return yesterday. The Mako was canght by the full blast of the gale on her trip from East Coast bays, and was forced to heave-to for eight hours on Saturday night off Cuvier Island, but eventually arrived early last evening. Several vessels are believed to be sheltering. The Matangi did not leave Tauranga until six o'clock yesterday morning, but had not been signalled at a late hour last night. The Waipahi, from .Napier, and the , Canopus, from Westport, were also due over the week-end, but had not put in an Appearance at midnight. \ The Devon has been delayed at Gisborne through boisterous weather, while the Norfolk, from Liverpool, which is off the coast, will not make port before Thursday. The Awahou was to have sailed for East Coast ports yesterday, and the Putiki for Portland, but they are awaiting an improvement in the weather, while the Claymore, which was to 1 have left for Whangarei last night, is also detained. Delays to Terry Services, The waters of the harbour developed into a moderate swell yesterday, when the wind reached its greatest power. Conditions became worse when the tide rose unusually high in the afternoon, and it was considered dangerous to continue ferry services until .conditions abated. Visitors to the North Shore suburbs were forced in some cases to' remain on the other side of the harbour until a late hour, while those who caught earlier boats back to the city . experienced dengthv and rough crossings. The Birkenhead boat was subjected to stormy passages, until it was deemed advisable to cancel the Kestrel's running for some hours, at five o'clock last evening. Many passengers left the ferry at Auckland both on Saturday and yesterday iafter unpleasant bouts of sea-sickness. The Condor, which left Auckland at 4.30 yesterday afternoon, for Birkenhead, was caught in the gale and could not return to the- city until four hours later. She was carried as far up the harbour as Chelsea and was forced to shelter there for some time. There was no boat to Devonport after six o'clock last evening,- and the service was not resumed until after nine o'clock. The rudder of the Makora was damaged off Stanley Bay wharf in the afternoon, but she was able to return tp Auckland,, where repairs were effected. Minor Damage . Caused. Minor damage was also sustained by the Ngoiro and Kestrel owing to bumping the jetties in berthing. The Pupuke, which is berthed at the Auckland jetty, broke away from the wharf early in the evening, but was quickly secured again before she had drifted any distance. The effect of the heavy seas running in the harbour yesterday was felt at Devonport an£ Ttie more exposed portions of the North Shore. X°ward yesterday evening, when the tide was near the full the waSces washed over the wall to the east of th£ Devonport Wharf and flooded the Windsor Reserve, the first occurrence of the kind since the destructive storm of 1918. So great was the surge of the sea around the Victoria Wharf that the structure became unsafe for ferry passengers. At times the decking was lifted from the pile understmcture and the water washed high above the surface. It later became necessary to close the pedestrian pathway down the eastern side of the wharf, ferry passengers being compelled to use the vehicle entrance. Several of the ferry steamers were unable to berth at the tee at the end of the wharf, owing to the high seas, and and embarked passengers at the vehicular stage.