DELAY TO MOTOR-SHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20622, 22 July 1930, Page 10

DELAY TO MOTOR-SHIP.

MOVEMENT OF CARGO.

TROUBLE ON THE ASTORIA.

CONCERN AT NEW PLYMOUTH

[by TELEGRAM. —OWN Cult RESPONDENT. ] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday.

Concern was caused at the port of New Plymouth yesterday and to-day over tho non-arrival of tho Danish motor-ship Astoria, which was expected hero about noon yesterday from Auckland to discharge Nauru phosphates. Tho vessel left Auckland at 4.30 p.m. on Friday, and although sho was sighted off New Plymouth at noon yesterday sho failed to berth until 12.40 o'clock this afternoon, tho cause gi tho delay being movement of cargo.

When near the port yesterday the vessel altered her courso and headed lor tho open sea. At tho tinio heavy seas wero running and a stiff galo was blowing, but tho conditions wero not too bad for tho pilot to bavo berthed tho vessel. In fact, preparations wero being made to do this when the Astoria suddenly changed her direction. Visibility was good. At six o'clock last evening the vessel's agents, Nowton King, Limited, received a wireless message from the Astoria stating that sho was anchored off New Plymouth and was waiting for the weather to moderate. When tho vessel failed to make her appearanco this morning it was thought that she had failed to recognise New Plymouth as her destination and had gono further south. Tho agents meanwhile had become perturbed at tho nou-appearauco of the vessel, and sent another messago at 9 a.m. asking the vessel to berth. This she did not do until nearly four hours later. Captain F. Heisterburg, who is in command, stated that as tho vessel was coming into port yesterday a veiy heavy ground swell caused some barrels of oil to shift in the 'tween decks. Accordingly ho was compelled to make for tho open sea. The barrels wero replaced in position, but when early this morning another attempt was mado to approach the shore tho oil again shifted. Captain Heisterburg was thus compelled to await almost a porfect calm before he could berth his ship.