STORM ON THE COAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 10

STORM ON THE COAST.

GOVERNMENT SHIP'S DELAY. A WEEK OFF EAST CAPE. A delay of over a week at East Cape owing to rough weather was experienced by the Government steamer Matai, which reached Auckland last evening. Tho vessel sailed from Wellington for East Coast lighthouses and Auckland on February 23 and met with exceptionally fine weather while working the various lighthouses as far north as GabJo End Foreland. Tho Matai reached East Capo on Wednesday of last week, but was unable fo land stores owing to an exceptionally rough swell, which was the forerunner of Hie severe cyclonic storm which afterwards (.truck Ihe coast. The storm developed last Sunday and the sea became very rough. Tho boisterous conditions continued until Wednesday, and after Iho wind subsided tho heavy swell continued. The Malai sheltered in Hick's Bay, but visited the Fast Cape on a. number of occasions, only to find (hat Ihe swell was 100 heavy (o permit the landing of stores. When she left, the Cape for Auckland on Thursday morning (here were no indications of (he conditions moderating. After taking in stores the Matai will leave for tho East Cape on Tuesday. Afterwards she will attend the beacons and buoys in the Bay of Plenty and the Hauraki Gulf before she returns to Auckland.