PROTRACTED VOYAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 10

PROTRACTED VOYAGE

SCOW ALTAIR'S EXPERIENCE TWELVE DAYS TO GISBORNE [bt telegbape—owy cobkespoxde>"t] GISBOBXE, Wednesday After being weather bound at Mercury Bay for .10 days while on a voyage from Auckland to Gisborne, the auxiliary scow Altair reached Gisborne at 8.30 p.m. yesterday, 12} days outLeaving Auckland at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 24-,- the scow ran into a strong easterly gale. She madias far as the Hole-in-the-Wall, but owing to heavy seas had to put back under the lee of Mercury Island. The following morning she made an attempt- to resume her voyage, but the seas were too strong and she returned to the shelter of Mercury Bay, remaining at anchor over the weekend. On Monday morning the gala moderated, and another start was made, but without success. The craft returned to her anchorage in the bay. With an improvement in the weather last weekend, the Altair was able to weigh

anchor on Monday morning and coma on to Gisborne, experiencing a fair run for the remainder, of the voyage.

When the southerly gale came up last evening the Altair was beating down the coast to Gisborne, and it ivas thought for a time that she might have to run for shelter back around East Cape. However, she made Poverty Bay, escaping the worst of the storm.