BADLY BUFFETED

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11412, 8 January 1923, Page 3

BADLY BUFFETED

. * OPIHI IN A GALE. Particulars regarding the damage done to tlwr coastal steamer Opihi show that she was badly buffeted in tho recent storm on the east coast during her Voyage from Whangarei to Lyttelton. She had only a light cargo, insufficient to steady her in heavy weather. Running out of the Bay of Plenty she met a southeasterly storm off the East Cape on December 24th, but was able to average six knots until Wednesday. Early in the morning of that day the barometer was falling > rapidly, and the wind, veering round to the north-east, increased to a moderate gale. About 5 a.m. the seas made the vessel roll so heavily, that the motion carried away the beams and iron trestle securing Nos. 2 and 4 derricks, the iron work being snapped clean off. Tho derricks swayed out over the side of the ship, and were broken in halves, the broken parts clanking on the deck. All hands were called out to secure the derricks and ship’s rigging, and altogether the experience was evidently too exciting for the free labour crew on board, for all deck and stokehold hands had handed in their notices prior to the arrival at Lyttelton on Wednesday evening. At Lyttelton the Opihi, which was formerly the iron barque Lilia, will be laid up till about tho middle of this month for repairs, before re-entering the Lyttelton-Auckland trade.