SOUTHERLY GALE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11653, 18 October 1923, Page 5

SOUTHERLY GALE

MANY VESSELS DELAYED ROUGH TIME AT SEA AND IN HARBOUR UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCESThe southerly gale continued jester day, and shipping bad a particularly, bad time, raapy vessels being held up. There were many anxious- moments,- but so far all steamers and sailing craft aro said to be safe, though in some caseq it is impossible to state the exact location of the vessels. A very heavy sea was running aR yesterday, and ropqrts from the seaside suburbs which were iqcpiyed at a late hour "last night were £b the effect that the gale showed little sign of -abating, avid that a terrific sea was running. Considerable damage was dona to gardens". and in some of the moet exposed localities the work of months has been nullified. Some of the vessels encountered the full force of the wind and sea, and thosq on board had a most unpleasant time. Ono skipper told a “Times” reporter that lie haa Experienced many gales in ln.s time, but. yesterday’s one was “thei daddy of them all” so far as lie was| concerned. SYDNEY STEAMER ARRIVES.

The Ulimaroa, which arrived from, Sydney early yesterday afternoqn, had a very rough, and unpleasant voyage.. I Shortly after leaving Sydney she ran, iinto bad weather. The wind increased in violence as the vessel approached New Zealand until she ran right into thej gale. Though badly buffetted the! steamer made splendid headway, and again proved herself to he a good sea. boat “IT BLOWS SOME. DOESN’T IT?”One of the passengers said to a “New, iZealand Times” reporter: “It was a most enjoyable trip—for those who like, that sort of tiling, you know. Personally,, I am a good sailor, and' can stand a 1 knocking about, but some of the poor, passengers —well, they had my sympathy. But that doesn’t count for much when the other man is violently ill at. sea, does it ? However, all on board followed the example of the ves-j sel, and behaved splendidly. The weather did not , improve as we got c-losa to New Zealand. I say, it blows some here, doesn’t it?” STILL BLBWING LAST NIGHT BUT LIKELY TO SUBSIDE NOW. Thqugh the strength of the gale was still severe last night, the Director of the ‘ Meteorological Office (Mr D. C. Bates) stated that there was a possibility that the conditions would take off before long. Stormy southerly winds Had been prevalent, particularly ia Cook Strait yesterday, a ’string

north-westerly was blowing at Gis borne, and a light north-westefly at East Cape. Southerly gales were reported from some other places, including Akaroa. South of Castlepaint very heavy seas were reported, and considerable rain had fallen, particularly on the East .Coast, with a heavy fall of 2.07 inches at Nukuha-u, near j Patea, j Thp forecast, Mr Bates stated, was for southerly winds, strong to gale, | especially north of Farewell Spjt and j Kaikoura, with squally conditions and I heavy showers likely to continue, for a time in most parts of the country. The barometer had a rising tendency everywhere. STEAMERS DELAYED MARAROA’S 25 HOUR TRIP. From the Ulimaroa downwards all 1 steamers in the vicinity of Wellington had literally to fight their way in and out of the harbour, and crews and passengers of arriving ship®.,report extremely rough passages. The Ulimaroa from Sydney berthed at 1.15 yesterday afternoon—two hems late. The Mararoa, which oleared the headfl at 9 o’clock had gained only 40 miles, by 8 o’clock yesterday morning, end did not reaoh Lyttelton till 8.00 last night—-after a trip of 25 hours. The \Vahine arrived well up to time yesterday morning, and sailed again at 7.50 last night on the return trip to Wellington. The Maori which reached port at | 5,30 last night from Dunedin, is taking in oil fuel Ivere. j Nelson and Picton boats all encounteied lough weather and were delay- ; ed, but gained port without mishap, j

MARAROA DELAYED MUST HAVE RUN "FOR SHELTER. A Press message from Christchurch last night stated: “The forry steamer Mararoa is not expected to reach Lyttelton until 8 o’clock that night (Wednesday). According to wireless messages at 8 o’clock on Wednesday morning, the vessel was only 40 miles outside Wellington heads having struck the southerly gale. A later message stated that the Mararoa arrived at Lyttelton at 8.00 last night. The Moeraki was also delayed and the Laburnum cannot make port until to-morrow (Thursday). GALE IN THE SOUTH LOSS OF LAMBS EXPECTED. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, October 17. A cold southerly gale with tain has been experienced- since Monday with snow in tbs back country, which will mean a heavy loss of lasting as lambing outback is now- in full swing. Snow also fell on Banks Peninsula and in 01 her parts of tho province. The weather shows no sigh of clearing. FERRY SERVICE CHANGES IN STEAMER RUNNING. Owing to the late arrival of the Maori from Port Chalmers, tho Wahine will make another trip to Lyttelton and back before going into dock. The Maori will leave Lyttelton on Saturday night instead of Thursday ns pic viously scheduled. A later message from Christchurch states that the Mararoa arrived at 8-30 p in. to-night (Wednesday) after probably a record passage of 24j hours from Wellington. At 7.30 a.m. the Mararoa was only 42 miles from Wellington It was solid plugging all

the way with heavy head seas. Fortunately it was unnecessary for the Mararoa to bunker and she made a quick turn round on tho return trip. THE HARBOUR FERRY A TROUBLOUS TIME. Tlie ferry boats ran throughout the day .under difficult conditions, there being a heavy sea running on the eastern side of the harbour. The only trip missed during the day was that which usually starts at noon, The Cobar was to make the journey, but it was cancelled owing to the sea being too heavy during the period of high. tide. The traffic manager (Mr G. N. Shore) managed to keep the fleet otherwise well up to time-table. Rona Bay was cut out all day, and only Day’s Bay was worked. On the day previous Mr Shore personally supervised the transference of Muritai and Rona Bay passengers to the waiting ’busee, reserving one foT tho use of ladies only. He followed out the same plan again yesterday. RAILWAY SERVICE LITTLE DELAY OCCASIONED. When there, was sufficient light yesterday morning it was found that the gap in tho railway sea wall between Ngahauranga and Petono had not affected the outer line, as was anticipated when tho break was discovered at 10 o’clock the previous night. As a precautionary measure, however, tho service during the hours of darkness was carried on the inner lino, but both lines were used throughout yesterday. Heavy seas continued to pound against the wall during the day, and water found its way into the carriages of passing trains, but little inconvenience was caused passengers.

’Pile Main Trunk train arrived to time, passengers reporting that they had had a cold trip down, snow being experienced at Tailiapc and further north.