A STORMY VOYAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20311, 20 January 1928, Page 7

A STORMY VOYAGE.

RONA BADLY BUFFETED. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, January 19. An exceptionally prolonged and stormy voyage from Suva .w.as experienced by the Colonial Sugar Company's steamer Rona, which reached Auckland this evening. The vessel usually takes five days on the voyage, but on this occasion, owing to continuous tormy conditions, she took seven days to cover the distance between the two ports. At noon on Friday the wind had freshened considerably, and the high confused seas caused the vessel to ship water continuously fore and aft. The cyclonic nature of the storm was indicated at midnight on Saturday when the wind changed suddenly to the southwest and increased to a gale. At 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, owing to the risk of damage by heavy seas breaking on board, the vessel's speed was reduced. On Sunday night the barometer began to rise, and the wind changed to the south. The seas also moderated considerably, and the engines were again put full ahead. On Monday the Rona rolled and laboured in the heavy seas with her decks continually flooded. In the afternoon the wind changed to the east and freshened again, and on Tuesday morning owing to rough beam seas and a high confused the vessel had to be hove to.

Eight hours later the voyage was resumed, but the Rona continued to wallow in the seas, with her deck awash all the time. At mid-day on Wednesday, when the Rona was about 150 miles from Auckland, the wind increased again to gale force, and the vessel had to be hove to a second time. The gale blew afterwards for 16 hours, and during that time the Rona was kept head on o the nigh seas, but waves broke over her decks from all quarters. At 3 o’clock this morning the storm began to abate, and two hours later the Rona's bow was turned to Auckland and her speed increased.