EASTERLY GALES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20710, 7 May 1929, Page 10

EASTERLY GALES

ROUGH WEATHER, IN TASMAN. - ( REPORTS FROM AUCKLAND. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 6. Rough weather is reported on the coast. A radio from the mission yacht. Southern Cross, which i s returning to Auckland from Norfolk Island for repairs, states that she is encountering a heavy easterly gale, and will not reach here until Wednesday. Other inward-bound vessels also repoi’t easterly gales, both in the Tasman Sea and jn the Pacific. The Aorangi which arrived this morning from Sydney met with a fresh easterly wind yesterday afternoon, but about 6 p.m. it freshened to gale force. During the night the weather was very thick, and speed had to me reduced, with the result that the vessel did not reach Auckland until three hours later than she had expected. Also en route, from Sydney, the Marama is encountering an easterly gale, and does not expect to arrive at Auckland until noon to-morrow. Similar weather is reported by the Wgiruna, which is due from Los Angeles to-morrow night. THE MOERAKI’S EXPERIENCE. CABINS FLOODED AND VESSEL HOVE-TO. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 6. During the trip of the Moeraki from Suva to Sydney the passengers had a startling experience. The ship had only been a feiv hours out from the Island port when she ran into particularly bad weather. Heavy seas came tumbling aboard, and the Moeraki laboured heavily. Passengers were ordered off the decks Two New Zealander.'—Mr and Mrs Rodney Coates, from Paparoa, North Auckland—were on board, and both had several anxious moments. Mrs Coates was lying in her bunk, and Mr Coates was sitting in the cabin. Suddenly the ship gave a heavy lurch, and the next minute a huge green sea came tumbling on board. The ventilator happened to be open, and volumes of water rushed below, flooding the cabins and doing other damage. Mrs Coates was drenched, and almost washed out of her bunk, whilst Mr Coates was knee-deep in water. All their effects were floating about, and their clothes were ruined. The ship was hove-to till the danger was passed. Mr and Mrs Coates returned by the Aorangi this morning.