SOUTH-WEST GALE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22208, 10 March 1934, Page 20

SOUTH-WEST GALE

SEVERE IN LOWER HARBOUR WINGATUI TEMPORARILY AGROUND A south-west gale was experienced in Dunedin yesterday. Strong squalls swept over the city and harbour throughout the day, and craft anchored in exposed positions strained to the limit at their moorings. The squalls were very severe in the Lower Harbour, and the Union Company’s cargo steamer Wingatui was forced out of the channel on to a sand bank when entering port. The vessel, which came from Auckland and east coast ports, was abreast of the Bowen wharf when the captain received instructions to stop in order to allow seaway for the overseas steamer Matakana, which left the Victoria wharf at 9 a.m. bound for Bluff. The Wingatui ceased steaming, just before 10 a.m. As the stop was only of short duration, the anchor was not dropped, but just after the Matakana passed the Union boat was caught by a very fierce squall and carried on to the sand bank at the side of the channel. She appeared to be aground at the bow, and failed to move under her own power. The chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr H. C. Campbell), the board’s engineer TMr J. M‘G. Wilkie), Captain F» Duncan (pilot), and other officials were quickly in attendance. As the tug Dunedin is" out of commission, she was not available, and Mr Wilkie at once called out the crew of the dredge Otakou, which was berthed at the Bowen wharf. Shortly after 11 a.m. the dredge moved out from her berth and was taken close to the Wingatui. Lines were made fast between the two vessels, and for more than an hour the dredge attempted to tow the Wingatui into deep water, but all efforts failed. There was a terrific strain on the lines and several parted. The repeated heavy squalls appeared to press the Wingatui further against the saud bank. The dredge gave up the attempt to haul the ship off and returned to her berth. It was then low water, and further attempts to refloat the Wingatui were postponed until high water last night. The vessel was refloated with the assistance of the dredge Otakou about 8 o’clock and she was then berthed at Port Chalmers. She was undamaged and will be brought to Dunedin early this morning to commence discharging cargo. Some idea of the force of the squalls may be gained from the fact that four empty railway wagons, standing near the shore end of one of the wharves with the brakes loose, were caught by the squall just about the time the Wingatui went aground and driven down the wharf. The trucks travelled at some pace, and were only brought to a standstill when the truck at the sea end of the wharf hit the heavy protecting deck timber and toppled half over the side. The truck was practically suspended above the water, but was subsequently, placed back on the rails. The gale ‘ played havoc at the Mussel Bay reclamation area, where the fine sand was lifted in clouds by the wind in such large quantities that it was piled several feet high outside the brush fence which encloses the reclaimed area.