BIG STORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26793, 9 June 1948, Page 4

BIG STORM

SHIPS’ REPORTS SOUTH PACIFIC > AREA HURRICANE CONDITIONS PA. AUCKLAND, June 8. Stretching over a vast area of the South Pacific to the east of the Dominion, gale and hurricane conditions are being experienced by a number o 1 overseas ships coming to or bound from New Zealand ports. An extensive depression which to-day deepened rapidly was centred this afternoon about 140 C miles east of Auckland. Pressure at that point had fallen to 28.79 in, and the depression had formed a great circle measuring 1200 miles from edge tc edge. One of the ships in the area is the Union Company’s motor ship Wairimu, recently purchased in the United States and making her delivery voyage to Auckland with passengers and cargo. Her master, Captain G. B. Morgan D. 5.0., D.S.C., reported hurricane conditions, and the ship's arrival, previously timed for Thursday afternoon will be delayed. From liners and freighters scattered over thousands of miles of the storm area, reports of severe conditions were received by the , Auckland Weathei Office during ‘the day. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s linei Ruahine, which left Auckland for London on Friday, was 300 miles northwest from the centre of the depression at noon, and she reported a gale from the south with a heavy swell.' Another passenger and cargo ship, the Port Line’s Port Wellington, which left Wellington for London on Friday, was 500 miles north-west of the centre She was experiencing a gale from the north and a heavy swell. About 400 miles east of Wellington, the Shaw Savill and Albion liner Mataroa, inward bound from Southampton with 382 passengers, including 125 immigrants, was- meeting strong winds. The steamer Glenpark, three days om of Lyttelton for London, was experiencing more severe weather, and the /0,000-ton motor ship Condesa, five days out of Napier ana far to ‘the east on her way to Panama and London, was contending with a strong north wind and swell. To the north-east of New Zealand the influence of the depression could still be felt. The Forthbank, which left Auckland on Saturday for Makatea, was about 200 miles to the east of the Kermadec group at noon to-day when she reported high winds and rough seas. Messages from so many ships had enabled an excellent map of the depression to be charted, said the weather office forecaster. Vessels were located in every quadrant of the disturbance, and their detailed observations had been of great value.