STEAMER DELAYED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27523, 18 October 1950, Page 6

STEAMER DELAYED

Strong Gale At Picton PA BLENHEIM, Oct. 17,

Gusts up to 65 miles per hour delayed the departure of the Cook Strait ferry steamer Tamahine from Picton this afternoon. It was feared that if the lines were cast off, the velocity of the wind would carry the steamer too close in-shore before its engines could take it into safe water. The ferry pulled out late in the afternoon when the wind had abated. It was reported from the Tory Channel whaling station that conditions in Cook Strait were “ boisterous," and the likelihood was that the Tamahine would have a rough crossing. Power .and telephone lines were broken in Picton today when trees were blown across them. Several residents in the sounds said that the weather was the worst they had known in many years. At Blackwood Bay a 22ft launch belonging to Mr E. C. Swanson was completely wrecked when it was blown on to the rocks, and. two other launches in the same bay were damaged. In Picton, the staff at the foundry of A. J. Thomson had a narrow escape when a 60ft poplar was blown across the roof. Two branches penetrated the roof and came to rest almost on the floor near an oil compression furnace. Fortunately nobody was on the spot at the time.