THE RUAHINE’S VOYAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 76

THE RUAHINE’S VOYAGE.

STORMY ATLANTIC CROSSING. . WELLINGTON, February 27. Their mid-winter passage across the stormy Atlantic will be remembered long by the passengers who travelled from England in the New Zealand Shipping Company s steamer Ruahine, which arrived at Wellington this afternoon from London and Southampton. From the time she cleared the English Channel the vessel was battling against a heavy gale, wh : ch lasted for eight days. With nearly 200 passengers and a large general cargo for New Zealand, the Ruahine sailed from Southampton at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 18. Strong westerly winds and moderate seas were experienced for the first 12 hours, but when the ship cleared the Channel she ran into a very heavy westerly gale, which lasted for fully eight days. During that long period the Ruahine was buffeted by tremendous seas, causing her to roll and pitch heavily. The vessel shipped a good deal of water, and on several occasion her engines had to be slowed down. Some minor damage was done to some of the deck fittings, and the stewards’ quarters were flooded out on one occasion. In six days the ship covered barely 1400 miles, and when the abated she experienced an abnormally heavy swell for two days. It was a trying time for the passengers, the majority of whom were making their first sea voyage. The weather moderated on Monday. January 26, and after that the conaitl ons rapidly improved. . One passenger, who is an experienced traveller, said that a tribute must be paid to Captain D ; Urquhart and the ship’s company for their handling of the ship ana their attention to passengers under very trying conditions. Euahina arrived at Curacao at ll.dO p.m. on Saturday. February 2, and, inR in fue! oi l supplies, she left at 7.30 a.m. next day for Colon, which was reached at 10.15 a.m. on Tuesday, February 5. The transit of the Panama canal was made the same day, the ship arriving at Balboa at 8 p.m., and sailing for \v elhngton at 1 o’clock next morn'ng. G )or ious weather wag experienced across io,A Clfic- Pitcairn Island was reached at 2.30 a.m on Sunday, February 17, and after .the Islanders had paid their customary visit the ship resumed her voyage at 4 a.m. Strong westerly winds, moderate seas, and fine weather ruled until she arrived at Wellington at 2.30 p.m. to day