“GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.”

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13175, 6 February 1936, Page 5

“GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.”

VKW ZEALANDER' S -ROUGH HOMECOMING.

According to Miss M. E. Gould, who arrived in Pahiatua from England this week, the passengers on the s.s. Mataroa had a very unpleasant experience when they came off Auckland late on Sunday last. All passengers had their luggage packed and bags assembled ready lor early disembarkation as the vessel was, by dead reckoning, within touch of the entrance to Rangitoto harbour; but so great was the haze and so complete the obscurity that the beacon lights from view a* ter only a momentary v i si on. With such a huge sea running it was deemed inadvisable to make for the entrance and so the vessel was put out to sea again for another 24 hours. The seas then lashed the ship with terrific violence and smashed nine port-holes on the cabin deck, which is very high out of the water, drenching all the hags and personal gear of the passengers. When tht> vessel ultimately reached port and Miss Gould caught the Limited express for Palmerston North, all the train passengers were hung up by a long wait at Karioi which culminated in transferring to motor lorries before they could make another train connection. The Mataroa had a very rough passage' in the early stages of the Atlantic crossing also, said Miss Gould.