ROUGH WEATHER IN THE BAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14667, 26 July 1918, Page 4

ROUGH WEATHER IN THE BAY.

-i m .LANDING OF PASSENGERS. The tendering and lightering operations m connection with the Monowai and Arahura this morning seemed iriipossible at the outset, as there was considerable sea running at 6.30 a.m. at which hour, the tender' had been fixed to leave the wharf. When daylight came it was felt that there was an improvement on yesterday, and it was decided to make an attempt. Tlie passengers for the Monowad and Arahura were embarked, and the Tuatea. left the wharf shortly before 7 o'clock. There were only a few inward passengere by the Monowai, but a considerable number outwards owing to the massed trip of the Arahura last Tuesday 'arid the weather conditions when she left for Napier on Monday morning. The passengers arid mails as well as tlie luggage were handled, and ths Tuatea proceeded over to the Arahura, which had 'come across from "Nick's Head, wherie she had been lying Ml day yesterday.* The" daffi'culties at this vessel were of considerably greater magnitude than those at the Monowai. The Tuatea ■got alongside, arid owing to iho'sea runndng, and which was ircWeasifig, the experience was very unenviable indeed. The outward passengers were got aboard and , those for Gisborne were secured, as speedily as the heavy range would allow. The mails and luggage represented a considerable, quantity, and as signals from the shore to "hurry up and keep near? the breakwater side" were read the experience was very trying indeed. Every expedition was ( nscd and as a result everything was;'hanjdJ[ed^ *at both vessels inwards anid 1 * fOu^ar^.' The harbormaster's launch and staff had been sounding the river, and the rough caste revealed only 2ft 6int. on! the line Of beacons. There was a narrow gutter near the breakwater^ and the Tuatea was directed to keep <near this, which was anything but an easy matter m view of the "following" aea' at* the entrance. Fortunately the bar was safely negotiated dear of the very shallow patch, but the Tuatea 'grazed the end of .the old. breakwater .without undue severity. The tender received a very great knocking about alongside the Arahura,- and lost, a couple offenders m addition to tlie awning and stohchioiisf being damaged. " The passengers who were aboard the Arahura. all day yesterday m the roadstead and on the Monowai at anchor all night were very" fortunate to be tendered. Had it not .been accomplished this morning those for the Monowai would ihave been short-shipped, whilst those on the Arahura from Napier would have had to be overcarried to Auckland, as the steamer's coal supply had to be considered. A lighter went out to the Monowai to t secure the portion of the overcarried cargo from South on Sunday, but succeeded m getting only a small portion and a liorse. The bulk of the Arahura's cargo could not be obtained,- arid this, which included two horses, was taken, backl The Monowai cleared for Napier about 10.15 a.m., and the Arahura signalled ashore that as soon as some slight repairs were "effected she would also clear out. Passages for Tokomaru Bay were all cancelled m view of the weather conditions there. The weather has been Very bad for an exceptionally lengthy period, and the experiences of have been very difficult indeed. The passengers by both vessels are very fortunate to have been tendered to-day m view of the adverse conditions m the roadstead. The Arahura will not now be able to leave Auckland before Monday, and consequeritly the Sunday trip wall be cancelled. Her first' departure for Napier : "will- *hp $n Tuesday night. j S : -.~ •''<-.-■■_.