STORMS AT SEA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16077, 15 March 1923, Page 8

STORMS AT SEA.

WARNINGS BY WIRELESS,

Radio weather messages sent out by wireless stations and ships in the South Pacific are proving of use to tho vessels traversing that zone. Up to the present the Awanui station in the Far North has not co-operated. The Rona, on her last voyage to* New Zealand, received’ warning of an approaching storm and! the captain at once prepared for it. When the cyclone struck the ship shortly afterwards she was hove to and remained in that condition for 28 hours. The wireless message from Suva indicated (he centre of tho storm and its course. Tho steamer Niagara also received and sent out the warning and! made preparations (o meet- the gale. It is suggested’ that (lie Awanui station should repeat the warnings, thus enabling ships leaving New Zealand for the tropics to take, measures to avoid or prepare for approaching cyclones. Ships with abnormal barometrical readings now pend! ou|, the information by radio. and 1 these announcements in conjunction with those from tho fixed stations enable more accurate, prognostications to be made.

The various stations in the Fiji group forward reports to Suva, hy land! lines and) Vavau also transmits information. On the occasion of the cyclone on February 13, the barometer fell to 20.5 inches.