SHIPPING

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 2

SHIPPING

THE TIDES. —Tuesday, September 27.— Invercargill 12.8 a.m. 12.30 p.m. Bluff 11.27 a.m. 11.49 p.m. Riverton 10.27 a.m. 10.49 p.m. Oreti Beach 10.36 a.m. 10.08 p.m. THE SUN. The Sun rises to-day at 5.57 a.m. The Sun sets to-day at 6.21 pm. THE MOON. The Moon rises to-day at 4.29 a.m. The Moon sets to-day at 2.30 p.m. PHASES OF THE MOON. New Moon September 1 7.15 a.m. First Quarter September 8 12.18 a.m. Full Moon September 15 8.36 a.m. Last Quarter September 23 12.17 p.m. New Moon September 30 5.0 p.m. PORT OF BLUFF EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Maimoa, Timaru, to-day. Narbada. Dunedin, to-morrow. Matai. Centre Island, to;" 10 " 0 "- . . 29 Canadian Cruiser, Dunedin. September 29. Waipiata, Dunedin, October 1. Wainui. Wellington, October 3. Storm. Lyttelton, October 3. Waikouaiti, Sydney. October 3. Nolisement. Juan de Nova, October 4. Norfolk. Port Chalmers. October 8. Port Gisborne, Dunedin. October 20. Rangitiki. Wellington. November 10. Northumberland, Dunedin, January 12. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Maimoa. Wellington, to-morrow. Narbada. Newcastle, September 29. Canadian Cruiser, New York, September 30. Waipiata, Dunedin, October 3. Matai, West Coast, October 3. Waikouaiti, Dunedin, October 3. Storm. Dunedin. October 3. Wainui. Melbourne, October 3. Norfolk. Timaru. October 10. Port Gisborne, Timaru. October 23. Rangitiki. November 12. Nolisement. port and date indefinite. Northumberland, » January 14. INWARD CARGO ON HAND. Chltral, ex Waikouaiti, In B shed (W. 3 ar Comorin. ex Waikouaiti, In B shed (W S. and Co.) . , Kaitoa. ex Wainui, in B shed (U.S.S.) Otlra, ex steamer at Bluff, In B shed (D lr port° Hobart. ex Kaimal, In B shed (I Tairoa, ex Orepukl. in B shed (N.M.A.) Tekoa, ex in B shed (N.Z.S.) Totara. ex Wainui, in B shed (U.S.S.). (D. and Co.): Dalgety and Company. (Hend.): Henderson and Company. (H.L.T.): H. L. Tapley and Company. (J.G.W.): J- G. Ward and Company. (N.M.A.): National Mortgage and Agency C °(N P Z l s y j: New Zealand Shipping ComPa (O.S.C.): Oreti Shipping Company. (U.S.S.): Union Steam Ship Company. (W.S. and Co.): Wright, Stephenson and Company. GENERAL NOTES. The Union Company’s freighter Waipiata was to clear Napier last evening for Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin and. Bluf- Due here on Saturday morning, the vessel is to sail on Monday for Dunedin. Clearing Sydney to-morrow for Blurt direct, the Union Company’s Waikouaiti is due here on Monday, sailing the same day for Dunedin. . „ ~ ... The Union Company’s Indian trader Narbada is scheduled to clear Dunedin to-day for Bluff, where she is due to-morrow. After discharging a quantity of Indian merchandise, the vessel is to sail on Inureday for Newcastle, where she will bunker. The Kaimiro, en route from Newcastle and Sydney, is scheduled to leave Suva for Auckland, on October 6. She is due at Auckland on October 11. The Atlantic Union Oil Company has been advised that the tanker Brunswick left Los Angeles on September 7 for Sydney, Newcastle, Wellington, and Auckland. She is due at Sydney about October 2. The Bank Line motor ship Elmbank, from Nauru Island with phosphates, arrived at Auckland on Thursday. The Japanese motor ship Sydney Maru, en route from Japan and Hong Kong, lett Manila on September 8 for Brisbane. Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington and Auckland. She is due at Wellington on October 2. The motor ship Port Whangarei, according to the latest advice received in the Dominion, will sail from Australia to-day for New Zealand.

Cable advice received by the New Zealand Shipping Company states that the motor liner Rangitiki left London on September 22 for Auckland and Wellington. She is bringing passengers and cargo, and is due at Auckland on October 26.

The trawler South Sea, which left Hull on July 28 for Lyttelton, has been delayed at Las Palmas for some weeks owing to damage sustained as the result of a collision with another vessel when leaving Las Palmas. The damage is not serious, the delay being principally due to the vessel having to wait for the use of the slip. formation received in Lyttelton Is that all on board are well, and that the South Sea is expected to leave Las Palmas this She is now due at Lyttelton early in November.

According to advices received from London. the big German four-masted barque Peking. 2851 tons net and 3191 tons gross, has been bought by British buyers for a training vessel. The Peking, which was built in 1911 at Hamburg, by Blohm Voss for R. F. Laeisz, has been employed in the nitrate trade since she was launched, and so far has not been in Australian waters. The Peking recently arrived at Hamburg from Valparaiso. When the new white Star liner Georgic sailed on- her maiden voyage from Liverpool recently thousands of listeners-ln were able to imagine that they were sailing in the ship. Ten microphones were fitted in various parts of the vessel. The bustle of passengers and porters, the noise of engines, and many other sounds were plainly heard by landsmen hundreds of miles away. The Georgic, which has a tonnage of 27.000, is the biggest motor vessel built in Brita There were 450 G transits through the Panama Canal in the 12 months ended June 30 1932. the tolls from these amounting to 20,707,377 dollars. This represents a decline of 1023 transits, or 18.5 per cent., and 3,938,080 dollars, or 16 per cent, in comparison with the preceding 12 months, and is the lowest return for any year since 1922-23, when the figures were 3967 transits and 17,508.415 dollars. There is an even greater disparity in comparison with 1928-29, lest year’s figures being 27.1 and 23.5 per cent, lower respectively. It was In this year that the record total of tolls was registered, 27,592,716 dollars being collected (states the Syren and Shipping)• A higher average due was exacted from ships using the canal last year. The amount paid by each worked out at 4595 dollars, compared with 4457 dollars in 1930-31 and 4377 dollars in 1929-30, a circumstance that has-been brought about by the gradual increase in the size of vessels passing through. The daily average of transits during the year was 12.31, against 15.15 in 1930-31 and 16 95 in 1929-30, the average collection of tolls for each day being 56,577 dollars, comunder review, was the slackest, 336 paying 1,534,793 dollars to make the passage. The decline in the Volume of traffic was more accentuated in the latter part of the year, the last six months showing a decline in comparison with the first half of the year

of 7.8 per cent, in transits and 8 per cent, in tolls. . , , , An interesting occurrence took place during the tour of Sir William Garthwaixe, the owner of the last four-masted Barque sailing under the British flag, states a writer In "Sea Breezes.” Thfe Garthpool was wrecked on Boavista Island on Armistice Day, 1929. The beautiful figure-head, a notable item in the old days of sailing ships, was washed asnore on the beach undamaged. It was regarded by the inhabitants of the island as a Divine omen, and the .natives adopted the lady and Immediately promoted her to the position of a saint and devoted a part of each day to worship at the shrine of the figure-head. However, when Sir William Garthwaite recently called at the Cape Verde Islands, the natives were quite willing to part with their new saint for £5O! These figure-heads were extraordinarily interesting, and I think it would have been a very fitting end for the lady who graced the bow of the Garthpool to continue -to receive the homage of the natives. WITHIN WIRELESS RANGE. The following vessels were within range of the undermentioned wireless stations City of Delhi. Deebank, Golden Harvest, Mariposa. Maui Pomare, Maunfia Wenington: Aorangi. Maori, Monterey. Niagara, Rangatira, Rangitata, Rangitiki, Remuera. Sir J. C. Ross, Tairoa, Tamahine, Vacuoline, Waikawa, Zealandia. Awarua: Canadian Cruiser, Matai, Narbada. Wainui, Wairuna. Chatham Islands: Nil. MINING ENEMY SEAS. WAHINE’S WAR CAREER. PERILOUS DAYS AND NIGHTS. Nights of utter blackness when H.M.S. Wahine stole furtively across the North Sea, pierced the enemy patrol and scattered death off a hostile coast, were vividly described to a New Zealand Herald reporter by Mr R. F. Wheldale, who was a member of the Wahine’s crew throughout the vessel’s war service. In striking contrast are the peace-time activities of this wellknown ferry steamer, and to only a few people in New Zealand does she conjure up memories of courageous exploits, when the nerves of all aboard were taut as the stays singing overhead.

“I stowed away on the Wahine in July, 1915,” said Mr Wheldale, when seen in Auckland. “At the time she was lying at Port Chalmers, where I had arrived as a member of the crew of an English ship. I saw she was painted grey, which indicated war service, so I left my own ship and stowed away. Once at sea I gave myself up and was signed on as a baker. We were sailing for England under Admiralty orders, and every available space was filled with coal. There was no room for cargo. Under the White Ensign.

“We coaled at Albany, Colombo and Aden, and at Suez the bridge was fitted with sandbags as a protection against Turkish snipers while going through the canal. Eventually we steamed up the Thames to Millwall, where guns were mounted fore and aft. The crew was paid off, but a number of us signed on again as members of the Mercantile Marine Reserve. On October 13, 1915, we left Millwall for the Mediterranean, sailing under the White Ensign. For eight months we acted as fleet messenger between Malta and Mudros. “I remember well the first time we left Mudros for Malta. The harbour at Mudros was packed with ships, from huge warships and troopships down to the wonderful little trawlers. In the pitch dark night, with the ship in darkness, we cleared the boom and threaded our way through the minefield. Next morning a submarine appeared on the surface and chased us. We opened fire with our after gun at 1,700 yards range. The third shot was thought to hit her. At any rate, she submerged. We had a King’s messenger on board and could not stop to investigate. Torpedo Under the Stern.

“That was the first of many encounters. As a rule the submarines lay in wait for us, sometimes in pairs. One morning I was on deck talking to the bosun when the vessel gave a violent lurch and swung round. Just then a streak of foam passed under the stern. It was a torpedo, but luckily it had been seen from the bridge and the helm put hard over. We dropped two depth charges in the hope of catching the submarine. “About the middle of 1916 we returned to Millwall, where the Wahine was fitted as a minelayer. Two anti-air-craft guns and two quick-firing guns were added to the armament. Our commander, Captain A. M. Edwin, left us, his place being taken by Captain Smythe. We went to Portsmouth for trials and then proceeded to Sheerness, where we were stationed for about six months while laying the Dover barrage. “Three of us minelayers put down the barrage across the Straits of Dover, the Princess Margaret, Paris and Wahine. Four days would be spent in coaling and mining ships, then, protected by destroyers, we would steam out for dear life, drop our mines and return. Then the same performance would be repeated. “When our work at Dover was finished we went to Immingham, on the Humber, which was being used as a naval base and mine depot. We were based on Immingham until the end of the war. Captain Thynne now took over command of the Wahine. He addressed the assembled crew and threatened dire punishment to anyone caught without a lifebelt while at sea. Our pet goat impressed the matter on the sergeant of marines by butting him behind the knees. “An Unknown Destination.” . “Early next morning the three of us minelayers, escorted by six destroyers, glided downstream and away for an unknown destination, which we afterwards heard was the Heligoland Bight. An airship sailed overhead to look out for submarines. For a time we were in the war channel and passing all manner of craft, for in those desperate times anything that would float was pressed into service. The sun rose higher and visibility improved. Away astern England was fast fading from sight. “Our maximum speed was 22 knots, although we steamed only at 18. One of the destroyers thought she saw a periscope and dashed across to investigate. Such was her sudden burst of speed that, although the sea was calm, the water surged white up to her bridge. It was a false alarm. This incident occurred during the daily issue of the rum ration, and when we turned from watching the destroyer we found the goat drinking our rum. Alone in the Night.

“At last we found ourselves off the beaten track and no other ships were to be seen. We had passed an enemy minefield and were proceeding cautiously. Dusk fell and the destroyers left us. Then it became night, as black as pitch. The other minelayers left to take their stations and we steamed on alone. Anxiously we watched the funnels and prayed that no sparks would show.

“At mid-night the order ‘mining stations’ was passed round the ship. No bugle or pipes were sounded and not a light showed. Down on the mining deck everyone had his place. Then came the ‘standby,’ followed by the order to drop mines. One by one the heavy mines rolled down the trolleyway, out through the stem, and fell to the water with a splash. “We made 13. of these trips,” said Mr Wheldale, “and had the good fortune never once to encounter the enemy patrol. In the intervals we laid mines in other areas. After the Armistice the Wahine returned to Millwall, where the mine-laying gear was stripped from her. She was then taken to the Clyde and refitted for her return to New Zealand. Throughout her minelaying car-

eer she laid more than 11,000 mines.” The principal dates and facts concerning the Wahine’s war service are recorded upon a brass tablet fastened to the wall of her main saloon stairway. TELEGRAPHED REPORTS. COASTAL AND OVERSEAS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, September 26. Arrived: Otira 8.30 a.m. from Wellington; Waimarino 11.10 a.m. from Picton; Port Whangarei 4.20 p.m. from Newcastle; Kartigi 4.55 p.m. from New Plymouth. Wellington, September 26. Arrived: Kaimai 5.30 Greymouth; Raranga 7.15 a.m., from Auckland. Sailed: Totara 3.20 p.m. for New Plymouth; Canopus 4.10 p.m. for Westport; Vacuoline 4.40 p.m. for Dunedin; Rangatira 7.50 p.m. for Lyttelton. The Zealandia, from Sydney, is not expected until 7 p.m. to-morrow. She is 12 hours late. Lyttelton, September 26. Sailed: Storm noon and Maori 7.55 p.m. for Wellington; Canadian Cruiser 3.30 p.m. for Timaru; Koutunui 4.45 p.m. for Waikokopu. Dunedin, September 26. Arrived: Poolta 4.30 a.m. from Wellington; Gale 6.20 a.m. from Wellington. Sailed: Wingatui 8.30 p.m. for Timaru.