WILD STORM ON COAST

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1930, Page 6

WILD STORM ON COAST

GALE INTERRUPTS SHIPPING PLUCKY LAUNCH TRIP TO LINER. HA'tJTURU FORCED TO PUT BACK. The westerly gale which broke on New Plymouth yesterday raised very heavy seas that disorganised shipping arrangements at the port. At the high tide in the morning the power of the storm was most evident. Lashed by the wind which swept in with heavy rain squalls the tall waves banked up high on the west of the breakwater, which resembled sometimes a wild reef and at others a great cascade.' Within the shelter of the harbour the water was quiet ami untroubled and the flying boat “Cutty Sark” swung easily at her moorings between the two wharves. The first arrival was the Union Company’s coastal freighter Totara, which struggled into port at about 9.45 a.m. after a gruelling voyage up the stormswept coast from Greymouth. A little later the Port Caroline, the Commonwealth and Dominion liner, hove in sight. The acting-harbourmaster, Captain O. F. Mclntyre, decided to go out to her in the Harbour Board launch. Onco outside the shelter of the mole the little craft felt the full force of the storm. She was soon lost to sight from the wharves, but witli, skilful handling she was able to reach the liner, which fallowed uncomfortably two miles at sea. When he arrived within hailing distance Captain Mclntyre informed Captain A. H. Browne, the commander of the Port Caroline, that the vessel could not be berthed until 10 o’clock this morning. Soon the launch was seen making her way back and she arrived, safely in port. t The Port Caroline is a vessel of 8265 tons and as she was. drawing 25J feet of water it was thought safer not to bring her in during the height of the storm. She bore into the wind and kept going to prevent her from losing her steerage way. Sailors on the Hauturu is they passed the Port Caroline observed her take at least one heavy sea aboard. '

The Northern Company’s motor-vessel Hauturu, which left New Plymouth for Onehunga at 5.45 o’clock on Thursday afternoon, also encountered the full force of tho storm and was compelled to put back into New Plymouth. Until 2 o’clock on Friday morning the little coaster -forced, her way into the heavy seas raised by the nor-wester. She was ah l , to make only about’four knots most of the time, and when it was found, only about 30 or 40 miles had been covered Captain Jackson Fowler decided to turn back. The vessel was very light, carrying scarcely any cargo, but though she shipped heavy seas she weathered the storm without much trouble. The wind changed west but conditions did not improve. There would be a slight lull and then a squall, and tali waves would break with renewed vigour. At 2.30 o’clock the vessel put about and she came back slowly, not. berthing until - about 11 o’clock. Those on the wharf could gain some jdea of the nature of the gale as they watched the Hauturu’s two masts swing in great arcs from side to side as the vessel rolled.