STAYED IN THEIR CABINS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21127, 29 August 1938, Page 6

STAYED IN THEIR CABINS

Passengers by the Maunganui Rough Crossing from Sydney Ship Nearly Two Days Late By Telegraph—Prese association AUCKLAND, August 28. Rolling, pitching and pounding in a high easterly swell with very rough seas breaking constantly over the forecastle head, a wind of full gale force shrieking through the covered-in deckways and taking heavy water forward, the Union Company’s Maunganui, which arrived at Auckland from Sydney this afternoon, 33 hours late, had a Tasman crossing which for every one of the 200 passengers on board will be remembered as an ordeal. Although no damage has been reported, the ship encountered such persistently bad weather that the officers said an inferior seaboat would probably have suffered considerably. For the master. Captain Morgan, and his officers, the crossing required unceasing vigilance. Captain Morgan looked particularly tired when the ship berthed at 4 p.m., and although he treated his task lightly he admitted having had very little sleep. The passengers were pleased to land. One after another they said that they had been forced to remain in their cabins for the whole of the voyage, which took almost five days. They left Sydney at 9 p.m. on Tuesday and ran Into thick easterly weather immediately. As a result the dining saloons were lightly used and it was thought that the average of those taking meals could not have been as much as 30. Deck games were abandoned for the whole of the crossing. All other social gatherings likewise were left alone. Beyond Imagination Many of a large party of New Zealanders who had been following the sun in New South Wales and Queensland were among the passengers. The New Zealand girls’ basketball team which played a number of games in Australia was also on board. Representatives of both groups said the voyage had been beyond all their imaginings of what a sea trip could be like. “It would have been worse if the Maunganui was not such a good sea boat,” said one of the girls, “but all the same I’m glad to be home." For Captain Morgan and his officers navigation was made more difficult by the fact that from the morning after leaving Sydney until late on Saturday afternoon they were not able to get one sight of the sun. At night there were no stars. Cape Marla Van Diemen was passed unseen, and the first sight of land from the time they drew out of sight of Australia came this morning with the dim outlines of Cape Brett. Vile Weather On Wednesday morning the glass fell steadily and the seas began increasing in strength. On Thursday there was a high easterly swell and the Maunganui began to pitch badly and to take heavy water over all her forward portion. Speed was reduced right down to slow. On Friday, when the worst of the weather struck the ship, so little progress was made that it was tantamount to being hove-to 'on her course. Heavy rain had been falling continuously for the whole of the crossing, making visibility very poor. The ship was pitching up and d”wn without cessation, and the seas were considered dangerous. It was estimated that they were at least "Oft high, and very steep. On Saturday morning the weather cleared a little, but in the afternoon Friday’s conditions were almost repeated. From 8 p.m. on Saturday until 4 a.m. to-day the wind shifted right round from north-east to south-west, and then back to north again. Some patches of fog were met this morning, and the winds continued variable.