SHIPPING BUFFETED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 7

SHIPPING BUFFETED

GALE ON THE EAST COAST WORST FOR SEVERAL YEARS (Pei Pt esb Association.] WELLINGTON, June 25. Reports frum Jiivoming ships indicate that the southerly gale which swept t..e East Coast ui the Dominion Irom Tuesday night till this morning, was the worst experienced lor seveiai years, the seas encountered being unusually heavy. Alinor damage was done to the Shaw, Sax ill, and Albion liner Mataroa, which arrived at Wellington shortly alter noun sonic six or eight hours late. The ship ran into tae gale on Wednesday when nearing the coast, conditions rapidly becoming so bad that she had to reduce speed. The vessel, at about one o’clocK this mom ing was several hours’ steam to the northward of Cape Palliser, when without warning, a huge sea, what is termed by mariners as a “rovei,” crashed over the ship’s forecastle head and -comp ctely filled up the for ward well of the deck. Several ventilators were knocked out of shape, rails were bent, and awning spars and 'stanchions, as well as the “crutches” on which the cargo derricks rested, and other fittings, wero damaged by the force of the huge sea. No one was injured. Tho German motor tanker Alittelmoor, which left Auckland on Monday evening and should have reached Wellington on Wednesday night, ran into the gale after passing East Cape. She was finally compelled to heave to north of Castlepoint until the weather moderated, and she finally arrived in the stream to-night. NELSON FERRY STEAMER. TOO ROUGH FOR CROSSING. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, June 25. The departure of tho Nelson ferry steamer Kaitoa, which was postponed from 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday until 11 p.m. this morning, was again delayed. She left the wharf at about 6 a.m., but tho weather was too bad to clear the heads, and she returned. The vessel will now leave at the usual time on Friday evening.