(VAST DEPRESSION EAST OF NEW ZEALAND CAUSES GALES AND HEAVY SEAS

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 June 1948, Page 6

(VAST DEPRESSION EAST OF NEW ZEALAND CAUSES GALES AND HEAVY SEAS

(P.A.) Auckland, June 8. Stretching over a vast area of the South Pacific to the east of the Dominion, gale and hurricane conditions are being experienced by a number of overseas ships coming to or homeward bound from New/Zealand ports. An extensive depression, which today deepened rapidly, was centred this afternoon about 1400 miles east of Auckland. Pressure at that point had fallen to 28.79 in. and the depression had formed a great circle measuring 1200 miles from edge to edge. One of the ships in the area is the Union Company s motor ship Wairimu, recently purchased in the United States and making her delivery voyage to Auckland with passengers and cargo: Her master, Captain G. B. Morgan, D. 5.0., D.S.C., reported hurricane conditions. The ship's arrival, previously given as Thursday afternoon, will be delayed. From liners and freighters scattered over thousands of miles of the storm area, reports of severe condi|tions were received by the Auckland Weather Office during the day. The New Zealand. Shipping Company’s liner Ruahine, which left Auckland for London on Friday, was 300 miles north-west from the centre of the depression at noon. She reported a southerly gale with a heavy southerly swell. Another passenger and cargo [ship, the Port Line’s Port Wellington, I which left Wellington for London on (Friday, was 500 miles north-west of I the centre. She was experiencing a I northerly gale and a heavy northerly I swell. About 400 miles east of Wellington, the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Mataroa, inward bound from Southampton with 382 passengers, including 125 immigrants, was meeting strong winds. The steamer Glenpark, three days out of Lyttelton for LonIdon, was experiencing ijiore severe | weather, and the 10,00 u-ton motorship Condess, five days out of Napier |and far to the east on her way to (Panama and London, was contending iwith a strong northerly wind and swell. I To the north-east of New Zealand, the influence of the depression could still be felt. The Forthbanx, which left Auckland on Saturday for Makatea, was about 200 miles to the east of the Kermadec Group at noon today when she reported high winds and rough seas.

Messages from so many* ships had enabled an excellenT map of the depression to be charted, said the weather office forecaster. Vessels were located in every quadrant of the disturbance and their detailed observations had been of great value.