A ROUGH PASSAGE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160737, 25 August 1920, Page 9

A ROUGH PASSAGE

WHITE PINE'S EXPERIENCES. TWENTY-TWO DAYS FROM NEWCASTLE. “The worst passage across to New Zealand in my experience,” remarked Captain Proctor, of the sailer White Pine, to a “Herald” reporter this morning, when describing his passage across from Newcastle to Wanganui. The trip across usually takes eight to ten daj's, but the White Pine had passed the 23nd day out from Newcastle before she tied up to the wharf at Castlecliff. It was a beautifully fine evening when the vessel set sail from Newcastle, and favoured with fine weather, the ship was practically halfway across at the end of the fourth day. But Captain Proctor’s hopes of a record trip were doomed to disappointment, for there then set in an almost continuous battle with the elements. There was a succession of severe gales, against which the sailer could make little or no progress. For nearly eighteen clays this continued, the decks being awash most of the time. New Zealand was sighted below' Cape Farewell, and the ship beat about the coast for several days waiting for an opportunity to make Wanganui. She crossed last night and berthed at CastlecliffWELCOME SUPLIES OF COAL. The arrival of the White Pine is very opportune, for her coal supplies will be very useful in alleviating the shortage cf coal now existing. Supplies for the freezing works are short, and after discharging at Castlecliff sufficient for the time being, the sailer will come up to the town wharf. From the White Pine’s cargo, the gas works will receive 100 tons, which will enable it to tide over the present difficulty. From Wanganui the White Pine will proceed to Greymouth to load timber for Sydney.