TOW LINES PART IN HEAVY SEAS

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1946, Page 3

TOW LINES PART IN HEAVY SEAS

-Press Association

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, May 12. After uncouutering lieavv seas uil tlie New Zealand coast which caused her tow lines to part on three occasions, the Govornment steamer Matai, which was-towing two converted miuo.swccp ers to Sydney, returned to Auckland tonight. The Matai left Auckland on Wednesday with the former mine.sweepers Pahau aud Aroha, which wero converted to trawlers and purchased by Sydney fishing compaiiies, in tow. The Aroha was manned by a skelotou crew aud was u.nder stcam. W hcn the vessels were olf Cape Brett early on Tliursday morning, they encountered heavy beam seas and the tow lines consisting of teninch sisal ropes and four-inch stcel hawsers, parted between the Matai anti Pahau. The Aroha, using her cngines, kept the Pahau steady for about an hour "until the sisal ropes . between tlie trawlers broke. The Matai cruised close to the vessels and the ajiehor cable was made fast to the Pahau, tlie crew performing out'st'anding scamanship in counecting it in :the heavy seas. Later a new 12-incli Americau rope was passed between the Pahau and Aroha and the couvoy passed North Cape on Friday morniilg. Rough seas were agaiu encountered after Cape Te Reinga and frlien ~'tlie • sliips were off the Three Eah'gs, the ' Aroha broke away once more. Contac't was inaintaiued between the ships by walkio-talkie radio telephones and shortly after the Aroha broke away, the captain of the Matai, Captain" R. Webling, received orders from the Marine Depart'ment to retum to port to refit towing gear. The crew of -the Matai worked throughout Saturday and Sunday to put the ship in order and the vessels hove to outside Tiritiri island this morning to shorten towlines, and they entered Auckland harbour ^hortly after eight 0 'clock.