Rough Tasman Crossing for Wanganella

Chronicle (Levin), 30 May 1949, Page 5

Rough Tasman Crossing for Wanganella

AUCKLAND, May 29. Forced sevei'al hundred miles off her course by gales, the Huddart Parker motor liner 5Vanganella will now berth af Sydney 4S hours late on her voyage from Auckland, according to a wireless "message. received from her commander, Captain H. F. Xorrie, tonight. Winds reached 60 miles an hour early on Saturday when the liner was more than 200 miles northeast of Xorth Cape. iSix elephants included in Wirth's Circus animals being returned to Australia from Auckland, weathered more than 24 hours of the gale chained to the exposed foredeck. Other animals inciuding lions, horses and dogs, were in between decks. Xone was injured. Captain Xorrie reported that all the Wanganeila 's 391 passengers were welJ and that the ship was not damaged. Having left Auckland shortly after 4 p.m. on Thursday, the Wanganeila was due to berth at Sydney abont $ a.m. tomorrow morning. Captain Xor1rie advised that she will not arrive there till late on Tuesday night and berth at 8 a.m. on Wednesdav. "We encountered a 'north northeast gale earlv on Friday morning," stated the wireless message. "With ndnd and sea increasing the vessel was hove to at s.30 a.m. .During Friday the wind increased to fresh gale force being accompanied by high seas. " The gale reached its elimax about 6 a.m. on Saturday when wind of 60 miles an hour lashed the vessel. Two hours later the wind began to drop and at 9.30 a.m. tlie liner was able to resume course at full speed. Throughout the gale the Wanganeila was quite steaay and was not damaged, stated Captain Xorrie. Steaming from Sydney to Auckland, fhe Fnion Companv's passenger liner Monowai experienced a fair crossing ot tlie Tasman until today when slie rau into southerly winds. She is due here 011 Tuesday morning. The Blue Star Line motor ship Xapier Star reached Auckland this morning from Sydney having been delayed 24 hours by weather off the coast.