STORMY WEATHER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 582, 10 August 1909, Page 5

STORMY WEATHER.

CROSSING THE BAR AT MAMJKAU. ■ (By TelGgrapb.—Speclal Correspondent.) . . 'Auoklandi August 9. Crossing the bar at Manukau has beeh an unenviable experience during the past few days. Yesterday the s.s. Claymore, which had to return,to port on Thursday for'shelter, started off, but, like the Corinna, only got as far as the Head 3 when she was hove to. ITiis made three vessels anchored inside, for the auxiliary scow Albatross had . been waiting tJhere for several : days trying to make the passage outwards to ; Waitara. In' the' afternoon the Claymore hauled up anchor and got across .on the top of the tide, followed a few minutes later by the'Corinna. Both steamers encountered heaivy seas, and as the Claymore set out for .her ipassage to Hokianga little'other than her funnel was'-visible from the. signal station.' The Albatross was un-. able to face tlie' seas and remained at her anchorage. As the day wore on the conditions at the Heads did not improve, and it was .thought that the Claymore would m<tet with difficulty in getting away for. New Plymouth. ■ Captain Norbury lost no time in leaving the wharf,, and with a strong ebb tide to assist him, got down the harbour quickly.' The bar was in an angry condition, but the popular white f.unncl steamer battled through at 5.15 o'clock,.and then prooeoded on her way.

Tho barque Northern Chief, which has arrived at 1 Auckland from Newcastle, met with very rough' weather on : tho voyage, but nevertheless completed the journey in tho smart time,"of eight days nine hours. She left the New South Wales coal port on July 30, and encountered moderate to strong westerly Rales and high following seas untilthe New Zoaland coast was reached on Friday night. Hero tho wind shifted to south-west and blew with hurricane force, terrific hail squalls being experienced'for some considerable time. A very heavy sea was also running, and. the water frequently found its way on board the barque, which, although labouring heavily, camo through her ordeal without damage.