THICK WHITE DARKNESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1178, 13 July 1911, Page 4

THICK WHITE DARKNESS.

STEERING IN A HEAVY FOG. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, July 12. The thick white darkness of a heavy fog descended upon Auckland Inst evening, and proved an effeetivo bar to the proper conduct of fast traffic. It was upon the harbour that (he fog played its worst tricks upon sight and judgment. IJie ferry boat time-table went to pieces. A reporter was on board one of tho steamers that left Dcvonport for the citv, calllng at Stanley Bay. Bright enough were the lights on the Devonport. Wharf when close at hand, but they blinked out almost as soon as the boat cleared tho piles, and instantly the little vessel was as much -alono as if she was in midocean. There was difficulty in picking up tho Stanley Bay jetty, but. waiting voyagers on tho wharf shouted loudly to the coming ferry boat, and, steering by tho sounds for some time, tho skipper at last picked up the tiny glow, and just then a blaze. of llpio broke out on the wharf as a well-farred newspaper was sacrificed as a guiding light. The wharf sprang into being, and a moment later (ho boat bumped alongside. Then the ship.left for Auckland. Continually there blew whistles and foghorns, making ownerless disembodied noises, and continually every eye strained to see somo other thing than the flat grey of the fog and tho oily glitter of tho calm water round the vessel's sides. A light—any light would have served—but there was no light, and suddenly there sprang out of the mist tho shapo of a little white yawl. It was a clue at least, and the steamer was clearly in Mechanics' Bay, and must go very slow and feel her way back. Presently a friendly light showed, and a voice from it said: "You're oil' Wynyard pier!" And so hard astern, and back out among the scows, feeling along towards tho Railway Wharf, whose lights rofused to show while the fog swirled down thicker than ever. Filially the ferry steamer reached her destination, half-an-hour overdue. She was heartily cheered as she came alongside. The Northcote, Birkenhead, and Chelsea servico was anyhow. Steamers wondered all over the place, and passengers wondered whether they would get across last night at all. Frequently the navigators found themselves heading in (he opposite direction to that intended, and altogether passengers and crews had an anxious time of it.