ARAHURA IN A GALE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2772, 16 May 1916, Page 6

ARAHURA IN A GALE

SPRINGS A-LEAK

DAMAGE TO MAILS AND CARGO

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, May 15. Some concern was expressed this morning over the non-arrival of . tho Union Company's steamor Arahuva, which lett Auckland for Gisborne aud Napier at '2.10 p.m. ou Saturday. Shortly after midday the local manager of the Union Company was advised irom Auckland that' the -Arahuva had wirelessed that she had sprung a leak, and was taking shelter at Gape Runaway,-but would be able to come on to Gisborne.

The vessel arrived in tho bay at 2.45 p.m., all trim and apparently unaffected. After a conference between Captain Dryden and tho local manager oi the company it was deoided to tranship all carg<. and passengers here, and that the vessel should return to Auckland for docking. 'The vessel is uow being lightered, and all cargo brought ashore. She carries lliA tons of general cargo, mostly comprising sugar for Gisborne, and the sugar and a large quantity of the balance of the cargo is oadiy damaged.

Lightering will be completed by morn, ing, and ihe vessel will leave for Auckland about midday to-morrow. Passengers lor Napier will be taken on by the Tarawera, leaving here to-morrow night. On leaving Auckland on Saturday afternoon the AraUura immediately ran into dirty weather, which became steadily worse, until in the Bay of Plenty a terrific gale with mountainous seas was encountered. The vessel laboured badly on Saturday night, and it was ascertained on Sunday morning that she had sprung a leak, aud soon 9ft- of water was reported in the forward holds. Capt. Dryden decided to run for shelter, and fetched up off Whangaparae, Cape Runaway, at midday yesterday. Her pumps wero set going, aud were found easily able to cope with the leak. The vessel rode out the storm and left to come on to Gisborne at four o'clock this morning, arriving as stated Some of the mails were badly damaged, mainly- those for Napier. Tho extent of the damage to the cargo cannot bo com puted: till the morning, when it is also hoped to get at the leak. Tho ATahura'a mails and some of tho passengers went on to Napier by the Ripple to-night. The steamer Ngatoro, which was four days overdue from Limestone Island, arrived this afternoon, all well.

The weather has now cleaved to a certain extent ,and the swollen rivers are receding. Telegraphic communication with, coastal townships is interrupted, but no very strioui damage is reported elsewhere.