A TALE OF THE SEA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 265, 5 August 1919, Page 6

A TALE OF THE SEA

ARAHURA BREAKS FROM NAPIER . WIIARF. Tlio lot of the traveller in these times is a sad one. Those people who lt-it Gisborne by the Arahura on Wednesday evening last (the passengers including Sir James Carroll) hud on experience that will lust every ono of them a loan t'me. A full ship, with sixteen ladies in the social hall- and even mattresses out on the deck for passengers who could not be "bunked," the little steamer,.ran into a gale, and arrived oif Napier to find tho Tarawera and Mokoia bobbing about in the distant offing, visible only "on the rise." With great energy and assurance tlio Arahura was guided alongside the breakwater wharf, lines were made fast, and the passengers were about Jo land, when a treble crack split the air. All three -lines had parted and tho steamer was once more loose. She had to nut to sea with the others, and remain there all day. In the afternoon tlie harbourmaster was signalled to land the passengers per lighter, but that official was taking no risks. He would have none of it. So the Arahura had to plunge about in a heavy sea the long night through, nearly all the passengers being ill and wretchedly uncomfortable. Tliey were a washed-out, bedraggled lot that got ashore at 7 a.m. on Friday. Then commenced the torment to the soul. Ail who wished to travel by rail had to obtain a permit, and to obtain a permit nad to answer an eternity of questions. Hav: ing got through that ordeal, the train crept through Hawke's Bay, made lalmerston North in twelve hours, and, the next day, Wellington in six.