ROUGH TIME IN HARBOUR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 169, 13 April 1921, Page 8

ROUGH TIME IN HARBOUR

SATURDAY NIGHT’S STORM

Tho fierce storm which swept, over Wellington during the week-end caused a good deal of anxiety on the waterfront, and not a little excitement. On Saturday night the wind, blowing north-north-west, practically rose to a hurricane, and very heavy seas pounded agninst the wharves. The weather first gave cause for alarm af about 5 o’clock, and between then and after 9 was a trying time for the harbourmasters staff and the. Union Company’s permanent men. Ihe coal hulks Alanson and lima, berthed at No--3 Queen’s Wharf, snapped most of thatr moorings and very nearly got adrift. The height of the seas and the strength of the wind may be gauged from the fact that rnnny of the mooring posts aboaid the hulks were torn out of the decks. It was with great difficulty that the two hulks, both belonging to the Union Company, were kept from breaking adrift, and when they were eventually made fast at about 9 o’clock aU new ropes had to bo used. Both the lima and the Afanson continually smoshed against the wharf, hut the fenders saved them from any damage. The coal hulks Were not the only vessels to suffer through the storm. The small coastal steamer Put.iki pitched up and down and nearly got adrift. Had she got loose she would almost certainly have crashed into the Kennedy. Alembert nf tho harbourmaster’s staff boarded her in time, however, and made everything snug. All the hulk-keepers in port had to stand by their charges during tho night.