CYCLONE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2120, 1 July 1907, Page 2

CYCLONE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Press Association. AUCKLAND, Saturday. The Union Co.’s steamer Navua, which left for the Islands on Tuesday, returned to Auckland this morning, having sprung a leak in the stern tube. She will be docked tomorrow. - . The s.s. Navua. which returned to port to"-day, encountered a cyclone at; noon on Wednesday, and had a very rough experience till late the same night. On Thursday morning it was discovered the packing of one of the propellers had become loose. Water flooded thei propeller tunnel, and came into the engine-room. Captain McLean then put about and returned to. Auckland to repair the leak. The Navua behaved splendidly during the storm. Captain McLean reports that the s.s. Navua left Auckland on Tuesday, at 4 p.m. At 8 a.m. on June 26tli the barometer commenced to fall. The wind increased to a heavy gale. The ship was put head to sea. The barometer fell rapidly to 28.90. The storm lasted till 11 p.m., when the ship was again pub on her nurse for Nukualofa. At 11 p.m. on Thursday we changed our course for Auckland owing to an accident to the stern tubes. The vessel was then 293 miles from Auckland. The return trip was made in steadily improving weather.

The passengers by the s.s. Navua said they had a fearfully rough experience, but there was never any alarm, even when the captain put the steamer about and ran back to Auckland. Before the Navua had been many hours out of this port she dived into a gale which continued to increase in violence. By Thursday morning it was really terrible. Mountainous seas deluged the vessel, and kicked her about as though a straw plaything. To add to the difficulties tile packing about the shaft became loosened, causing the stern tubes to weep, and the pumps had to be worked. The s.s. Haupiri is detained at Auckland because of a slight leak.