A ROUGH PASSAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2249, 22 July 1908, Page 2

A ROUGH PASSAGE.

VESSEL’S SEVERE HANDLING,

[Press Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, July 21. After a long passage of ten days from Kaipara. the auxiliary screw’ schooner Huia arrived at Lyttelton early this morning. It was thoughtthat the Huia would be sheltering in the Straits,during the heavy gales last weelc, blit, Captain McKenzie stated that he was at sea the whole time, and the viossel had a very rough handling while she was battling about in,the high seas between "Waipapa, Point and Kaikoura, The Huia left Kaipara on Saturday 11th inst., in company with the schooner Lily and the brigantine Aratapu. Pine weather and fair winds brought the vessel's down the coast in company as far as The Brothers, which was passed at midnight on Monday, the 13th inst. Early . next morning the Aratapu parted company with the Huia, and the Lily, and went'into 'Wellington', where she arrived the same, afternoon. Tho Huia lost sight of 'the Lily the same day, and when off Waipapa- Point cxpcriencod a southerly wind, which lasted throughout ’Wednesday. On Thursday morning a light northerly wind came away, and lasted for a few hours, the Huia being then to tbe southward of the Kaikoura. In the afternoon a terrific squall came away from the southward, and struck tho Huia, blowing the foresails clean away., Heavy rain and hail accompanied the squall, and a big sea got up. It was thought that the squall would pass off, hut the wind freshened all night until it was blowing a heavy gale with a high sea running. Having got so far down the const, Captain McKenzie kept tho vessel battling against tho - gale, but she made no progress against it, and scarcely held her own. The heavy weather continued till Sunday, it_ being bitterly cold with frequent rain and hail squalls, making matters extremely uncomfortable for all on board. On Sunday last the gale moderated, and yesterday the wind changed to the northward and brought tho vessel down the coast.