A ROUGH EXPERIENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2370, 10 December 1908, Page 4

A ROUGH EXPERIENCE.

HEAVY SWELL IN THE BAY

Owing t-o a considerable swell in tlie Bay yesterday afternoon and evening the work of tendering the Union Company’s steamers was attended with a certain amount of inconvenience.

The s.s. Mokoia arrived from Auckland about 4.30 p.m., and despite the difficulty experienced in transhipping both passengers and luggage, a smart passage was made, the Tuatea arriving back sat the wharf at 5.25 p.m. At 7 p.m. tho s.s. Waikare, fourteen hours behind time owing to bad weather, arrived from Napier, and the launch left the wharf to tender her. and also to convey outward-bound passengers to the s.s. Mokoia. There were a large number of passengers, including many ladies, for both vessels, and as the sea had by no means moderated towards evening, there were some rather exciting scenes while the work of transfer was going on. So mb of the passengers showed a decided disposition to retain their small handbags and not to trust them to the tender mercies of the crew. Ono gentleman was particularly vehe. iinent in his refusal to part with an apparently precious cardboard box, and while struggling up the swaying gangway he slipped, fell down, 'and dropped the sacred box into tho tumbling water, ’An unsympathetic roar of laughter wont up from the crowded, boat, as away in the wake of the ship were to he seen various articles of feminine attire floating out to sea. Thanks t-o the celerity of a member of tho Tuatea,’s crew all tlie contents of tho box were not lost, 'and a rather bedraggled “creation” of a hat and a few other articles were handed up to the luckless owner on the end of a boat-hook. There were many other /moments of breathless excitement, but thanks to tho strong arms of the members of tho crew, 'all the passengers were safely got aboard, and the Tuatea- returned to the wharf shortly before 10 p.m., bearing a large number of people, •amongmfwy large number of people, many of whom, judging by their attitude, were heartily glad to lie once more on terra firnia. After landing her passengers the Tuatea returned to the s.s. Waikare to load a quantity of coal for her-own use, and also to fetch in the scenery and properties of Williamson’s Theatrical Company. She finally returned to tho wharf at 1 a.m.'