PORT RE-OPENS AND IS BUSY

Grey River Argus, 4 October 1948, Page 2

PORT RE-OPENS AND IS BUSY

The port of Greymouth is again open to .shipping after having been closed for more than a week as a result of a southerly storm that whipped up high seas on the West Coast. At one period almost thirteen shins were held up, and coal and timber shipments were dislocated. Last week 3,000 tons of coal had accumulated in trucks at the wharf, while over 1,400 tons "was being held at the Liverpool State mine. Soundings taken during the weekend revealed that the depth on the inner bad had improved, and is now 27ft, and that on the outer bad had also improved and there was now 26 feet of water. The sea moderated early on Saturday, and ships began moving as soon as the tide suited. The radical change from idleness at the port was demonstrated on Saturday by the fact that the collier “Storm” came in on tlie morning tide and left by the next tide with a full load, having been in port only about 'fourteen hours. The Australian timber vessel “Matthew Flinders,” which had been criiFsiaig in the roadstead ifor six days, and the “Storm,” which had been delayed for three days, entered port as soon as four ships had departed on Saturday. The vessels to sail were the “Gabriella”, “Kartigi,” “Kiwitea,” and “Holmlea.” They had been here for over a week, barbound.

Yesterday the sea was calm, with only a slight swell, and three ships, the "Kaimai,” “Karepo” and “Piri” entered port. As a result of the improved bar depth, all cargo restrictions have been removed, and the colliers are exnected to take their full quotas. The “Matthew Flinders” is loading a million and a-quarter feet of softwoods for Australia.