TERRIFIC GALE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1929, Page 2

TERRIFIC GALE

DAMAGE “IWUA.” 'telegraph— i'rests Association). AUC-ivL.vND, May 14. Twenty-four ! Tioiirs belaud the scliedule time, ili-e Union Company's Island passenger steamer ‘‘Tofua’’ returned to Auc-kluntt, shortly afle. noon to-day, from the \V esteni T’acfm Islands, with her couij.nnion ladder., smashed, and tiie boat on her 'pine side stove in together wiili the aiu-. mooring te.egiaph wires carried away. The Tofua shows signs of a ternht gale, which the vessel encountered l;;! her trip from Suva to Auckland. The pasSengers on board speak very highly in praise of Captain Mellonaid’s seamanship. ■ They say that lie was on the bridge Horn Saturday evening until tbe vessel’s arrival in the stieaai at Auckland. Big seas continually swept the vessel, and several of the cabins were consequently flooded out. Except tor the damage on deck, no other damage hus done to the vessel. Her canvas was- ripped like paper by the lorcc ol the gale and torrential rains made the two last days of the trip stii. more violent. One man stated that he had made seven trip to and from the Islands, but ho had never experienced anything like the force of the gale, and the heavy seas on Sunday and Monday.