FIERCE GALE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1929, Page 2

FIERCE GALE

CABLE REPAIR SHIP SEVERELY BUFFETED. AUCKLAND, December 27. Mountainuous seas, which washed the decks both fore and aft and gave the crew a particularly trying time, were experienced by the cable repair ship iris, which returned to Auckland this morning after an absence from port of fifteen days. The vessel which has been repairing faults in what was formerly the Eastern Extension Company’s cable at a point approximately 240 miles from Cape Farewell, received a severe buffeting. The Iris left Auckland on December 11. th, ami arrived at the position of the fault two days later. A commencement' was made with the repairs the cable being picked up alter two hours’ grappling. During the course of the operation, the weather became dirty, and it was found necessary to Inmy the cable ends and to bandon the work until its moderated. High seas prevailed right up till December 19th, and the Iris, lying hove to, received the full intensity of the weather. When the weather improved, tintask of repairing the cable went ahead quickly, and the last of the 24 miles of new lengths was laid at 8 o’clock on Christmas morning. Except for twelve hours, constant gales prevailed and the seas were enormous. An indication of the buffeting the cable ship received is given in the following extract from the log hook, made at midnight on December 22nd: “Heavy westerly gale and high seas, frequent squalls of hurricane intensity accompanied by rain.