TEMPESTUOUS VOYAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1930, Page 2

TEMPESTUOUS VOYAGE

NIAGARA HEAVILY - BUFFETED.; AUCKLAND, December 29. Exceptionally stormy weather was experienced during the Voyage- of ’the Royal mail liner Niagara, .which,- airrived at Auckland from Y.anpppver ,at midday. The vessel left Vancouver' oh December 10th and the same' evenihg she encountered a south-east, gale which increased to a whole, gale next day. For four days the Niagara was buffeted by stormy conditions and high seas, which repeatedly broke aboard forward, and damaged some of the deck fittings, and broke ports forward. The wind also carried' away the wireless aerial. After the storm sudsided the wind changed to north-east which was in the vessel’s favour.- Honolulu was reached on schedule time pn December 17th, and the Niagara resumed her voyage the same evening. Fresh to light winds and continuous heavy rain prevailed until the Niagara was south of the equator on December 22nd, when the barometer began to fall and conditions became threatening, The same night the wind increased to a hard northerly ghle which was accompanied by heavy ruin and high following seas. ■ A FULL GALE.

The following day the wind had increased to a full gale from the northeast and it blew in fierce rain squalls. Tbe cyclone was travelling between Samoa and Fiji and the course the Niagara was* steering to Suva was taking her away from, the centre of the cyclone, which was estimated to have passed close astern of the vessel. The vessel continued running before

the wind, with high seas following on

the port quarter, and waves frequently i- broke on board. Ore particularly heavy sea carried away the telegraph £ casing which contained the wires con-

necting the telephones and the enginev room telegraphs. At midday on De'rt CG ,mbor 22rd the speed was reduced to Kb ease the strain of the vessel, and th© v .\ ' same evening the speed was further re- % duced, and the Niagara was practically t Love-to, owing to the wind having h reached hurricane force. On Christ-

mas Day tbe storm continued until t midday. The conditions then moderf: a ted sufficiently to allow the vessel to

f.: resume her course and speed. The m weather continued to improve during the remaining 500 miles run to Suva. Ideal weather prevailed during the passage from Suva to Auckland, which jva.s covered in three days.