LOCAL SHIPPING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1060, 6 February 1913, Page 2

LOCAL SHIPPING.

During last and this week shipping has been delayed at the local port owing to the silting of the bar and river channel, and the boisterous weather making it dangerous for ships to attempt to enter under such circumstancesThe Queen of the South and Awahou both left Wellington on Monday, January 24th, but, owing to a southerly gale on Tuesday, were unable to enter the port, and anchored under Kapiti until Wednesday. Both vessels were ready to sail on Thursday, but westerly winds and poor tides made the bar unsafe until Saturday evening, when they left port. The Queen of the South when crossing the bar had a uanow escape of being thrown up on the north spit, but managed to crawl out to sea after being 45 minutes on the bar. This experience made it unsafe for the Awahou to attempt the bar. Consequently she returned to port, and was not able to sail until Tuesday morning. The Awahou was thus detained in port for seven days. She had 150 bales of wool on board tor the Wellington sales, which arrived there too late to be included in the catalogues. The Queen of the South left Wellington again on Monday, 3rd February, but stuck on the bar all day Tuesday, getting off on Wednesday’s tide, but she again stuck in the river about three hundred yards from the wharf. After lightering sixteen tons ot cargo she arrived at the wharf at 12.30 yesterday morning. The Kennedy, coal laden from Westport, crossed the bar yesterday morning, but also stuck in the river, aud is being lightered before she can reach the wharf. These are a tew of the recurring incidents to local shipping, and we hope such facts will be placed before the Minister by the deputation. *