STORM AT SEA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 181, 2 July 1937, Page 9

STORM AT SEA

LIGHTHOUSE SHIP DELAYED. Pei- Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 1. Some of the worst weather experienced in the career of the Government lighthouse steamer Matni was encountered in the Hauraki Gulf and on the north coast in the 10 days she was away from. Auckland. She returned to port with her work uncompleted. Conditions were general easterly with strong winds rising to gale force. After leaving Auckland on June 22 the Matai called at Moko Hinau and continued to the North Cape lighthouse, visiting Moko Hinau on the return voyage. It was found impossible to land gear, at the Chickens group and the Matai will again put to sea on Tuesday to carry out this work. SCOW ADRIFT. CREW LEFT ON GREAT BARRIER. Per Press Association, AUCKLAND, July 1. • To find that their vessel, the scow Lena Gladys, had disappeared with no one aboard, from her anchorage in Catherine's Bay, on the north-western coast of the Great Barrier Island, was the unenviable experience of her captain, Mr IV. McKenzie Thompson, and. a crew of two, on a stormy night at the week-end. Stranded with only a dinghy on the isolated shores, the complement conducted a frantic search for tho missing craft, which was eventually found about 22 mile's away through the timely arrival at tho hay of tho Gov-

ernment lighthouse steamer Matai, I which returned to Auckland this eventing. The Matai was sheltering from the storm at Catherine’s Bay, where she arrived on Saturday night, and her timely arrival enabled assistance to be given in the search for the Lena ; Gladys. j At midnight the scow’s dinghy came j alongside the Matai, with the captain iand crew of the Lena Gladys, who explained that they had gone ashore in the afternoon and had been prevented from returning owing to the gale conjditions. AVhen they reached the shore jthat night they had found that the scow had dragged her moorings and was not in sight. Several bays had been searched without success, j Fearing that the scow was drifting before the east-south-east gale and might become a danger to shipping, the Matai was immediately put to sea, running before the wipd to follow the track of tho missing Lena Gladys. At daylight on Sunday, morning, 22 miles from Catherine’s Bay, the scow was found, her position being about six miles to the west-south-west of Moko Hinnu Island. By some strange chance the craft had not struck Simpson Rock or any of the numerous rocks in the vicinity of Moko Hinau Island, and was undamaged when found, i Had she been picked up by another vessel the intact condition of her quarters might have for a time given rise to a mvstery of the sea similar to that 'of the Marie Celeste, was the comment of a member of the Matai’s complement. After her captain and crew had had breakfast in the Matai, they were put aboard the Lena Gladys and the scow was then put back for Catherine’s Bay. The Lena Gladys recently arrived at Great Barrier Island from Tauranga.