THE TAIAROA IN A GALE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 139, 13 June 1881, Page 2

THE TAIAROA IN A GALE.

The Auckland herald of Monday says : — The s s. Taiaroa. which arrived from Poverty Bay yesterday about ? o'clock, h*d a very rough passage, such an one as the captain had never experienced during a life devoted to the sea. From the time Bhe left Lyttelton a north-east wind prevailed, wiih a gradually increasing sea. At Gisborne, about 350 sheep were taken on board, and all wtnt well until after rounding the East Cape. On Saturday night, when off the Cuvier, the Bight was so dark that it was to see a ship's length ahead, and as the naptain could not make exactly sure of where he was, he determined to "lay-to." But tins was not his only reason f < r doing so; the gale was so violent that apprehension was felt for the safety of the boats, and the sheep were dying by dozens. The waves were so high that it seemed a wonder that the vessel mounted them, for when the fierce Mind moderated the sea even became worse. The waist of the vessel was almost constantly filled with water, .and the cabin was flooded. A large number of dead sheep were thrown overboard, as they were being washed against the live ones, and so endangering their existence. As many sheep as possible were placed upon the poop, but even there they did not escape from the waves, which, dashing over the ship's bow, extended right aft. After being hove-to for thirteen terrible hours, the Taiaroa continued her voyage. When she arrived here she had very few sheep left, and several of these were dead, the remainder being very sick and unable to stand. Fully three-fourths of the number taken on board were lost. The steamer sustained little or no injury.