AN AWKWARD EXPERIENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 384, 13 July 1889, Page 6

AN AWKWARD EXPERIENCE.

From midnight/ on the 17bh to 6 a.m. on the 25bh the Dart was beating under canvas alono against westerly breezes, the sail- ■ maker being busy repairing sails, which were found Lo be vety rotten, splitting almost as soon as set. On the 21st the ship got into an easterly current and tho water boing^ warjiier than .the air by boveial degieesT caused constant sharp squalls of wind and rain. Tho baromotor was however very steady, ranging between 29 "85 and 30. On. the 23th at 6 a.m. the wind suddenly veered to the bouthwaid and soon freshened „to a strong gale. Tho topsail and inner jib .were double-reefed, but both split and 'then another whaler, was -washed away fiom the da\its by the' heavy sea running. At 3.30 p.m. the ship was hove to on tho port) tack unrier the iorotrytail and treble reeled mainsail. Heavy squalls"ol'wind, rain and hail piovailed all the afternoon and in the e\emng the barometetv was wonderfully steady, ranging between 29"8jdeg. and 29-90deg. At midnight 'the foretrysail was blown awa}' from the mast and bad to be taken in. On the 26th the ship remained hovo-to all day on the port tack under tho tieble reefed mainsail, scandalised and tack tried up. The weather at this r>eriod be came exceptionally bad, „bu|; the ship' rode the waves very comfortably, and shipped but little water in spite ot heavy seas running. At 8 p.m. the order wear fehip to eastwaid was given. Onthe-27Ui the weather was modeiating but the wind was still heavy with ram. The barometer rising, the ship was headed west waul, and on March 28, to the delight oi all hands, the weather cleared up and the wind fell calm in the c\ening. The Dart then steamed southward and with the help of a northwe&t wind which followsd was enabled to make the port at 1.30 p.m. -yesterday, Tho oilidcrs desciibe'the weather experienced as something dreadful, and they are of opinion 1 that had the ..ship not been thoroughly overhauled before she 101 l Auckland she* would have fared much worse than she did. — " Sydney Telegraph."