COAST POUNDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 January 1939, Page 4

COAST POUNDED

THE GALE IN TARANAKI.

SHIPS LIE OFF NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH. January 16. Heavy seas pounded the Taranaki coast all day today and ships in port heaved in a big swell. Three ships had to lie off the harbour tonight. They were the Holmlea, which made to attempts to enter but was not permitted to do so because none of the available berthage space was suitable under the conditions; the Polzella, which could not discharge at Wanganui, and came on to New Plymouth; and the Orari, which also spent Sunday night off the port.

The Holmlea arrived at New Plymouth 48 hours out from Wellington at 6 p.m. She entered the port between the wharves but was sent out to sea again. Captain Barker, master of the vessel, took the ship out into the harbour and attempted to make her fast, but she dragged her anchor. Once again he came in .to the wharf but was ordered to sea again. The vessel had dragged anchors about 400 yards of the wharf. No apparent damage had been done to the Holmlea.

During Sunday night the Holmlea, which is berthed at New Plymouth, was thrown about so much that she reduced her fenders to matchwood and strained her mooring ropes. Two ropes of the barque Kommodore Johnsen broke.