“TIMES” SUPPLEMENT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 54, 10 July 1862, Page 7 (Supplement)

“TIMES” SUPPLEMENT.

WBECKof the “WHITE SWAN.”

OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY. By the overland mail we have the following important intelligence. The General Assembly was opened on the 30th June. In the Upper House the only member present from other Provinces was ' the Hon. Mr, Outfield, of Taranaki, who with the Hon. J. C. Crawford, and J. Johnston comprised the whole attendance. In the Lower House there were only seven members present, viz., Messrs. Brandon, Carter, Featherston, and Rhodes ; and Capt. Atkinson of New Plymouth, Mr. Eyes of Marlborough, and Mr. Mantell of Southland. Dr. Monteith died on the Ist instant, after an illness of long duration. WRECK OFVPHE “ WHITE '[SWAN.” (From the Wellington Independent, July l.J'i Mr. Duncan, of Wellington, accompanied by Mr. Graham, of Auckland, have just arrived post haste from the East Coast, with the intelligence of the wreck of the White Swan, on a reef opposite to Mr. Moore’s station, 18 miles South of Castle Point. She struck on a reef, and began to fill quickly; there was barely time to run her on shore. The Auckland members were on board. Mr. Fox offered Al5O to get the public documents out of the hold; but as soon as they were had upon deck, a sea'.washed them overboard. All lives saved. The Assembly is prorogued to’the” 7th. The Governor was to leave Auckland in the, Harrier, audjs’expected to arrive here on the sth. We have been favoured with the following letter, written by Robert Graham Esq., of Auckland, who was a passenger by the illfnted vessel, giving a description of the unfortunate disaster. TO THE THE “ WELLINGTON’ INDEPENDENT.” Wellington, Ist* July, 1862. It is”my painful duty to inform you of the loss of the White Swan steamer, on Sunday morning last, off Castle .! Point, all hands saved. I being a"passenger on board, will give you a brief account of our Trip from Auckland. The regulari'day for the sailing of the White Stvan from Auckland was Tuesday last, but owing to the non-arrival of the mail, she was detained by the Government until 12 on Wednesday. . Passengers got all ready, but to their great surprise saw a card stuck up, informing them that in consequence of fog, she would not sail until the following day Thursday; but the real cause in my opinion was, that one of the compartments being nearly full of water, and the pumps kept going the whole|day until 4 p.m., when she floated. A survey was held upon her, and the result was a favorable report. The Captain stated that pipe that feeds the boiler had been turned into the fore compartment by mistake. At half-past 10, a.m , on Thursday, we left the wharf, with three cheers from the crowd. With a fair wind and fine weather we reached’Napierjit 8 a.m. on Saturday; and left at 5 p.m same day, with eight or ten additional passengers, and at six o’clock on Sunday morning, we apparently struck on a reef, very slightly, the Captain believed it was a log of wood. Immediately afterwardstheTfore-compartment filled, and she appeared to be sinking. We steered for the shore. We were then, I should think, about a mile or a mile and a half from the shore. I will not attempt to describe the feeling we all then had on board. I should^,think five minutes broughtlus' to the beach. There was a heavy surf on the beach, but we found a good place to land not far from the wreck, where we were all landed in safety and most of the luggage ; but I regret to say that most of the public documents are lost or damaged. The passengers got into Mr. Moore’s woolshed. I went with Mr. Duncan:,to Mr. Moore’s house at Waikaraka, (a terrible journey we had). Mr. Moore immediately sent a bullock dray, and horses with side saddles, &c., for the ladies and a number of gentlemen, who were glad]to avail themselves of his kind hospitality. A messenger was despatched to Castle Point for the Storm Bird, which|was to leave Napier on Monday forenoon and to touch at Castle Point, while Mr. [Duncan, Mr. S G. Moore, and came on to Wellington for the purpose of forwarding a steamer in the event of the Storm Bird not arriving at Castle Point. The White Swan had on board, the Chief Justice, the ministry, and a great number of the members of the General Assembly from Auckland. There were also four or five ladies on-board. I satisfaction of those who had friends on hoard the ill-fated steamer, that I saw all safe and] in good health in the wool shed at 1 p.m. on Sunday last, when prayers were offered Tup by the Chief Justice for our safe deliverance and so miraculous an escape. The surf was breaking over the wreck, and T.' believe ’i she will go to pieces where she now lays. We arrived in Wellington this afternoon at 4 p.m., and the Siorm’Bird wilPbe despatched this evening at 7 p.m. to the scene of the disaster, and bring the passengers on"to .Weihngtori. Being fatigued from the long ride and the heavy state of the roads, will sufficiently acT lia.va ..

members present, viz., Messrs. Brandon, Carter, Featlierston, and Rhodes ; and Capt. Atkinson of New Plymouth, Mr. Eyes of Marlborough, and Mr. Mantell of Southland. Dr. Monteith died on the Ist instant, after an illness of long duration.

WRECK

(From the Wellington Independent, July Air. Duncan, of Wellington, accompanied by Mr. Graham, of Auckland, have just arrived post haste from the East Coast, with the intelligence of the wreck of the White Swan, on a reef opposite to Mr. Moore’s station, 18 miles South of Castle Point. She struck on a reef, and began to fill quickly; there was barely time to run her on shore. The Auckland members were on board. Mr. Fox offered <£lso to get the public documents out of the hold; but as soon as they -were had upon deck, a sea], washed them overboard. All lives saved. The Assembly is prorogued to 7th. The Governor was to leave Auckland in the Harrier . to arrive here on the sth. We have been favoured with the following letter, written by Robert Graham Esq., of Auckland, who was a passenger by the illfated vessel, giving a description of the unfortunate disaster.

TO THE THE “WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT.”

Wellington, Ist] July, 1862. It is*my painful duty to inform you of the loss of the White Swan steamer, on Sunday morning last, off Castle ) Point, all hands saved. I being a“passenger on board, will give you a brief account of our Trip from Auckland. The regular,"'day for the sailing of the White Swan from Auckland was Tuesday last, but owing to the non-arrival of the mail, she was detained by the Government until 12 on Wednesday. Passengers got all ready, but to their great surprise saw a card stuck up, informing them that hi consequence of fog, she would not sail until the following day Thursday; but the real cause in my opinion was, that one of the compartments being nearly foil of water, and the pumps kept going the who!e|day until 4 p.m., when she floated. A survey was held upon her, and the result was a favorable report. The Captain stated that aasuction pipe that feeds the boiler had been turned into the fore compartment by mistake. At half-past 10, a.m , on Thursday, we left the wharf, with three cheers from the crowd. With a fair wind and fine weather we reachedNapierjit 8 a.m. on Saturday; and left at s"p.m same day, with eight or ten additional passengers, and at six o’clock on Sunday morning, we apparently struck on a reef, very slightly, the Captain believed it was a log of wood. Immediately afterwards " filled, and she appeared to be sinking. We steered for the shore. We were then, I should think, about a mile or a mile and a half from the shore. I will not attempt to describe the feeling we all then had on board. I shouldjhink five minutes broughtius’ to the beach. There was a heavy surf on the beach, but we found a good place to land not far from the wreck, where we were all landed in safety and most of the luggage; hut I regret to say that most of the public documents are lost or damaged. The passengers got into Air. Moore’s woolshed. I went with Air. Duncan:, to Air. Moores house at Waikaraka, (a terrible journey we had). Air. Aloorc immediately sent a bullock dray, and horses with side saddles, &c., for the ladies and a number of gentlemen, who were glad]to avail themselves of his kind hospitality. A messenger was despatched to Castle Point for the Storm Bird, which|was to leave Napier on Monday forenoon and to touch at Castle Point, while Air. 'Duncan, Air. o G. Aloore, and came on to Wellington for the purpose of forwarding a steamer in the event of the Storm Bird not arriving at Castle Point. The White Swan had on board, the duel Justice, the ministry, and a great number of the members of the General Assembly from Auckland. There were also four or five ladies on|board. I may!say]forTthe satisfaction of those who had friends on hoard the ill-fated steamer, that I saw all safe and] in good health in the wool shed "at 1 p.m.’ on Sunday last, when prayers were offered: up by the Chief Justice for our safe deliverance and so miraculous an escape. The surf was breaking over the wreck, and ]p believe she will go to pieces where she now lays. We arrived in Wellington this afternoon at 4 p.m., and the Storm[Bird wilEhe despatched this evening at 7 p.m. to the scene of the disaster, and bring the 'passengers on" to .Wellington. Being fatigued from the long ride and the heavy state of the roads, will sufficiently account for the brief description I have given of the loss of the ill-fated steamer. I am, Sir, Your’s &c., ROBERT GRAHAM.