NEW PLYMOUTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 619, 13 October 1858, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH.

Tho following account of a narrow escape from accident on the beach atNew Plymouth is copied by the * Wellington Independent' from the * Taranaki Herald:'—

The arrival on Wednesday of . the ' White Swan ' from Nelson, was nearly attended with the saddest results to a considerable number • f persons. The weather was squally from; 'the

westward, with a rovv'h sea, and it was notified through the haj-bour bout, which had communicated with the- steamer, that the latter would not wait beyond the return of the boat from the shore. Accordingly, the remaining passengers hence for Auckland had no alternative hut to leave at once. The boat had nearly passed through the surf, which was breaking some distance out, when she shipped one or two seas, and in hauling back to regain the shore, the hawser parted. The boat than broached to. ■-shipped more water, and sunk to the gunwales. "The crew and passengers, including two ladies two children, in all seventeen persons, were now struggling for life, amidst drifting oars, lug-.-gaee, and'other floating materials, in an angry -and broken sea. The crowd collected on the Taeacli included the families and friends of the unfortunate persons in the water, and the excitement was extreme. A considerable number of military, civilians and natives, at once rushed 'into'the-sea and breakers, in the apparently forlorn attempt to render aid. And it is to the •providential 'circumstance of the wind and drift >of the sea setting towards the shore, and counteracting the effects of an unfavourable tide, that i:heir united efforts resulted in every person being saved, one or two being in the last stage of exhaustion. The amplest medical aid was • afforded, and the sympathy shewn by every one present did much to deprive the catastrophe of its full severity. We gladly refer to the highly meritorious conduct of the boat's crew, who, in the perilous situation in which they were placed, did not forget the ladies and children. From recent inquiries we find that the sufferers are progressing favourably though several are confined to their beds. We should be Unjust to ourselves if we allowed this accident to pass by, because by a marvel it did not terminate fatally, without ascertaining the exact footing on which we stand as a province with the steamer, whose abrupt departure led to the accident. We state this advisedly, because it was the expressed opinion of the Harbour Master that the surf would abate in a few hours, as afterwards proved to be the case. But whether we owe the indifference -shewn to our convenience, if not personal •safety, to the oversight of the Government in arranging the terms of the contract, or to default of the master, it must be prevented for the future. In return for the great despatch the j steam service always meets with at this port, we may not unreasonably expect the steamer to wait a few hours for us when the weather is not altogether suited for boating. So far from doing so on Wednesday, the White Swan barely waited at all, but proceeded on her course, leaving one of the mails behind, unconscious of the frightful scene that was happening in the endeavour to .reach her.