A WRECK OF THE 'SIXTIES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 70, 23 March 1907, Page 2

A WRECK OF THE 'SIXTIES.

BLENHEIM RESIDENT'S NARRA-

TIVE

A DISTINGUISHED COMPANY

The wreck of the steamer White Swan in 1862 is an event in the historical records of New Zealand, for several reasons. The most important of these is that- she was conveying a distinguished company of Parliamentarians, with their wives, from Auckland to Wellington for the opening of Parliament. The Chief Justice of the Colony, Sir G. A. Arney, was also amongst the passengers. / Mr John Moore, ..ne respected Blenheim resident, was a prominent actor in the relief measures, and was thus ■-.in-a position to give a reporter of The Express some interesting details. Mr Moore explained that the Whit© Swan, built in Glasgow, was of about 200 tons register, a large steamer for those days, and, in reality, one of the first non-sailing vessels to navigate the coasts of New Zealand. She had v left Auckland with the northern contingent of members, and picked up individual parliamentarians, with their parties, at the several ports en route. Mr Moore's father was the owner of a run on the Waivarapa coast, and the homestead was situated two or three miles inland. His brother is -a^ill in occupation of the run. .'"I-well remember that it was on a Sunday mbrning," proceeded Mr Moore. - "The first warning we had was from a Maori cowboy we had working for us. He rushed into the room where we were all sitting, and seemed greatly excited, muttering and gesticulating wildly, 'Rangitira coming,' he said; 'big rangitira.' "How do you know they are rangitiras, Watson?" asked Mr Moore. "Big tall hat," explained the cowboy, as he employed his hands to indicate the attitude of the rangitiras' stove-pipe head-coverings. "But them got no horses," added Watson in -

At this Mr Moore, then, quite a young man, ran out to look; and, sure enough, there were approaching several gentlemen dressed in the height of fasuion. They explained that they had been ship-wrecked in the flight, but that fortunately no lives had been lost. They had set out along the beach in search of a homestead or hut, and, guided by wheelmarks, had come upon Mr Moore's residence, situated about three miles from the scene of the wreck. It appears the White Swan had run upon a rock and pierced her bottom, compelling the captain to beach her. Fortunately for hep freight, a strong land wind was blowing at the time, which had the effect of beating down the breakers upon what is generally a dangerously ..rough coast. The passengers were thus enabled to land in comparative safety. The women and children were left in charge of the crew and a number of the passengers, whilst the others went in search' of .'assistance.

Upon Mr Moore realising the plight of the ship-wrecked party, he instantly got out the only conveyance on the place, a dray; harnessed up the bullock team, brought from the house all the cooked meat available and a- sack of flour, and started off towards the beach. When he got there he found, as may be imagined, an interesting group. It included Mr (afterwards Sir) Maurice O'Rourke, since for many years Speaker of the House; Mr (afterwards Sir) Wm. Fox, thrice Premier of the- Colony; Mr Reader Wood, after- ■— wards a Minister of thejCrown; Chief Justice Arney, and many other notabihties, along with their wives and daughters.

Having handed o\it the meat and ! flour. Mr Mcoye returned to the homestead, convoying ,-oine of the passengers and their scanty luggago; and afterwards returned to the beach with half a bullock and other raw foods. Some three days later i»ir Moore espied, at the bottom of a tidal river that flows into the sea near the scene of the wreck) a huge leathern trunk. He waded in chest-deep, attached a bullock chain to the trunk, and hauled it out of the water, and towards the homestead. Mr O'Rourke, coining out of the house at the moment; ex-» claimed: "Why, that's my wife's trunk you have there!" and sure enough it was. The contents were turned out and dried, and much of it j was still of service. Mr Moore states that he met Sir Maurice in Wellington only recently, when the ex-Speaker of the House reminded him of the incident. j The house, said Mr Moore, was just about turned clean out of the windows for a week or so, until a special steamer could be despatched from Wellington to pick up the ship-wrecked voyagers ; and it was a distinguished company indeed. "Ah well," said Mr Moore in conclusion, "I suppose that wreck really belongs to me, as my father bought it. Portions of the old White Swan lie on the beach there to this day."