The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1862. WELLINGTON—THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1702, 8 July 1862, Page 3

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1862. WELLINGTON—THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Be just ami fear ooi; Let all the ends thou aim’s! at, be thy Country's, Thy God’s, and Truth’s.

One at least of the dangers which it was predicted by political seers, would attend the attempt to make the Parliament of New Zealand peripatetic has actually overtaken us. The most important records of the colony, letter-books of the Colonial Secretary’s office, documents which money cannot replace, and the public accounts, have been lost by the wreck of the steamer White Swan, which occurred on the East Coast, on Sunday, June 29th ult. The White Swan was on her voyage to Wellinglington, having the Ministers, and the Auckland members of the General Assembly on board. Happily no lives have been lost. The letter of our fellow citizen, Mr. Robert Graham, describing the catastrophe will bo found below. WRECK OF THE “ WHITE SWAN.” the " Wellington Independent,” July 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 ashore. The Auckland members were on board. Mr. Fox offered £l5O 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, and is expected to arrive here on the sth. We have been favored with the following letter, written by Robert Graham, Esq., of Auckland, who was a passenger by the ill-fated vessel, giving a description of the unfortunate disaster. To the Editor of the Wellington Independent. Wellington, Ist July, 1860. It it 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 in consequence of the fog, she would not sail until the following day, Thursday; but the real cause, in my opinion, was, that one of the compartments was nearly full of water, and the pumps were 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 a suction 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 Napier at half-past 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 > was a log of wood. Immediately afterwards the fore compartment filled, and she appeared to be sinking. We steered for the shore. We were then, I should think, a mile or a mile and a half from the shore. I will not attempt to describe the feeling wo all then had on I should think five minutes brought us 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 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. G. Moore, and myself 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 may say for the satisfaction of those who had friends on board the ill-fated steamer, that I saw all safe and in good health' in the woolshed at I p.m. on Sunday last, when prayers wc r c offered up by the Chief Justice for our safe dcliv- ranee for so miraculous an escape. 1 he surf was tbca brq|Mqg over thfc wreck, and I believe she will go to pilft&rwhere she now lays. We arrived in

Wellington this afternoon at 4 p.m., and the Storm j Bird will be 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 1 have given of the loss of the illfated steamer. I am, Sir, Yours, & c., Robert Graham.