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Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1729, 30 May 1862, Page 3

The s.s. White Swan, arrived here, punctually to time, on vVeduesday afternoon. She'left Napier on Tuesday evening and made Cape Palliser in the short space of 13 hours. She was there, however, met with a very severe gale from the North West, which raged for 4 hours with such intense fury, that the vessel could barely make head way. About noon the gale moderated sufficiently to enable her to gain this port, after a very protracted voyage through the Straits. On her "upward trip j to Napier and Auckland, she made a very quick run, at both of which ports she was well received. She brings down South a full cargo, and a fair number of passengers. The s, s. Airedale, Capt Kennedy, arrived in port at half past 11 o'clock this morning. She left the Bluff on the 24th, Otago on the 27th and Lyttelton the 29th. The Omeo, daily expected at Otago had not arrived. The White Star, from Newcastle, N.S. W., with 9,000 sheep, arrived at Lyttelton on the 28th Inst, She had a boisterous passage of 20 days, and lost upwards of 500 sheep. The last weekly escort brought down SJOI ozs. 7 dwts, from Tuapeka, Waitahuna, Woolshed: and the Waiyoii fortnightly escort 300 ozs., making a total 5,301 ozs. 7 dwts. H.M.S.S. Fawn, 17 guns, Commander Cator, arrived in port yesterday, at 11-15 a m., thirteen days from Sydney, whence she sailed on the 7th instant, steaming out of the harbour, but making a fine weather passage all the way across under canvass Passed the North Cape on Sunday morning, and experienced wet and squally weather when abreast of Cape Brett. She was eignalled as a sailing ship at 1 pm. on Monday, and in a few hours afterwards signal was made that she was a man-of-war; employing her canvass only, with the wind dead on end, she remained outside the North Head during the night, fetching the anchorage at the hour already mentioned. The Fawn is en route for the Islands, and will shortly sail for the Samoan and Wallis Island group. The Fawn, like other ships of the Australian squadron, is very short handed, and loud aud bitter complaints are made of the facility and encouragement 'afforded to desertion in the New Zealand -waters, which it is alleged is likely to render the visits of her Majesty's ships as infrequent as^the routine of service will admit. We hope some effectual remedy may be applied to check thia growing evil; and we are glad to learn that our police are on the alert to reclaim deserters, of whom fourteen are now in custody; one or two convictions with commensurate punishment on those harboring the runaways would have a marvellous effect in putting a stop to such courses and in acquiring a better reputation for our port, which we regret to say, lies under the ban not only of the Royal but Commercial Marine, especially of those valuable and desirable visitors. the American Whalers. —New Zealander, May 2J, H.M.S.S. Pelorus, 2L guns, Commodore Seymour, was in Sydney at the date of the Fawn's departure. / H.M.S.S. Miranda, 15 guns, Captain Robert Jenkins, had sailed for Melbourne. H.M. screw gun-vessel Pioneer, i guns, 876 tons, 350 horse-power, Commander H. A Reilly, had •rrived hi Sydney from China. She is one of the d.spatch vessels, several of which have been recently constructed for particular service, and possesses large capacity with great steaming powers. —Ibid. H.M.S.S. Fawn, 17 guns, Commander Cator, took her departure for the Samoan and Wallis Island group, on Thursday, at a little before dusk. This beautiful little sloop' the handsomest that has ever visited these waters, proceeded to sea under canvas. From the islands, she will go on to Hobart Town, and return from thence to this port. —lbid, May 24. H.M.S. Corvette Orpheus, 21 guns, Commodore Burnett, which was attached pro. tern, to the North American squadron, has sailed from Bermuda, and may shortly be looked for to assume the Australian command. Great fears are entertained with respect to "the safety of the schooner Pole Star from this port to Napier, a vessel having been seen off White Island bottom upward, which is supposed to have been her. —lbid. The Lincolnshire passed the wreck of a large ship, bottom • up, apparently about 1000 tons, quite fresh. She was stove in abreast of the raizen rigging on the port side, as if some vessel had been in collision with her since she capsized; lafctitude 27-44 S. {longitude 32-10, March 15th.— Argus, 28th April.