Steamer WHITE SWAN

To the Editor of the Wellington Independent. Wellington, 1st 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 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 being nearly full of water, and the pumps kept 
going the whole day until 4 pm, when she floated. A survey was held upon her and the result was a favourable 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 it 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 we all 
then had on board. 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, were 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 illfated steamer, that I saw all safe and in good health in the woolshed at 1 p.m. on Sunday 
last, when prayers were offered up by the Chief Justice for our safe deliverance and for so miraculous an escape. The 
surf was then breaking over the wreck, and I believe she will go to pieces where she now lays. We arrived in Wellington 
this afternoon at 4 p.m., and the 'Storm 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 I 
have given of the loss of the illfated steamer. 

I am, Sir, Yours, &c, Robert Graham. 

Transcribed from the Daily Southern Cross, of 8 July 1862, Page 3