Dent family connections
The "Swiftsure" arrived in Auckland from Melbourne, Australia in the early evening of Wednesday, 17 February 1864.
Arrival of Military Settlers
"The fine Blackwall liner 'Swiftsure', Captain Mayhew, arrived in the harbour last evening, about six o'clock, with quite a colony of military settlers on board. Eleven hundred and thirty persons look a large number to be brought over the water by one vessel, but this, including ship's crew is the actual amount of living freight transported here by this fine vessel. The reader must not imagine, however, that these are all soldiers, for by far the largest proportion consists of the wives and children of the military settlers, and probably altogether there are not more than 200 adult male settlers on board. 838 was the number originally put on board, but this was largely increased, in so much as to make the total number, including men, women and children, about 1,100. This, we understand, is the largest number of passengers taken out of Melbourne in one ship.The settlers by the 'Swiftsure' seemed, generally speaking, with the casual and hasty inspection we could make of them, to be well adapted for the new profession or occupation which they have accepted; and we sincerely trust that they will not find the discouraging reports circulated by the Melbourne papers as to the hardships they would have to endure anything like realised. They must remember the old adage, that "what is to be obtained for nothing is generally not worth having"; and in this case probably the more they have to endure for the first few months, the more valuable will be their reward become hereafter. It is not the present value of 50 acres and a town allotment that they should look to, but its probable value some three years hence, and the advantage of being enabled to settle in country which, if it does not actually flow with milk and honey, is as great in natural resources for the industrious settler as is any colony numbered amongst the British dependencies.
Captain Stuart and Lieutenant Walker are in command of the settlers who have now arrived, and the whole of them will disembark to-morrow."
"This magnificent ship, one thousand three hundred and twenty-six tons (1326), commanded by Captain Mayhew sailed from Melbourne on the 6th inst., at noon. After being baffled for two days in the straits by south-east and easterly winds at last got it from the south-west on the morning of the 8th. On the 19th she got winds from the north-east and east and has had easterly weather ever since. She made the Three Kings on the 15th and arrived here yesterday afternoon.
She brings Captain A Stewart and Lieutenant Walker in charge of the military settlers, one hundred and sixty-eight men (168), two hundred and eighty-six women (286), and four hundred and seventy-eight children 478) , equal to eight hundred and thirty- eight statute adults (838). The following are cabin passengers: Mrs Dunn and two children, Mrs Major Bradley, four children and one servant: Mrs Smith and four children, Mrs Lomax and two children, Mrs Fraser and four children, Mrs Donnelly and Mrs Parker.
A young child was lost on the passage down by falling overboard, and although every effort was made to save it, it was of no avail, owing to the ship running fast thro' the water at the time. her agents are A Wolley and Company."