“Portenia” Sails from Sydney.

In due course I received the interesting information that the “Portenia” had left Sydney on May 31, 1840. Here is the reply:—

“I arranged for a search of the documents and newspapers housed in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, and the investigations have disclosed the following details regarding the ‘Portenia.’

“‘Portenia,’ brig of 221 tons. Sydney agent, Edward Hunt, Jamieson Street, Sydney. Left Cape of Good Hope 22/1/1840 commanded by Capt. C. Comin with cargo of wines and sundries for page 14 Sydney. Arrived Sydney March 20, 1840. Left Girard's Wharf, Sydney, for Port Nicholson, Cloudy Bay, and Queen Charlotte Sound on May 31, 1840.

“The master is shown in some newspapers as Capt. Comin, but others and shipping gazettes and clearance documents show the master as Capt. Morris, and it would appear that Capt. Comin was replaced by Capt. Morris, who took the vessel to New Zealand.

“Passengers: Messrs Jones, Wilshire, Russell, Conning, Waik (or Waite), Robinson, and Walpole; also thirteen steerage passengers whose names are not recorded.

“Unfortunately, details of the cargo are not recorded in any form, the description being simply ‘sundries.’ The general trade list shows details of cargoes, but for some reason the ‘Portenia’ is not recorded in the issue covering the period of her departure, although several other vessels which left simultaneously are recorded. However, there is no mention of the cargo of the ‘Portenia’ in any of the papers.

“However, it might be of interest to you to know that the brig returned to Sydney from New Zealand on 24/9/1840 and left again for New Zealand on 18/10/1840. Captain Morris was still in command, and the vessel is shown as carrying the following cargo:—10 baskets, 2 tierces, 5 kegs tobacco, arrack, 5 barrels beef, 20 kegs gunpowder, 10 bags flour, 1 case muskets, 41 packages of oilman's stores, 12 packages of furniture, 10 packages of ironmongery and sundries.”