Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser (Tas. : 1821 - 1825), Saturday 2 March 1822, page 2


HOBART TOWN.

Sitting Magistrate—Rev. Robert Knopwood, M.A.

SHIP NEWS.—Yesterday morning

arrived from England, via the Cape of Good Hope, the ship Castle Forbes, Captain Ord, with mer-

chandize and passengers ;—namely, Alexander Paterson, Esq. and Lady, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Nairne, Mr. C. R. Nairne, jun. Captain Wood,

Mr. Robert Dixon, Miles Patterson, Esq. Lady, and three Misses Patterson, Masters John, Robert, and Frederick Patterson, Mr. and Mrs. A. Reid and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ballantyne and family, Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, Doctor Murdock and family, Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Field, Mr. Russel, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Alston, Mr. Scott, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hodgson, Mr. and Mrs. Sockett, and Master William Evans (from the Cape), son of G. W. Evans, Esq. Deputy Surveyor General at this Settlement ; together with 33 steerage passengers, being 76 in all.—The Castle Forbes has had a tedious passage, having been six months from England.

Same day also arrived from Port Jackson in 7 days, the brig Jupiter, Captain Martin.

Yesterday morning also came to port His Ma-jesty's colonial brig Prince Leopold, Mr. Chase,

Commander. She arrived in the river from Mac-

quarie Harbour on Tuesday, and has brought up a cargo of timber from North-west Bay.

On Sunday last sailed for Macquarie Harbour, under the charge of Mr. Kelly, Harbour Master, His Majesty's colonial brig Duke or York ; hav-ing on board about 30 male and female convicts, under sentence of transportation to that place.

On Tuesday failed for Port Jackson, the ship Britamart, Captain Peache.

Remain in the harbour His Majesty's colonial brig Prince Leopold ; the ships John Bull and Castle Forbes ; the brig Jupiter ; and the schooner Victorine.

HIS HONOR the LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR and Suite reached Launceston on Sunday last.

The new Bridge and Causeway, which have been constructed under the direction of the Acting Engineer, near the Government Stock-yard at Ross River, was completed and passable on the 20th ult. ; and the LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR passed over it on his journey to Port Dalrymple. This very useful work has fourteen arches ; and will obviate the inconvenience hitherto felt by the overflowing of that stream in the wet season, by securing a safe and good passage at all times.—The Bridge was named by the Lieutenant Governor— "ROSS BRIDGE."

The gang which has performed this work, under Mr. Anderson, is now moving to the Elizabeth River, to construct a similar Bridge over that stream, near the ground fixed for the township of Campbell-town ; and which, it is hoped, will be rendered passable before the winter. These Bridges, with the ferry punt over the River Esk, from which a road to Launceston is in progress, will render

the communication from Hobart Town to Laun-ceston secure from interruption at all periods of the year, and the distance will be diminished some miles. Very great improvements in the road, especially at Constitution-hill and the Green-water Ponds, have been completed, and a new road over Spring-hill is in progress.

We are happy to announce, that accounts have been received from Port Dalrymple of the schooner Seaflower, which was piratically seized by six convicts, near Oyster Bay, about a month ago. The pirates, as was suspected, went towards the Straits ; and the Commandant of port Dalrymple, who had received notice by express of the event, left no time in dispatching a well-armed boat to intercept them. The Government boat descried the schooner at anchor off Waterhouse Island, on the 9th ult. ; her boat, with three of the pirates, being on shore ; this boat was intercepted and se-cured, and the three criminals are now in custody at George Town. The remainder in the schooner put to sea, and the Government boat pursued for several hours ; but, owing to the very heavy sea, could not then come up with her. The schooner had no provisions but a few mutton birds, and no compkfs $ and the pirates had lost their powder on shore. Thus having no means of leaving the coast, the desperate and misguided criminals (who are stated to have quarrelled amongst themselves) can hardly fail of being overtaken in foms of the rivers

or inlets, a persevering search being continued

after them.

The Jupiter, during her passage from Port Jackson, spoke the Isabella, with male prisoners, and another large ship, both bound for that port.

The brig Nereus was to sail for this port the day after the Jupiter left Sydney ; as was also, the ship Royal George in a few days.

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Died, suddenly, at Launceston, on the 13th ult. Mr. Charles Fletcher, many years a refpectable inhabitant of that Settlement: