Hobart Town Courier (Tas. : 1827 - 1839), Saturday 27 December 1828, page 2


THE

HOBART-TOWN COURIER.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1828.

TRADE AND SHIPPING.

Arrived at Launceston, on Wednesday the 17th instant, the ship Timandra, 370 tons, G. Wray, from London, with 376 ewes and 14 rams, 16 ewes and 1 ram having died on the passage, 35 tons salt and 10 tons iron for the Van Diemen's land Company, be-sides about 40 tons of goods for private individuals. Passengers, Mr. John Archer and son.

Arrived at Launceston on Saturday the 20th Dec. the ship Lady Rowena from London 16th Aug. with 305 sheep, 25 tons salt, 25 tons iron for the Van Diemen's land Company and about 20 tons goods for Hobart town, for which place she will sail in a few days. Passengers Messrs. T. Thain and Jos.

Thickly.

Arrived on Tuesday 22d inst, the ship Lang, 356 tons, Capt. John Lusk, from London 19th August, having made the home and outward voyage in 11 months and 12 days. She brings a large assortment of merchandize, among which are 270 casks beer, 86 puncheons rum, 32 hogsheads Geneva, 17 ditto bran-dy, a large quantity of wines, ironmongery, 100 barrels flour, &c. Passengers Mrs. Lusk, Lieut. and Mrs. Davis. R..N. and 2 children, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas, (of the Clyde) Miss Ross, (sister of Mr. Solicitor Ross,) Mr. David Wise, (brother of Mr. Wise, Ship Inn) Mr. and Mrs. Hector, Mrs. Brown and 2 children, Miss Green, Mr. Budd, Mr. and Mrs. Cox and 2 children, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Haskell and two children, Messrs. Speak, Stephens, Allison, Tulky and Purbrick.

Vessels in the Harbour, Cyprus, Derwent, Prince Leopold, Marquis of Lansdown, Roslyn Castle, Ma-ry, Sarah, Mermaid, Lang, Lord Rodney, Hebe, Dragon, Hunter, Caroline.

It appears we were misinformed in stating in our last, that the Harriet and Swiftsure had sailed from London. They were not expected to clear before the end of August.

The Alexander, with spices and indigo, last from the Mauritius, with Sir H. Lowe passenger, struck on the lower point Gravesend, in a gale on the 9th Aug. and was entirely lost.

The Collector and Controller of Customs for Syd-ney, Messrs. Cotton and Langa, had sailed from London in the ship Surry, direct for New South Wales. Mr. F. Mowatt had been appointed, and was receiving instructions at the Custom house in London as a landing writer for the port of Sydney.

Our readers are aware that the great mercantile house so closely connected with the intererts of both these colonies, of Buckles, Bagster, and Buchanan, lately dissolved partnership, and that Mr. Buchanan now conducts the business on his own account The

spirit and enterprise of this gentleman are indeed most laudable, and will, we are sure, contribute greatly to the best interests of the colony. He has established 4 regular traders from London to this place, to be loaded direct in return with colonial pro-duce, and the facilities of shipping it, together with the late encouraging prices, cannot fail to stimulate our exertions. Mr. Buchanan publishes periodically a regular price current of New South Wales and Van Diemen's land produce. From the number dated 9th August we make the following extracts, viz:

New South Wales wool 10½d. to 4s. 6d. per lb. Van Diemen's land ditto 7½d. to 1s. 2d. ditto

Hides, (duty dry 2s. 4d. wet 1s. 2d. per cwt.)

from 55 to 60 lbs. 5½d. from 40 to 55 lbs. each 4½ to 5d.

Horns, (duty 2s. 4d. per ewt) per 123 from 40

to 50s.

Wood (duty free if 8 inches square or upwards until 1st January 1833, if not 8 inches square duty 10s. per ton), cedar per foot 4½d. te 5d. blue gum per load £7 to £7 7s. Treenails, (duty 5 per cent, ad valorem) per 1200 £5.

Oil, sperm, British fishing, (duty 1s. per tun, im-perial, if caught by the crews of British ships, and imported in a British ship) per tun imperial 74/. American fishing (duty 26l. 12s. per tun) per tun 70l. Southern, British fishing 30l. per tun. Southern whale oil, taken in the river Derwent may be consi-dered, from two to three pounds per tnu more valu-able than the elephant oil taken at Macquarie Island, on account of the whale oil having less deposit or foots, and being better cured.

Bark (duty free until 1st January 1833) mimosa per tun 10 to £11.

Skins (duty 3d. per skin) average 29s. without the black pups. Kangaroo, scarcely worth import-ing.

Shells (duty 5 per cent, ad valorem) mother o'pearl very fine, called China, per cwt. 100s. inferior,

called blue 10 to 15s.

New Zealand flax 28 to 30l. per ton.

Rags, (duty 3d. per cwt.) white linen, first quali-ty per cwt. 30 to 33s. white cotton 28 to 29s.

Spanish dollars 4s. 9½d. per oz. Insurance 2½ to 3 per cent, from Great Britain to the colony, 3 and 3½ per cent, from the colony to Europe.

Wool.-The Foreign wool market has been dull for the last six weeks, partly owing to the American Tariff, and partly to the limited supply of German wool. There has not been any sale of Van Diemen's land wool since the 20th of June, when several lots per Persian went off heavily, and at low prices. A sale of wool per Orelia and Harvey is announced for three weeks hence, and it it not unlikely that the Eliza and Elizabeth will arrive in the meantime, and that the wools by these ships will be included. There were imported into this country from New South Wales and Van Diemen's land, according to the offi-

cial returns :

From 1st August 1825 to 31st July 1826, 2493 bags

" 1826 " 1827, 3708 " " 1827 " 1828,1742 "

The wools from some flocks, especially those marked IM. A, ABS, JB, L. and Dq. have been sent to England in excellent order, but generally there is

great room for improvement in the cleaning and mode of packing. The heavy Warehousing charges are the same on a large and small package, being at so much per bale ; it may therefore be advisable to pack in

rather larger bales than hitherto. It it not expected that there will be any reduction of duty on foreign

wool, although such measure was much discussed in

the last Session of Parliament.

Hides_In demand, and likely to continue, parti-, culary for heavy kinds. As toon at they are cold, they should be put into a strong brine of »alt, and re-main at least 13 hours, then be rolled op with the hair outside, and [a few pounds of fine salt be, enclosed in each hide. If shipped in casks, they would arrive in a belter condition than loose, and would prevent the damage they are so liable to, namely, iron damage, by being laid on the oil casks, and coming in con-tact with the iron knees, &c. The heaviest always fetch a better price in proportion than the light.

Horns.-Willi respect to New South Wales horns, those weighing one and a-hnlf lbs. each would fetch fiom 80s. to 90s. per 123 horns, the smaller ones about 40s. to 60s. per 123, but it would be advisable to send only the largest, the freight being so consider-able. Small and ordinary would scarce be saleable at

any rate.

Wood must be accompanied by a certifícate of its being the growth of the colony. Cedar should be into planks of not less than five or six inches thick, (from eight to ten inches the best thickness) and the length nine to ten feet. The width should not he less than twenty-two inches, and it need not be «vi-der than twenty-seven inches, as the wood three or four feet wide is not of more value than that of twen-ty-seven inches, if sound. In the colony there is a fault of cutting the lengths of (he planks too fine, thus occasioning a frequent loss in measure ; a plank in-tended to be nine feet long, is not measured here so, unless it holds nine feet and an inch in all parts of it« length ; planks intendad to be eight inches thick, should be sawn eight and a quarter inches. The par-cel B W which caine last year by the Fairfield, is the best manufactured cedar ever yet imported from New

South Wales.

We hove- this week the pleasure to announce to our readers the removal of that restriction on the Pcess of this colony, which leqoired a license to print and publish a newspaper. We have reason to believe that this gratifying meosuie, ns well as the original restriction itself, is in accordance with the instructions of His Majesty's ministers to the Local Government. We cannot, indeed, promise our read-ers, any great change in the management uf our Jour-nal, in consequence of this agreeable event. For, His Excellently having been pleased to grant ns a

license, we have used the Press with the same free-dom, if not greater than we did before its existence. The same tone of writing, if.»ve may so exptcts ourselves, the same views of colonial policy and principles, with which we started, will he found throughout our columns, during tin? influence, and al the very passing of the Act of Council, as befoie. Tine it is, this unrestrained expression of our senti-ments has been encouraged by the mildness of the Local Government, under which we held the very license itself-a fact which affords a powerful lesson to mankind how much more depends on the|hand that wields the sceptre, than on the sreptre itself, of whatever material it may be made. But although we boast this consistency of character in the midst of all the passing changes of the times, nevertbeles, we should be unworthy the name of Englishman, if we did not experience the highest satisfaction at the freedom of our Press-satisfaction of the most heart-felt kind. We do consider the Press ns the great palladium of English liberty, and we hope long to maintain it in its purest glory in Van Diemen's land. We hail its return to us with the more hearty well come, because it comes lo us at a time, when we are proud to ailinn, the most perfect unanimity prevails in ojr community, which little though it be, was at one season almost torn asunder by dissension-at a time when those public writers, who, of very opposite sentiments fiona II», had a powerful share in exciting that dissension, arc now, we believe, with »chrcrly an exception, ¡conveiIs to our opinion, and nie opin-ing their eyes nnd gradually recovering from the mischiefs, that however unwittingly, they brought upon themselves and the colony. Whether the Home Government was aware of this state of things when the minister removed the restriction we do not know, but we rejoice that the measure has taken place before the an ¡val ef the address or petition from certain of our townsmen to remove the restric-tion, and which, we declared to the gentlemen who projected it, appeared to us in. re calculated to per-petuate than to lemore it. Neither can we help now remarking, that we think those gentlemen, however good their intention might be, would have acted with more discretion, knowing as they did, that the measure in the first iusiance emanated from the Home Government, and knowing also the original causes which induced the Government so to act, bad they foreborne their remonstrance until they bud seen wltat steps the Local Government would take upon the occasion and the result of them. The thing however is now past. We have published 62 nu ni

bers of the Hobart town Courier under the Act, and we hope to publish many more without it, diiieiing from the first only in the increased industry with which we labour fur (he profil & entertainment of our readers. We trust the epoch will serve as a beacon of instruction in the future annals of the colony, and that those who come after us, and who may start pe 1 riodical works in consequence of this manumission,

though freed from political bonds, will nevertheless | ftel themselves bound by the far more powerful, but

essential restrictions of decency, of boiKwr, patiiolism and truth. We have received a valuable present at the new year, in the libel ty of the Press, which we have much pleasure io transmitting to our readers, and we are sure it will prove to them as it has done to us, the most welcome dish on the Christmas table a dish, which properly used, will serve to keep our colotiiul system in health and constitutional vigour, and wbicli, on the principle <>f share and share alike, we trust that no ravenous goutmand will ever again monopolizo and eat up.

The seasonable rain on Saturdav and Sunday last I will be attended with the best effects on the crops,

and it is to be hoped, will supply in some measure I

the loss sustained in the effects of tbe hot wind on tbe previous Monday, lu those situations which were mest exposed to the scorching current «fair, the effects have been calamitous, completely blight . ing, or rather burning, the growing ears of corn, and lèverai acres in such places have hi on necessa-rily cut down for hay. Generally speaking, however, the prospects of the husbandmen are very flattering, and we hare all much reason to be thankful to HIM who governs the seasons and controls the elements.

Tbe business of hay making has been interrupted by tbe rain, the quality of the forage will not be less-ened but rather improved by the wet, if proper care be taken in getting it up and housing it. The season has indeed been particularly favourable fortbegrowlb of bay, anda rauch larger «eight has been produced thai was ever before known in Van Diemen's laud.

J\

Between New town and Roseneath ferry on the «r ! farms by the road side, there cannot be much short.' I 10OO tons, and other places may be estimated io pr.' ' portion. It sells at from 5 to 10 pounds . ton »il \ cording to quality. Considerable shipments'ai' y

making to Sydney, where the article is said io li

scarce.

Mr. Marshall of Macquarie plains hat now ripen' ing from one grain of wheat sown last winter, no le j than 221 years of corn. It isa particular sort ia

ported by himself, from which 76 bushels an acre it

no unoomtnoii return.

We regret to learn that the smut has made its at»

pearance very generally in tome districts among ti»

wheat.

Gooseberries, raspberries, currants, and cherrie) IM now ¡u full season, and have been iu'soinu requeA during Hie week, by those who make gund ennin and drinking a point in keeping the Christmas fesut val. Gooseberries are told at Is Cd. to 2s. a quart. Fat ducks for the season are 6s. a pair.

Potatoes promise to bo a very abundant crop, and have fallen lo three-half-pence per lb. Wheat and bread continue almost stationary.

We are happy to learn the progress of the road party, now forming a tract towards the souice and upper banks oi the Huon. If successful it will 0neu a line field for a settlement of future location).

About 100 female prisoners were removed to tht

new Factory near the Cascade early on Tuesday \ The improved discipline which it will now be in the* power of the Superintendent to maintain, will doubt-less be attended with I he best effects. ' '

The prisoners by the Roslyn Castle were landed on Monday morning, and after being inspected and

admonished by His Excellency, were assigned to

settlers,

The several new buildings in various parts of the town are daily improving its appearance. The nu-merous new shops which have lately been opened and fitted up in the London style, add much to its bustle and liveliness. The suburbs too are extending rapidly, and besides Mr. Morris's excellent new ¡nn, we observe an elegant villa in a striking style of architecture, building by Dr. Scott, and another by

Mr. Lowes on the New town road.

The Lang has brought out a Beth 1 flag for the So ciety here, and also one for that of Sydney. It will be hoisted on board the Hunter to-morrow morning, when one of the Committee will perform divine

service.

It is with pain we inform our readers of a distress, ing accident which betel Mrs. Hone last week, in bieaking her leg in two places. The accident hap-pened all in a moment, by slipping the foot iu coming down stairs when on the last step. The fractures ate near the ankle, and have been attended with rauch pain, but we have the satisfaction to add the cure is advancing as well as could under the painful airuum stances ol the case have been exprcted.

To purify water nothing more is necessary than to sprinkle a small quaniity of pulverised alum into it, in the proportion of about a table spoonful to a hogs-head of water. After stirring it round the slum pre-cipitates the impure particles to the bottom, leaving

the water neaily as clear and fresh as springwater. , Our friends in Hobart town, who drink out of the muddy rivulet will not disparage this information. At the same lime we cannot help renewing cur frequently repeated advice lu the Engineer, to construct dams or embankments in various parts across tbe rivulet, where the bank is high, by which means we should always have a plentitul supply, even in the driest season, of cool and pure water, at least in a mud»

greater degree than at present, and if proper sluices . were made the reservoirs could he eiuptivd occasion-ally, and kept pure. The canal at the market plaoe is singularly eligible for such a measure.

Two American ladies, grand daughters of Mr. Charles Carroll, the only surviving signer of American independence, aie now married into two of the must distinguished families of England:-viz, the widow Paterson to Ihe Marquis Wellesley, and the widow Harvey to the Marquis of Carmarthen, eldest sou lo

the Duke of Leeds.

Tweutyrlhree thousand slaves have been told under execution for debt in Jamaica »ince 1808, at an average of,i'gO.

'Another Russian fleet of 4 sail of the line and 3 frigates has taken its position in the Mediterranean,

At the last Shrewsbury assizes, le fore Judge Gi zalee, 5 persons were convicted and executed fur strangling a tuan, who, tiley were afraid, would be evidence against them in a case of sheep-stealing.

Upwards of 100 persons perished in the earthquake at Callao in March last. Duriug the storm, the town was enveloped in a thick cloud of dust, and the water of the sea, to an immense distance, was thick with mud, produced by the motion at the bottom. The houses were shaken to and fro, and fell in lines of 8 or 10 together. Not a house in Lima, Callao or Co-loris escaped injury.

Although the Turkish infantry is 'weakened and disorganised, the cavalry ia well mounted and able to contend with the be>t in Europe. It is the policy of the Turks not to risk a general engagement, but to con-fine themselves to the defence of their fortresses and strong positions. This accounts for the hitheito easy march of the Hnssian army, the towns hiving been

first abandoned by their inhabitants. Thus Nicholas -^ posaessed himself of iiazardjik without a contest ; but the capture of the strong positions of Stimula and Varna, it is expected, mil be matter« of more difficul-ty, and Constantinople, if the.Imperial army eren reach it, will he defended to the last. Nicholas boasts, notwithstanding, of his moderation, and though as y«i, little of that rare virtue in conquerors I has appeared in this instance, we fear it affords the

best hope of safety which the present condition of his affairs can reasonably allow the Porte to indulge.

Mr. Green ascended in his balloon from White Con-duit house, Loudon, on the 15th of August, with Mr. Hemming, a chemist. They ascendí d lo the height or 11,000 ft. or 2 miles 750 ft. The barome-ter from nearly 30 fell lo 19 degrees, and the ihetnio« nietor from 71 lo 31, these changes taking place in' less th.in 21 minutes, so rapid was the aioent, Mr. Ht-mming's pulse rose from 78 to 96. They passed th-oiigh a shower of minute particles of snow reflect-ing ihe sun's rays with great biilliancy, and, in «e' scending, a dense mast of clouds, in the midst of which they were enveloped in utter darkness. Tim b.iMoun full at Maidstone, a distance of ubont 34 miles, after being np an hour and twenty minutes

The celebrated Miss Joanna Baillie has written a new play of considerable merit called the Bride.

Sir Astley Cooper is appointed Sergeant Surgeon to His Majesty in the mom of Sir Patrick Macgre-gor, deceased. Mr. Brodie and Mr. Wardrop are also appointed surgeons to His Majesty.

The Turkish army at Shumla amounted to 130,000 -well organised troops, and the most' figeront re"kl" once was anticipated at that position'to tbe attack of the Ruttiant early'in August.

The total receipts of the Caledonian cànaiîatt year were 2,4451., nut half the expense of keeping it in lepair. .

Parliament was prorogued by cemmission on tbe 28th July, His Majesty's slight attack of the gout preventing his attendance. Immediately after the prorogation the speaker left town for Canterbury, to attend the funeral of his father. Innumerable notices -are postponed till next session.

Besides the other vessels the ships Fairfield and "Vibilia were loading with goods for ibis place, when

the Roslyn Castle sailed.

' Dr. Lushington has given notice of a motion to divide the duties of Lord Chancellor into several

hands.

The Earl of Belmore it appointed Governor of Jamaioa, and Major General Lewis Grant, Governor of

of Trinidad.

The Earl of Chesterfield is appointed a Lord of His Majesty's bed chamber, in the room of Viscount

Melbourne, deceased.

The late numerous emigrants to Brazil, from the duolty'of Luxembourg, have returned in a deplorable

state of destitution.

A successful lillie comedy called The Green Eyed Monster, was produced al the Haymarket on the 18tb of August.

The Duke of Clarence wrote his letter of resigna-tion as we have been told, on the 12th inst. His Ma-jesty's birthday, but chose the day following for its transmission to the sovereign. His Majesty, on full consideration, was satisfied that the tender ought not to be declined^-Times, August l8. These hodiernal London editors have a fine, amplified manner of ex-pressing themselves. Our little Courier would have compressed us to ronv«y the above intelligence iii fewer words as-the Duke of Clarence sent in his re-signation on the 13th ef August, aud the King ac-cepted it the same day.

253 friends of civil and religions liberty, and ad-mirers of the public character of Mr. Danii-I O'Connrll, (a singular association of two distinct portions of the community ) gave that gentleman a dinner in Cork, on the 13th August.

The English papers of August are full of the ac counts of a disturbance at Rio, in June last, among the German emigrants lhere, who were compelled to serre in the regiments, instead of being placed on their grants of land, agreeably to ihe promises which liad induced them to emigrate. The Irish evinced their discontent in a similar manner, and massacre and plunder wat the order of the day, about 10!) peo-ple lost their lives. The Emperor called all the ma-rines from the English and French vessels in the har-bour, and after some dsinor he compelled the muti-neers to lay down their arms. There appears no prospect of peace with Buenos Ayre«,

The duties of ih« Lord High Admiral will now be filled by a committee.

The present number of our Journal closes the first volume, which may be cheaply and expeditiotisly bound if ;uil to our office. It concludes the Ust quarter fur "the year, and the heavy expele« attend-ant on our labours compel us lo iutreat the favour of au early settlement.