VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 75, 1 July 1846, Page 3

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.

1 {From the Australian Journal, June 2.] i We have Launceston and H"bart Town I paters to the'2oth ulamo, which reached | U9 by tlie Jane, from the former ports, on a Sunday last. I It appears that speculations in grain 1 had been l< ss frequent since the last ad- « vice, and prices had consequently declined. 1 Fine flour was quoted at £1 1 per 20001b5., i and wheat 45., 4s. 4d., and 4s. 6d.; the j highest figure being the Hohart price on i tlie 4 2'0th of iVlay. "The Laiinceston ExJ AMiNERo'f that date m .-ikes the following 1 remarks upon tbe grain market :— I " Wo have elsewhere noticed the pro--1 bable effect of the repeal of the Corn Laws g on colonial agriculture; bnt perhaps it I may be proper to remind our readers of j tbe state and prospects of the trade this i season. A large quantity has been ship--1 ped to Eniiland, the partial proceeds of j which have in some measure already rejj lieved our farmers, and the balance upon j the receipt of account sales, if favourable, | will tend to promote confidence, and revive i an interest too long depressed. Ac some itime must elapse before shipment can again be made to Europe, and as wheat ha* reached that figure which precludes the purpose of exporting it to the Mauritius or e'sfwherc, the price has declined " The meeting of the Legislative Council a had been again postponed to the 15th II June. The Governor intended to hold a levee and ball at Launceston on the 2nd June, to celebrate the Queen's Birth-day. Major Ainsworth, with other officers, at the date of the Jane's sailing, were in I Launceston, holding a General Court M.irtal, lespecting which rib particulars have transpired, and unusual mystery is observed. It was said to be upon a private, for a very serious offence. H. M. S. Sappho (16 guns), Commander GamH bier, arrived in Simon's Bay on 23rd March, from 1 cruising in the Mozambique Channel. She reports 3 that Tamative was visited on the 28th January last || with a hurricane, causing serious injury to tbe town jj and neighbourhood, rooting up upwards of 6000 I cocoa-nut trees and blowing a Dutch galliot into | the jungle. The Portuguese barque Uniao was # wrecked outside the port, and 50 souls perished 1 out of 55. Jj We are glad to announce that a large portion of I Passengers and crew of the Castle Huntlv who 3 Were ,eft u P on tn e wreck, arrived here on Sunday |j last in H. Cochin Chinese Mwjesty's vessels having I reached Cochin-China in November last. The ■ following is the substance of the statement of one I of the seacunnies who was left Upon the wreck. I The vessel was wrecked on the 27th October, and I on the same day the captain, officers, two of the S passengers, the gunner, three seacunnies, and about 83 of the crew left in the long boat, first cutter and Pinnace, leaving two seacunnies, seven passengers

iind about 50 of the crow on the wreck- It was intended that they should all have gone in the pinnace, but she drifted with only three men in her. The jolly-boat being swamped, the whole of those upon the wreck embarked in the cutter and on a raft, but What became of the latter is unknown, as they separated, and it was not seen afterwards-U is to be hoped, however, they reached the coast of Cochin-China, or some other land. No doubt search will be made for the twenty-one persons who embarked on it. The cutter, containing 38 men reached the coast of Cochin-China, near Cape Turon on the Ist November, where the pinnace arrived next day, and they remained at the place where .they landed far nine days, and we're then conveyed to Turon. During their stay at Turon they were treated with the utmost kindness ; all their wants were supplied, clothes and food being them and money furnished for the purchase of fish. On Christmas day they were provided with a liberal dinner of ducks, fowls, and butcher's meat for the Chri.tmas, and each person was presented with a suit of clothes. This was in consequence of the Cochin-Chinese interperter, who had been educated at the Singapore Institution, having informed the authorities of its being the cuatom of Christians to observe the 25ih December as a festival. Al speak with the utmost gratitude of the hospitality and attention manifeated towards them by the Cochin-Chinese authorities and people.— pore Free Press, 12th February.