TASMANIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1406, 17 February 1860, Page 5

TASMANIA.

We hare received Launceston and Hobart Town journals to the 20th Inst : — Telegraphic communication resumed. At the Hobart Town Regatta the sports were marred by a fatal accident. The sailing boat Mystery capsized, aud one of the crew was drowned. The first yacht race under the auspices of the Fasmanian Yacht Club, came off on the 2nd instant. Six yachts mustered and took their places. Mr. Basstian's " Ivanhoe," Mr. Gibb's " Mystery," Mr. W. Brown's " Maggie Laurie," Mr. Oldhara's " Seagull," Mr. Chandler's " Secret," and Mr. Kilburn s " Phantom." Secret was the winner. Mr. Alderman Henry Cook was elected Mayor of Hobart Town on the 3lst ultimo. Fatal. Accident on Board one otf the Bjats of the Pelobus.— -We are sorry to record that an accident, attended with fatal re • sut:s, took place between six and seven o'clock on Monday morning, on board one of the boats belonging to H. M. S. Pelorus. The following are the particulars furnished to us from the ship.— At an early hour yesterday morning six boats with seamen and marines proceeded to the beach under the battery in the Domain (the Queen's Battery), were under a fire of blank cartridges from the boats, a body of seamen and marines were landed. So soon as the men were ashore, the ship's galley and two cutters, under Captain Seymour, were sent off from shore to fire one rocket each down the river. When the first cutter got about two hundreds yards from the shore, the accident occurred. On the tube being fixed to explode the first rocket it stuck in the tube, and the officers and boat's crew : perceiving this, according to the ordersissued to meet such occasions, immediately jumped oyerboard, but unhappily not in time to escape the effects of the explosion, whereby Mr. Battiscombe, senior lieutenant, was severely Wounded) the greater portion of his nose, being shot away, and his fade alsd being injured. Mr. G. H. Borlon, midshipman, was so severely wounded in the head, the side of which was almost completely blown away, as to leave not the slightest hope of recovery. Thomas Graham, A.B.* was also severely woun-* (led, and Win. Bord, A» B., Joseph Palmer, 0.5., and Alfred Gougb, gunner's mate, slightly. Happily no damage was sustained by the galley and second cutter, which were close to the boat ftotn which the explosion took place when the tube was fired, and the wounded officers and men were instantly picked up and taken on board. The tube which burst, it may be added* iwas repeatedly fired from last year with the same (241 b.) lockets, and of course there was pot the slightest apprehension of danger. The melancholy accident has much effected the brother officers of the' Unfortunate gentleman who suffered by the explosion, anil particularly for Mr. Borton, a young officer, legarded by the other officers and the crew with the highest affection and respect, and much sympathy is also expressed in town that such a melan choly accident should have occurred. linme. diately on its becoming known that Mr. Borton was dead, the shipping in the harbour, lowered their flags half-mast as a token of respect to the young officer." Hobart Town Mercury, Jan. 7.