VAN DIEMEN’S LAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 590, 29 March 1851, Page 3

VAN DIEMEN’S LAND.

[From the Maitland Mercury.'] On the 31st January the Olinda arrived d Hobart Town, from London 10th October, kinging the New Constitution Act. The act P s proclaimed by the Governor on the 4th February, and public rejoicings were to be klebrated in the week commencing the 10th, Harge public dinner coming off at Hobatt F°wn on the 13th and at Launceston off the pth. Several candidates for the represeqtaon of Hobart Town were named, and among em Mr. W. Carter, who has repeatedly upF d transportationist views, almost single in the auti-transportationist meetings.

Large public works for the improvement of the navigation of the Tamar, the forming additional wharves at Launceston, and wharves and a dry dock at Hobart Town, had been sketched out by the Governor, and submitted to the merchants of each place. The merchants of Hobart Town,? in public meeting, approved of the works projected for that place, but almost unanimously carried a resolution suggesting that, instead of their being performed by convict labour as proposed, they should be performed by contract, with a proviso that no convict labour be employed on them.

Thursday, the 6th February, was, it appears, as remarkably, hot and oppressive as it was in Port Phillip and this colony. Mr. W. J. Clarke.—The Wool King has departed for Port Phillip to complete his recent purchases in Victoria. He has taken with him £5,000 in sovereigns, and £22,000 in a letter of credit from one of our colonial banks. We understand that through some flaw in the Sydney land regulations he is enabled to take his land within sixteen miles of Melbourne, and has actually done so. This land, it is said, will be worth at some very short period £8 per acre.- — Colonial Times.

The Weather.—A most remarkable meteoric phenomenon occurred on Thursday last, which will be long remembered. The morning opened fine, but gave strong indications that the day would be sultry. Between twelve and five o’clock, the heat was oppressive : the inferior animals felt it to be so, and eagerly soughtshaded places—-even the poultry drooped their wings, and gasped for breath. At two p.m. the thermometer stood 92’ in the shade, and 130’ in the sun. At about four o’clock a dense and murky mist, resembling a combination of smoke fog, gathered all round the town and completely obscured the sun. The appearance of the atmosphere was most remarkable. The retreating sun shining behind the vapour, imparted a lurid glare resembling the light reflected from polished brass. The timid and superstitious anxiously enquired if similar appearances had been before observed ; some mentioned the similarity of the phenomenon which preceded the dreadful earthquake at Lisbon. The evening was followed by a fearfully dark night, but fortunately at about one o’clock on Friday morning a breeze sprung up, accompanied by a slight shower of rain, which cooled the atmosphere delightfully. The remarkable weather experienced on this side the island on Thursday last, terminated in a violent storm on the south. During a squall a whaleboat was upset below Sandy Bay, and two men were drowned. — Launceston Examiner, Bth February.