VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 782, 29 January 1853, Page 3

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. [From the Maitland Mercury.]

We have received Van Diemen's Land papers to the 18th December. A large public dinner came off in Hobart Town on the 15th December, being held in the new Market place. Above five hundred sat down to dinner, Mr. James Lord being in the chair, supported by Mr. James Gray, the guest of the evening. The object of the dinnei was to " signalise the presentation of the petition against the Victoria Convicts Prevention Act." But in reality it became a pro-transportation demonstration against the V. D. Land members of the Anti Transportation League, accused of being the instigators and concoctors of the hated act. The petition itself, with upwards of four thousand signatures attached, was presented to Sir W. Denison that day to be forwarded to the Secretary of State; and in his reply Sir W. Denison said on his observing the nature of the bill on its being introduced into the Victoria Legislative Council, he lost uo time in communicating with the Secretary of State, pressing on the Home Government the propriety of disallowing it; he should therefore willingly forward the petition, and strongly support its prayer. A collision had occurred in the streets of Hobart Town, between Mr. J. D. Balfe and Mr. Gregson, M.C. It arose, however, not from any general political feeling, but ftom angry feeling excited by a strong anti-Irish diatribe which Mr. Gregson had just given way to in Supreme Court in prosecuting a case of libel for himself against the editor of the Hobart Town Advertiser. Mr. Balfe horsewhipped Mr. Gregson directly he appeared in the street after the speech. The ship Lady Montague had arrived, from Plymouth 9th August, with 290 male convicts. A detachment of the 99th regiment, and of sappers and miners, also arrived in her. The Australasia, with immigrants, had also arrived. Fatal Accident at the New Town Coal Mines. —On Thursday morning, while some men were at work in sinking a shaft at Mr. Luckman's coal mines, a man named William Hartley who had just come up from the pit, lost his hold, and was precipitated from the bucket, a distance of 52 feet, sustaining dreadful injuries about the head and body, from which instant death ensued. As a train had just before been laid in the pit for blasting, deceased's mate risked his life, by immediately descending after him ; the remains were brought up in an awfully shattered condition, and conveyed to the Rainbow, where an inquest is to be held. The unfortunate man was about 30 years of age, and had only commenced his part of the work at eleven o'clock, having made the contract at six the previous evening. An inquest was held yesterday, before A. B. Jones, Esq., and a verdict of accidental death returned. —Hobart Town Advertiser.Dec. 11. ;

j The Fingal Gold Diggings.—Two men who have beeen digging for gold at Fingal for some time, are now procuring a fair share of the " dust." It is stated that a nugget weighing 87 grains has been recently found theve.—H. T. Gvardian, Dec. 11.

THfiPjasoNERS Br the "Ladt Montague." —On emfuiry at the Comptroller General's Office, we find that of the 290 male prisoners who have arrived in the Lady Montague, 250 will receive the indulgence of full tickets-of-leave on landing, and the remaining 40 to be employed on public ■works, until eligible for private service. The day on which the hiring of these ticket-of-leave holders will commence

has not been yet fixed.—H. T. Guardian. Hobart Town Markets.—The markets are in a depressed state owiug to the news by the steamer yesterday. Wheat is quoted at Bs. 6d. to Bs. per bushel, and flour at about £23, but few sellers at that price. Oats have been sold at 9s. 6d. per bushel.— H. T. Advertiser, December 18.

Launceston Markets, Dec. 15.—First flour remains at £20 per ton; wheat 7s. per bushel; oats are rather dull at 11s. per bushel. Trussed hay is worth £7 7s. per ton, and pressed for shipment, £8 10s. to £9. Bread, Is. per 4 lbs. loaf.—Examiner.