Van Diemen's Land.
The Times, 1824-10-28T00:00:00

Hobg.rt-town Gazettes, from the 9th of April to thp ilth of June, have beeni received at the New Englana Coffee House. The slew Court of Justice for this co. lory, which has recently been appointed by the Royal Cihatter, opened at Hobart-town on the 10th of May, and commenced its regular judicial sittings on th7 20th, and ha(l since been constantly engaged in trials for criminal offenees, of which the calendar presented a very long list, anid many of them of an atrocious description. A pttlie meeting of the respectable inhlabitants of Hobart- town took place on the 20tl of April, for the purpose ot' re- turning thanks to the Governlment at home for the valu- able privileges conferredI on the colony by the new Royal Charter, anid to prepare a petition for the furtliher impor- tant benefit of the independance of the colony, as re- gards its union witlh New South Wales. Subscrip. tions were entered into at this meeting, an(d a committee appointed to promnote the objects for whiclh it had been con- v=enet. Colonel Arthur, who had been appointed successor to Lieutenant-Governor Sorell, in the government of Vaan Diemen's Land, arrived at Hobart-town on the IItli of Mlay, and in a few days after took possession of that office. Addresses have been presenited to Lieutenant-Governor SoreU from all classes of the inhabitants, expressive of their regret at his relinquishing the administration of the co]otly. The French discovery ship La Coquille, M. Du- perey, comman(ler, which had been lying some time at Port Jacksoni, had proceeded in prosecution of her voyage. Her next destiiation vwas the Society Islands. The Australasian Company's ship Triton had sailed for Madras, having on board a detachment of the 48th Regiment. The AWrian, Gordon, arrived at Hobart-town, had the misfortune of hlavitig a boatupset off St. Paul's Island, when four per- sons were drowned, viz.-Mr. Jamres Ripley, Mr. Worsley, (Secretary to Colonel Arthur) ; the new Deputy Governor, (Mr. 'March, or Mlarsh, late of Leeds); and the fourth, one of the boat's crew. Accounts had arrived from Sidney, of the 29th of April, statinig that Captain Powell, and fye of the crew of the Rambler, ha(l been massacred at Vavaoo, one of the Friendly Islands.' TlTe circumstances that gave rise to this tragic occurrence are stated by a Sydney Gazette to be as follows:_Captain Powell had been cruising for tour or five days off the island of Vavaoo, which timie was occupied in procuring water for the vessel's use. On the 2d otfApril, the day preceding the massacre, four black men, andi an ap. ed Samuel Blackmoore, ran away into the island. 'hc day fblloting,application was made to the King,or Chief, for the restoration of the boy. Finding that entreaty was unavailing, Cap- tain Powell offered the King a musket, 100 flints, and a barrel of gunpowder, if he wotld sead off thc runaway apprentice. The boy returned an answer, by letter, to the Captain, refusing to join the ship any more, and desiring Captairn Powell to weigh anclor and be off. At 11 a. m. the ship was under weigh, and stood up the bav. At noon Captain Powell fired three of the starboard guna on shore, at the sanie time ordering llr. Holliday, the mate, to stand off with the ship. A boat was then lowered down the larboard quar. ter, and was manned and arn,ed with six hands besides Captain Powell. The boat went on shore, and returned wtih a double canoe which was made fast a-stern of the ship. 'rhe vessel then tacked back again, made a short board, and once more tacked. WVhen a- breast of the beacl two more guns were fired. Captain Powell then made preparations for returning to the shore, giving directions as to the necessity of keeping the ship from going too near ; and told M0r. ilolliday not to fire, unless he perceived that tho natives -cre too thickly surrounding and pursuing them. Captain Powell, for the last time, reached the shiore, andI was seen walk. ing up the liseach, when about 60 or 70 arned natives rushed upon him and four of thie poor men, despatchimg them in the twinkling of an eye. The otner two seamen heing near the boaRt, fled into the sea for refuge; and althougl) one waswoundedwith a spear, they succee(leti in regaining the vessel, under cover of one of the lar. boardguns. The nimes of thc iuten that per.shed were, Peter Ashburn, John Jones, William Ilalback, and Jiames Loft. The vessel h tvirg experieniced a loss of ten hands,with the five runaways, exclusive of iaptamn Powell, MIr. Holliday tlouglit it mest prurent lo make the best of his way to Port Jackson. 'rhe last worts that the urtfortunate Captain l'owell was heard to articulate, were- ()h, mny' God, my God ! I amn killett !" The above account is raken from thc ship's log, anti therefore may so far be dependedt on. But it nulty be inuquired, low many of rile poor islanders were cut off by rite firing of Captain l'owell, before he wvent on shuore I Ard what had they done ? The log gives no ac- counnt of any previousbarbarity on the part oflthc natives. Their canoe was taken away-well loadetd gun-s were discharged among them -antI therean tardly be a guestiOn but many of them tell. .'fter all this, whio can account for thc unwarrantable temerity of Captain Powell, in landing himself and itten among such an infuri- ;ted host? Ceptain Powell. we shotild fear, becamie sacrificetl throiugh his own rashness, anti four poor fellows were htirricd, with their ht:apless contnatlnder, intc eteruity ! .AN DIEMEN'S LARAD.