The Sun. — 1828-04-25 (London, England)

HOBART TOWN PAPERS.  On the 18th of December, the ship Astrolobe, Captain Dumant Duville, belonging to the French Government, arrived at Hobart Town. After coming to, and making up her sails, she fired a salute of 15 guns, which was returned in style by the Mulgrave battery. The officers had been handsomely entertained by the Governor. From Larinceeton, we learn the natives are still troublesome, and they had murdered an old man named Rutter, within five miles of the town. Other persons had been chased and speared by them near the settlement in the course of the week. Wheat was six shillings per bushel ; Rum, retail, per gallon; Tea, 51. per chest ' - Sugar, 301. a 401. per ton. The market is glutted with all kind of merchandise,- and still great importations are expected. A Banking Company, under the style of the Directors and Company of the' Derwent Bank, has been established at Hobart Town, with a capital of 15,0001. in shares of 100/. each, and it is to be conducted on the most liberal principles, and was to commence operation on the let day of January. The following Gentlemen were elected Directors and Office-bearers. Directors Joseph. Hone, Esq., Chairman, William Barnes, J. Dann, J. Kerr, J. H. Reby, P. A. Mulgrave, and Patrick Wood, Esq., for one year only. Resident Director and Cashier, Stephen Adey, Esq. ; Accountant Mr. J. Leake. In addition to this establishment we are also enabled to state a Branch will be established at Launceston. Few bush rangers and robbers had been latterly taken, but a plan of operation was going on by which the public would be shortly relieved from this dangerous' nuisance. Some apprehensions bad been entertained of Van Dieman's Land being considered a penal settlement ; but these fears had been quieted : it had the effect of doing harm, although the idea was ridiculous enough. Some of the Editors had the intention of putting their papers in mourning, in consequence of the stamp dirty of 2d. each number, which is a measure bitterly complained of, mad a hope is expressed that the Governor will shortly be aware of the evil effects that will result from this =mtge. The black natives, headed by Black Tom, had appeared in great numbers at Curryjong Springs, about three miles and a half from Sorel! Springs, and had committed a number of outrages against the residents in that neighbourhood. It is well observed, something ought to be done to put a stop to these barbarities. A number of boys had been sent to Macquarrie Harbour to learn the art of' shipzbuilding. Letters from Launceston mention Mr. Hone, the Attorney..-General, as unwell, which is ascribed to excessive fatigue, arising Icon; his 4r4goas duties. The first linnet ever brought into Van Dieman's Landarris-ed in one of the last vessels froin England. Ten men had been tried for the murder of a 'constable at Macquarrie settlement in the Critnitnyl Court and convicted,--the sentence had been-put in earectioe qn nine of them. The inhabitants had held frequent meetings in .different parts of the Colony to form armed associations against the annoyances of blacks or whites, particularly the. former, Cieneral ?sleeping of the proprietors of the Bank of. Van Dieman's Land was held on the 10th December, when the following gentlemen were elected Directors—W. A. Bethune, G. F. Read, C. Vkachlan, De. Lord, W. F. Kemp, G. Butler, and J. Bell; G, F. Rev], Managing Director; at the same time the officers of the present Think were npminated to similar situations in the new establishment. 4 field police had been established, and also a horse patrole, which'it is elated if kept up by proper regulation, was likely to be extremely useful, and would prevent the frequent robberies of sheep and ethee cattle, which has been not only frequent but alarming. Saul Relr4co, of pugilistic fame, had arrived, per the Layton, at Sydney. • An extended survey and plan of Hobart Town had commenced, and it was intended to erect a pier or breastwork from the Australian Store to Batting Point, to enable chips of burthen to load and unload at all times. It was also in eoniemplatien to build a new Custom-house, a dry dock, together with a slip for the repair of ships, which may draw more water than the dock would contain. The Governor is said to have employed an engineer, for the purpose of reporting on these matters, and it is pleasing to hear of so many improvements in this valuable as well as rising Colony. A Female Orphan School is established, and a farm near _dew Nprfuly, on the River Derwent, is pointed out as a suitable situation.