The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 50, 26 February 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1873.

Mining Shares.-— Mr H. J. L. Augarde quotes Perseverance shares, £3 paid, at 13s 4d per share. Business done tbis day. Inland Communication Cojumittee.--Members of this Committee are reminded that a meeting will be held at the Government Buildings, this evening, at seven o'clock. Our Wesleyan readers are reminded that a sermon will be preached, in the Wesleyan Church, Hardy-street, by the Rev. J. B. Richardson, of Blenheim, this evening, at 7 o'clock. All Saints' Church. — Divine Service will be held at this Church this evening (Ash Wednesday) and each succeeding Wednesday evening during Lent at 7 o'clock. Death by Drowning. — We regret to announce the death, by drowning, at Hokitika, whilst bathing, of Mr. Friend, lithographer, and teacher of miißic, formerly of Lyster's English Opera Company, and late of Nelson. Life Insurance. — A lecture was given at the Masonic Hall last night, by Mr. M'Donough, on life insurance, in which he briefly sketched out the Government scheme, and compared its advantages with those offered by private companies. The attendance was good, the chair being occupied by the Hon. Dr. Renwick. Interprovincial Regatta. — A capital opportunity will be afforded to those who are desirous of witnessing this regatta, to make a trip across to Wellington by the Phcebe, which leaves here on Sunday morning, returning on the following Thursday. The charge for the return trip is only £l, exclusive of provisions. Colonial Prize Firing. — It is probable that tbe whole of the colonial representatives will have arrived here by Saturday night, in which case the firing, we understand, will commence on Monday morning, instead of Tuesday, the day originally appointed. The Reception Committee meets to-night at the Masonic Hotel, at seven o'clock. Resident Magistrate's Court. — The following is an abstract of the business transacted in the Resident Magistrate's Court in Nelson during the year 1872. The total number of criminal cases disposed of was 289, in 217 of which there were summary convictions, seven prisoners were committed for trial, and 44 discharged. Of civil cases there were 336, in 120 of which judgment was for the plaintiff, in si*x for the defendant, 29 resulted in nonsuits, 113 were "settled out of court, 62 paid into court, : and -'iny'siic judgment was A. conferred.' The total amount auediior. was £4f60, the amount for which ; j ndgment ', Wa-j given, £1389. At Motueka were eleven criminal,

and 95 civil cases disposed of, and at Spring Grove and Richmond, 14 pf the former, and, 127 of ;the latter. Total number of cases coming under the jurisdiction of the-Court; 872, of which 314 were criminal, and 558 civil. Crickets in New Zealand.— The following letter and editorial note appeared in the Australasian of the 15th instant : — Sib, — During the latter part of last j summer the farmers of this district were put to much loss and annoyance by the ravages of an insect called the black cricket, which had never before been seen here in any numbers. This great increase' was no doubt owing to the then prevailing drought. Our late dry spring has produced the insects earlier tban usual, and in greater quantity than ever. The cricket is not a native of this part of the colony, and I have heard it is not indigenous to New Zealand. Ifc dies on tbe approach of winter, after depositing its eggs in the ground, and the grub begins lo show symptoms of life in the early spring. Not only does the cricket commence ravages on all vegetable substances, but also enters houses and destroys woollen fabrics, wall-paper, &c. Does it exist in Australia? I bave read in the Australasian of some kind of shrub, whose leaves are fatal to locusts, to get rid of that insect. I should think they would prove equally fatal to cricket life. — I am, &c„ Grilloteur. — Nelson, Jan. 30. — [Crickets are found all over the Australian continent; they are very destructive to potatoes, but they are annually, reproduced as-in New Zealand. The smaller species of hawk destroy them in large numbers. The crows also consume then in the autumn, and magpies whenever they are to ' be found. The' larkspur is said to destroy grasshoppers, but we have no information as to its effect upon crickets. — Ed.] Grain Statistics. — A return has been published of the quantity and value of grain and flour exported from and imported into the colony during the year ending 30th June, 1872, from which we learn tbat the exports were as follows : — Barley, 71,238 bushels valued at £10,158"; oats, 524.648 bushels valued at £60,207; wheat, 476,553 bushels valued at £ 1 09,475 ; flour, 824 tons valued at £12,140; malt, 6,456 bush- valued at £2,946 . Total value of grain and. flour exported, £194,926. The imports for the same period were :-— Barley, 77 bushels, valued at £22; bean's and peas, 483 bushels valued at £145; maize, 101,373 bushels valued at £19,788; oats, 395 bushels valued at £37; wheat, 159,776 bushels, valued at £42,833; other kiads, 734 bushels, valued at £353; flour, 4,489 tons, valued at £76,687; malt, 32,440 bushels, valued at £15,178. Total value of imports, £155,043. Nelson exported 400 bushels of barley of the value of £50; 27,772 bushels of oats of the value of £3670; and 532 bushels of wheat valued at £96. Total value, £3816. She imported 7212 bushels of wheat valued at £2005; 772 tons of flour of the value of £12,053; 1238 bushels of malt valued at £529; and other kinds to the amount of £56, making the total value of imported grain and flour £14,640. The Auckland exports were valued at £307, imports at £85,555; Wellington exports £290, imports £7343 ; Westport, imports £6193; Greymouth, imports £16,044; Hokitika, imports £17,465; Lyttelton, exports £112,952, imports £855; Timaru, exports £22,443 ; Oamaru, , -exports £22,899 ; Dunedin, exports £23,320, imports £582 ; Invercargill and Bluff, exportß £4,144, imports £3350. In future returns of this description it would be well if hops, which form a considerable item in Nelson exports, were included.