Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 252, 15 December 1880, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1880.

We are requested by Mr Kirton, the Postmaster, to state that there will be a counter delivery of letters for an hour this evening after the arrival of the San Francisco mail by the Hawea. At the Magistrates' Court this morning, Dauvergne Horton was fined 5 s and costs for allowing his chimney to take fire. — William Wella, for allowing a horse to stray in the street, was fined 5s and costs. • The only other case was that of.theSchool Commissioners w. Haswell, late of Ahaura, now of Dunedin, for £4 10s, amount of rent due on an education reserve. Judgment for amount claimed and costs £1 9s. Mr Percy Adams appeared for the plaintiffs. The defendant did not appear. Mr Alfred Harlkt invites the electors of the Suburbs to meet him at Richmond on Saturday evening, and will hold meetings at other places on future dates. A meeting of the City Council was held ai noon to-day for the installation of the Mayor. There were present Crs Levien, Trask, Greig, Harley, Hbunseil, Johns, and Everett. . The Mayor elect, Mr J.R. Dodson, made the necessary declaration and took his seat' at Mayor. — A. meeting of the Domain Board was then held, when permission was granted to the Tradesmen's Athletic Club to use the Botanical Reserve, on New Year's Day, provided they hold themselves responsible for any damage done to the trees. — On the motion of Cr Levien, seconded by Cr Harley, it was resolved that a reward of £5 be offered for such evidence as will lead to the conviction of the person or persons who damaged trees in the Botanical Reserve on the occasion of the last cricket match. Our telegrams announced a few days ago that the bailiffs, at the suit of Mr Button, had taken possession of certain lands occupied by natives near Napier. An amusing* account. of the proceedings, taken from the ■jßaioke's- Bay Herald, will be found on the fourth 'page.. A reward of £5 ia offered by the Domain Board •* or. evidence that will lead to the con? victiotf of the perpetrator of a gross piece of mischief in the Botanical Reserve, where, on the occasion of the Nelson, and Wakefield cricket match laßt Saturday week, some one riogecLoneof the ornamental trees injuring it tofsucn r^ri eitetit that it has since died. The^ Hoy Qtinan, whoever he may be, who could be guilty of such a. stupid act is deserving of punishment, and#t is |o b t e i hoped that the reward offered 'will &«? the desired effeofc, ■-■.-■

- ■ *> The lea publi baths in Hardystreet and tke reserve on which they stand was put up to auction at. the Land Office today but there was do bidder. The selection committee appointed at a meeting of cricketers 'and others held on Monday last met last evening and after carefully considering the claims of the players in the district decided that the following should be the representative team in the contest with Wanganui and Wellington:— Balmain, E Boddington, H. Boddiugton, Burns, Firth, Eowler, Greenfield, Halliday, Holmes, Lawry, Naylor, and Wigzell. It is to be hoped that those chosen will go into steady practice on every possible opportunity prior to Christmas Day, as both the Wanganui and Wellington teams are determined to try their utmost to secure a win. The annual meeting of the City Rifles was held last evening in the Committee rooms adjoining the Volunteer Hall. About forty members were present, Captain Bunny in the chair. The report and bajance-sheet were read and adopted. The auditors report showed the corps to he in a satisfactory financial condition, with a good balance in hand. After the general committee for the ensuing year was elected, the meeting adjourned. A Sydney telegram of the 7th inst. says : — The schooner Bugle reports that Captain Murray and three of the crew of the Lulu, cutter, were killed at Port Peter by natires. The captain had traded with the natives, and the latter refusing to deliver some copra they had sold, he went to, remonstrate. While at the leading chief's house, he was fired at and killed, and two of the crew were overpowered and killed ; al>o a native who fled iuto the bush. The Bugle also reports that the Marquis De Rae's laßt expedition has settled in an improved position on the coast of New Brittany, and only three deaths have occurred among the colonists, who number three hundred. . , The following from a late number of the London Times will interest Nelson hopgrowers :-An estimate of the English hop crop of 1880, for the use of those engaged in the trade, has just been issued. In East and Mid Kent, over an extent of 30,518 acres, a yield of 7cwt per acre (or a total of 213,626 cwts) has been gathered in. Of this quantity 25 per cent is more or leas mouldy and brown, 25 per cent medium, and 50 per cent good. In the Weald of Kent, from 12,327 acres an average yield of "BJcwt has been grown, or a total of 104,779cwt, the general quality of j which is good. In other parts of Kent are only 562 acres, yielding 7cwt each- The quality of the 3,934cwt from these acres is from medium to fairly good. In Sussex a yield of Scwt per acre has been gathered. in from 9,979 acres, or a total of 79,832cwfc. The quality of these hops is good. A similar yield per acre has been gathered in from 5,440 acres in Hampshire and Surrey — the total yield being 43,520cwt. The quality ig from medium to fairly good. Seven hundredweight per acre has been gathered in from 8,456 acres in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the quality of the 59,892cwt thus obtained being good and over average. The other countries, with an average production of 7cwt per acre; produce a total of^2,o23cwt from 289 acres. Here alßo the quality is good. Thus from the whole 67,67.1 acres under hop cultivation in this country an average yield of 7£ cwt per acre, giving a total of 507,606cwr, has this year been obtained.^