Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 265, 31 December 1880, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1880.

The Secretary of the Nelson Aid Society acknowledges wilh thaDks the receipt of £5 from Mr J. H. and Mrs Cock. The funds of the society were exhausted within a fewpence by the last grant, and several needy and sick cases are still on hand. We nndersland that injury has been done to Borne of the town schools during the present holiday?, and that the Committee bare therefore reqnested the police to keep an eye upon them during the next few weeks. Trespassers should therefore beware. Thm wea'.ber we are experiencing just now is of a very unusual character for this time of. the year, when we look for a hot bright Bun rather than a cloudy sky, keen winds, and cold sleety showers. A correspondent writing from Wakefield says that for the last two days and nights the cold roigbt fairly be described as inteuse, considering the season of the year! and that yesterday there was a heavy thunder apd bail. storm Thb case now proceeding at the Court evidently excites a considerable amount of interest. Up to the hour of adjournment laßt night the body of the ball was crowded, and much curiosity was displayed as the contents of each parcel as given in our report of the proceedings, were opened out and laid on the table. It is possible, though scarcely probable, that the case may be brought to a close to night. :, A. i,akge gathering is expected in the Botanical Reserve to-morrow, -when the sports to be held under the auspices of the Tradesmen's Athletic Club promise to. he exceedingly interesting to all who take delight in such amusements. The steam launch Tainui is announced to ply every half hour between the boat landing and the Boulder Bank to-morrow and Sunday, commencing at 9 a'ra. The return ticket is only one shilling, children half price. The usual watch night service will be held at the Wesleyan Church to-night at half-past ten, when an sddress will be delivered by ; the Rev Mr Long, of Auckland. Another of the few remaining pioneers of the Nelson settlement has passed away ia the person of Mr William Sherman, wbo died at Motueka on the 23rd instant at the ripe old age of 74 years. He came to the colony in the Thomas Harrison in 1842, and cci to work as an industrious settler, but while excavating for the New Zealand Company at the Port he received severe injuries from a fall of earth, and was crippled for . life. By a change of occupation, however, he succeeded in earning sufficient to bring up his family amidst all the hardships of the early days. A short time ago he was quite incapacitated for work, and a small pension was allowed him by the Government, on which he contrived to live. His loss will be lamented by a large circle of friends. The usual New Year's Eve service will be held at Christ Church to-night, commencing at 11 o'c'ock and closing at midnight. The Cußtoma receipts for the month ending 3 1st December, 1880, amounted to £4003 Os 7d, made up as follows: — Spirits, £873 5s 4d; cigars, £86 8s; tobacco, £684J[3s; wine, £98 9a; beer, £192 18s 3d; tea, £260 7s Id; Coffee, £30 10s 4d; sugar, £542 18s 4d; goods by weight, £395 Us lid; ad valorem, £432 17s lid; other duties, £241 3s Gd; other receipts, £264 7s lid. As advertised, Messrs T. R Hodder and Co. gave an exhibition field trial of the Deering Harvester and Twine Binder on Wednesday the 29th instant, in a field of ' oats on the farm of Mr P. Smith at Hope. A large number of gentlemen interested in farming availed themselves of this opportunity to judge of the superior qualities claimed by the maker for this machine over all others. Several owners of wire binders by other makers were invited to compete, but none put in an appearance. The Deering twine binder was started on the field alone, and for two hours this wonderful machine went on doing the work of eight men, we might almost say without the least care or attention being paid it. The driver on the box can regulate the side arm that gathers the sheaf together andj although there were varieties of crop long and short to be gathered into one buudle it was done without the least trouble, every Bheaf being square at the butts and able to. stand up alone. Tbe great advantage in this machine is of course tying with twine instead of wire,, and this improvement will ba hailed by most farmers with satisfaction, but when tbe simplicity of the mechanism is observed (anyone being able to work it wilh ease) and the excellence of the work performed, its superiority must at once be acknowledged. ? Tb'e points claimed by this machine over all cotnpetitiorsare thatitdispenses with the need of a raker; uniformity of tbe bundles, every one being of the same weight; the butts being perfectly square and even, tbe binding be-

ing unusually firm; and its simplicity in working and extreme lightnesu of draught. The above statement was fully endorsed by the following gentlemen who authorised the use of their uames: — Mr Jacob Russ, Mr J. Sfttherly, Mr Charles Masters, Mr C. Best, Mr B. Trimmer, Mr W. P. Smith, Mr J. Sheat, Mr G. Talbot, Mr T. Eden, Mr W. Hill, Mr R. Mcßup. Mr T. W. Benfield, Mr C. Gapper, Mr J. W. Palmer, Messrs lloldaway Bros., Messrs Bell Bros., Messrs Snowdeu Bros,, Mr L. O'Loughlan and Mr R . Kidd. A second trial was made on a very stony field of cats on Mr Lines' farm at Hope yesterday when the results were equally satisfactory.