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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 140, 14 June 1881, Page 2

TO THE EdJTOB OF THE " EVENING MAIL." I

Sib, — Your correspondent T. S. in a recent number of jour paper expressed surprise that it should be stated aa a fact that the comet nets after the Bun and rises befort it aa though it were impossible. The fact is easy of explanation ; and the explanation is similar to that which must be given of the fact that tb« sun in summer is a much shorter time below the horizon than in winter All the stars appear to jnove in circles, which increase in sizo from the Poleß to the Equator. To us in Nelson the star's within. 4l iegrees of tho South Pole never set at all, within that distance of the North Pole never rise. Objects in tho heavens anywhere between Uiene spaces will remain to us a longer or a shorter time above the horizon in the 24 hours according rs they are nearer to or farther fiotn tho South Polo. The comet is much nearer the South Pole than the sun is, and is therefore much lorger above the; horizon ; and, aa the longitude of the comet does not. dlffe* greatly m present from that of the suti Whilst it reraatu* above the hojiSon-^B»y four hours longer out of the 24-tfaU txcMi of time has to be divided pretty equally between the morning aud evening. So that it Bets after the sus and rises before it. 1 truit this explanation will prove satisfactory to T. S. 1 am, &«„ if.

A " plant V of 169 figs of tobacco and other things was recently found outside Pentridge stockade. .•",,, Rabbit skinning is being reduced to a science in Victoria. Tbe other day three men— Osborne, Gamble, and Matthews— had a contest as to who could do the most in an hour At tbe end of that lime Osborne had skinned 493 rabbits; G. Gamble, 434; and Matthews, 374. One of the pleasures recently added to those which aayone enjoys who attends an English ball is that of having one s photograph taken. A temporary studio is fitted up in one of the parlors, snd any lfidy who wishes to have her picture taken in her ball dress can do so. Tbe Western Star states that some oats from Officer and Sous' farm, at Groperßueh, yielded the extraordinary return of 177 bushels to tbe acre. The oats were grown on ft three-ncre patch in one of Messrs Officers Beldfl, from which two couaccutive crops of that cereal bad beea taken. Mgnaßgairrigr" 1 " "**"" —»»! i!.'"-" ' 1