CORRESPONDENCE,

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 272, 15 November 1881, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE,

"A STAB IN THE DARK." To the Editor op. the ' Evening Mail.' Si?,t-I have the beat authority foe stating that 'it was an understanding between Mr Bird and Mr Eighiband thaij'neLeher of them should call any meetings- ia.Jeference -to the County election for which' they are candidates. Judge of my surprise then at seeipe Mr Bird's advertisement in this evening's M ail; I will not chp racteriae suehconduct any further than I have done, in the heading of this letter, aud will ooncluSe by hoping the electors will roll up, and resent it by recording their votes against the man who has endeavoured to secure election for himself by nieaoa so unfair. — Yours/ &c. ,. ; CODNTT EIECTOB.

To the Editor of the ''EvESiNa Mail S-iR-^The Colonist published in their issue of Saturday » - (mis)leader on the Customs returns for Nelson and elsewhere to 30th September, pointing out the alarming decrease for this port. This alarm will readily be dispelled when note ia "taken that the accidental detention of the England's Glory caused some £20.000 worth oi Nelaon cargo to come under taxation in October instead' of in August as anticipated. However, your contemporary will have an: opportunity at the end of the present cjuarter of penning a jubilant article on the extraordinary development of Kelson trade, thus nullifying the prejudicial impression the recant ill-con-sidered production would create if lead. I am, &c, Importer. Nelson, Nov. 14, 1881.

The ppreaii of the reaping machine is wonderful. Ona firm alone mikes over 30,000 of them every year, and it ia estimated that there are now 200,000 of these machines in existence, capable of harvesting annually 60,000,000 acres of grain and grass,, an area quite equal to that of the States of New York and Pennyslvania. ..._-.-- ' I A gentleman in the New York Swamp I mat a rather " uncertain " acquantance the other day, when the latter said: "I'm a little | ! short, and would like to ask you a conundrum in mental arithmetic." ?• Proceed," ob jstrved the gentleman. " Well," .said the "ahort" man, "suppose you had lOdols in your pocket, and I should ask yon for Sdols, ! how much would umain ?" " Ten dollars," was the prompt answer. Mr Ayrton, formerly Commissioner of Works in London, having had a dispute at ! one time with the sculptor of the Wellington monument in Sfc Paul's, the late Alfred Steven«, the artist made the face of " Falsehood" on that monument represent Mr Aryton'a face, who thu3 has the honor of having his effigy in St. Pad's Cathedral during Irs lifetime. ; !

The experience of a gentleman now visiting this district fbr the purpose of inspecting land likely to come into the market affords i a remarkable illustration 'of how the former;? of England are hJng driven to the colou'es. The gentleman referred 10 held an English | farm of 700 acres; for which he was paving j £i3OO or 140 b a year, but competition became so severe in consequence of American importations that he was forced to consider his position and came to the conclusion tha" he could not afford more than £700 a year. The landlord laughed «it the idea of accepting that sum, and the tenant sold out, but before leaving home the same farm was offered to him at £600. However, re had made up his mind to visit the colonies and he would not accept the offer. In addition to the American competi ion, farmers also find that harvesting seasons have been so unfavourable of late as to lead to the conclusion that the English climate has permanently changed for the worse. — Hawera Stir. A veteran vagrant named Mary Henry, was brought up at the Dunediri Police Couit. the other day, charged for the 22nd lime with being a rogue and-a vagabond. iShe pleaded to be let off, as she had only just been discharged from gaol, and they had never given her a chance before ; and, she added, she was always sent down to that gaol, and "it was ruining hef health altogether.' Poor Mary, the pitiless Bench sent her up for six months. That will surely break up her constitution completely.