Local Intelligence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue 66, 14 November 1855, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Narrow Escape. — An accident occurred yesterday morning -which was very nearly being attended with consequences of a fatal character, and which would have been most deeply deplored. Our ex-Superintendent, E. W. Stafford, Esq., E. H. E. Blackmore, Esq., Collector of Customs, J. Mackay, Esq., and a young gentleman named Wilson, a eon of the Coroner of the province, having gone out of the harbour in the Zingari, which was leaving for Wellington, were returning in the Customs' boat, with a crew of four Maories, when, the boat being off the white buoy, was strjick by a heavy sea and capsized. Two or three of the party were at first thrown under the boat, but a second sea, which threw the boat again on her keel, enabled them to reach the surface, and they were all able, most fortunately, to get hold of the boat, which had filled with water, and to hold on to her gunwales until, they were picked off by a boat sent to their assistance by the barque Maori, which happened to be running in at the time for the Waimea anchorage, and, in a few minutes after, they were got on board the cutter Supply, which had put off from the Queen's Wharf as soon as the accident became known on shore. From the time the accident occurred until the sufferers were rescued front their perilous position, about three quarters of an hour elapsed. A strong northerly wind was blowing at the time, and there was a heavy sea on the bar.

Boat Accident. — A boat from Motueka, with several passengers on board, was driven on to the Rabbit Island, on Monday evening last, by the violence of the weather. Her perilous position was observed from the beach, and a boat was manned and sent off to her assistance. On arriving at the island, it was found that all had got on shore in safety, and the whole party were conveyed across the Waimea River and put on shore on the beach, so that they were able to reach Stoke, and find shelter them for the night.

The Weather and the Crops. — The weather for the past fortnight has been very showery, accompanied by cold winds, and snow on the mountains. It is not often, at so advanced a period of the year, that we are visited with weather so inclement ; and probably we shall have a somewhat late harvest in consequence. But, should the harvest be late, there is every reason to believe that it will be highly abundant. It is seldom that we have witnessed crops giving a larger promise than we find them doing at present in all parts of the country. There is a great breadth of land sown, particularly with wheat ; and as we find the same to be the case in the Australian colonies, should no untoward circumstances arise, we may expect to see the average price of corn next year below what it has been this. While speaking of the prospect of crops, we i may mention a very interesting wager which has been made between two gentlemen from a neighbouring colony and two gentlemen in Nelson, respecting the amount of crops which land in this province may be got to yield. The wager is, that ten acres of land in this province shall be found in a block, to produce this season an average of fifty-five bushels of wheat to the acre. The amount of the bet is £\ OO. As the wager was only made this week, the land of course can have received no special preparation with a view to it. However the bet may be determined, the very important fact will be established, what a heavy crop of wheat on Nelson land really is. When a newspaper states that such and such a crop of corn has been obtained off so much land, it is not always, we are aware, that the story is believed, because the correct measure is doubted ; but in this case, as every precaution will be taken to secure exactitude, the fact, whatever it may prove to be, will be fully established. We understand that the gentlemen who are backing the productiveness of the land, feel confident of winning the wager.