Local Intelligence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue 47, 8 September 1855, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Importation of Agricultural Machinery. — Mr. H. Redwood, jun., has just imported, in the Sir Allan M'Nab, one of Ransome and Sims's six-horse portable steam engines, adapted for thrashing, sawing, grinding, pumping, and other agricultural purposes. This engine will thrash with ease from 400 to 480 bushels of wheat a day, and the boiler is on the same principle as the best locomotive boilers, and will work with safety up to a pressure of 80lbs. per square inch. In addition to the steam engine, Mr. Redwood has also imported a portable bolting thrashing machine, a portable corn mill, the machinery for a saw mill (all adapted to be worked by the steam engine), together with a reaping machine, chaff cutter, and several other of Ransome's most approved agricultural implements. It is not .many years since the portable steam engine has been introduced on farms in England, and its use at present is by no means general, although its advantages are everywhere recognised. In all probability, therefore, the machinery imported by Mr. Redwood is the first of the kind introduced into this colony, and we trust the enterprise thus shown will receive a due reward.

Miraculous Escape. — On Saturday last, two men named Wratten and Thomlinson, engaged in driving a bullock dray laden with machinery from Nelson to Mr. Redwood's, in Waimea West, after crossing the Waimea river, very imprudently seated themselves upon the top of their load, which was a heavy and unwieldy one, and, from the want of proper care in driving, the dray was turned completely over in crossing one of those dangerous hollows which intersect the road. When he found the dray going over, Thomlinson contrived to spring off and get out of the way of danger, but Wratten, who was in some degree intoxicated, was thrown into the bottom of the hollow with the whole load upon him. Fortunately, one of the packages (the sides of a thrashing machine) was very large, and this falling across the hollow, saved Wratten from being crushed instantly to death. As it was, the principal injury he sustained was a few bruises from the smaller packages of machinery, among which his leg was jammed, and a detention in a most disagreeable and painful position for nearly two hours before his liberation could be effected, with some danger of being suffocated in the mud and water in which he had so long to lie. If the escape of Wratten was miraculous, it was also remarkable that no damage was sustained by anything on the dray, even a jar of oil escaping without injury. Provincial Election.— On Thursday, an election took place at the Court House, for the additional member given to the Town of Nelson by the Council Enlargement Ordinance. J. Poynter, Esq., Treasurer of the Province, was proposed by G. White, Esq., and seconded by Mr. D. Moore, and no other candidate offering, the Returning Officer declared Mr. Poynter duly elected.