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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 161, 9 July 1874, Page 2

The Easby, which has arrived in Melbourne, is a large iron screw steamer of 969 tons register, and is intended by her owner, Mr Fulton, of Dunedin, for trading between that port and Newcastle. Shoia evidently meant for a cargo vessel, from her large stowage space, and for the carriage of coal, or grain, or live stock, she ia well adapted. A queer trial came off bafore Justice Brush, in Paterson, New Jersey, re- , centiy, the defendant being a young man from Hackeneack, named John Ames, aud the prosecution being at the instance of the Passaic County Society fbr the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Ames had been for a long time com ting a daughter of William A. Demarcst, living at No 231 Straight Street, driving over from Hackeusaek with a bay horse, which ho used to tie in front of his sweetheart's residence while he was inside. He left the horse standing there so much and such unreasonable lengths of tim.B that it became a scandal among the neighbors, aod his case was reported to the authorities. Frequently his horse would remain, in the coldest and most inclement weather without nourishment or protection, from three to four o'clock in tbe afternoon until four or five the next morning, and upon a recent occasion the horse stood there in the cold from the afternoon of one day until the ufteruoou of the nest. The poor animal seemed to be drawn all up in a heap with the cold, and in its hunger had nearly eaten up the hitching-post. Some neighbors, in sympathy, took the horse a mess of oats, which the horse sprang at wildly. Complaint was made against the amorous young fellow, and he was tried, as stated, before Justice Brush, on a charge of cruelty to animals. The facts above stated were fully sworn to, and tbe Justice decided Ames guilty, and sentenced him to a fine of 25 dols and costs. The case will be carried to a higher coqrt. The recovery of damages fo the extent of £250 was sought in the County Court, Melbourne, before hia Honor Judge Cope, and a jury of four, for an injured head, the plaintiff being i William Miles, a laborer, and the defendant John Dean, a contractor, who in the beginning of the year was erecting a dwelling house at Hawthorn, and the plaintiff was employed in the building. On the 31st January, Miles was hoisting a stone, weighing about Bcwt, by means of some shears. After it had got a considerable distance from the ground the shears gave way, and the stone, ih falling, struck Miles on the forehead, doing him such serious 'mjury that he was removed to tho hospital, where he remained several weeks, and had to submft to no operation for removing a portion of his fractured skull. The medical evidence called proved that the injuries sustained by Miles were serious, and likely to be permanent. The plaintiff's contention was that the accident rssulted from the negligent construction of the contractors scaffolding. For the defence it was contended that if there was any negligence it was the fault of Ali lea's fellow-rlaborer, who fastened tbe legs cf tbe shears, for which negligence the contractor himself was not responsible. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages £150. The Transit of Venus — The Times gives a long and highly interesting account of tbe preparations at Greenwich for the observation of the transit of Venus in December next. Tbe Astronomer Royal has chosen five principal stations for our share of the enterprise, Honolulu, Rodrigues Island, near the Mauritius; Christmas Harbor, in Kerguelen Land; Christchurch, New Zealand; Alexandria. Tp each of these will be sent a party consisting of a chief astronomer in charge, onepr more solar photographers, and several

assistant astronomers. Otber parties will be sent to the three subsidiary stations. The instrumental outfit is said to be the largest nud most perfect of its kind which has ever been brought together. The telescopes will be driven by clockwork in such a manner as to remain steadfastly fixed on the sun after having been once pointed to it, thus leaving the observer the free use of his hands for otber purposes. Tho most trustworthy observations hitherto made leave an uncertainty in the computation of the sun's distance from tbe earth of abou t 300,000 miles. The observations of next December will probably result in the determination of the distance within 50,000 miles. As already stated, France, Germany, America, aod Russia will co-operate ie this great undertaking, and, 'altogether there will be at least 70 or 80 stations scattered over the illuminated side of the earth, frora which between the hours of about half • past one and half past six, Greenwich time, on the morning of the 9th of December, a small army of astronomers will be anxiously scanning, measuring, and photographing the movements over tbe suu's face of the little black spot which ia to afford us a solution of one of the sublimest problems of the universe. The following produce telegram from the New Zealand Loan aod Mercantile Agency Company limited, dated Londou, 17th June, 1874, has been placed at the disposal of the the Otago Times for publication :— " Wool— the sales closed at the levels of last sales on the 16tb Juue. New South Wales and Queensland* dothing, washed, market easier; New Zealand crosa bred, market easier. 15,000 bales have been held held over for future disposal. 150,000 bales have been taken for export." Captain Hutlou makes a candid confession when he says, iv a late report: — " Wiih regard to quartz reefs, I am sorry to have to say that, in my opinion, science can be of very little assistance. Up to the present time, scientific men visit quartz mines to learn, and not "to teach; for no satisfactory theory baa yet been established as to the origin of the metaiiferous veins." The Wellington Tribune states that "it is rumored, wo are not aware whether correctly or otherwise, that the General Government have sold tlie steamer Luna to a Sydney firm for the sum of £12,000, and that the old favorite will be replaced by a new and large vessel now on its way out from England. Caplnin Fairchild, in addition to having the commend of the new steamer, will lake a general oversight cf the working of the steam launches now building for tho four important seaports of the colony,"