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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 285, 26 October 1875, Page 2

A Qua-dhille Assembly wiil be held at the Oddfellows' Hall this evening. In our fourth paeje to-day will be found aa interesting article from the New Zealand Times on the Chinese difficulty, to which reference has been so frequently made of late in our English telegrams. We learn from Mr Cross, the Harbor Master, that fee. has, a =, ye t unofficially,

been consulted regarding the best spot for landing the Australian- New Zealand cab?e. Cape Farewell was at first thought of, but there appears to be a desire to do away, if possible, with the necessity of an additional station. Mr Cross has therefore recommended the inlet known as Schroder's Mistake, between Pepin'B Island and Mackay's Bluff, where there is deep water right up to the shore, and no danger of the cable being fouled by ship's anchors. The idea at present is that from the landing place the cable might be carried underground to Nelson, which would be made the transmitting station. A more favorable spot for the purpose than that suggested by Mr Cross it would be impossible to find on the coast of New Zealand. The Spring Show of the Nelson Agricultural Association will beheld at Richmond to-morrow week, when prizes will be offered for every description of horses, sheep, cattle, pigs, poultry, dairy produce, and also for shearing. We" expect to see the show well attended, and some very good sheep and pigs in particular exhibited, as our country settlers have of late turned their attention to improving the breed of these animals. If the owners of the thoroughbred and cart entire horses exhibited were to subscribe, say £2 each, as a prize for the best foal of each class, to be exhibited two or three years hence, a respectable amount would be raised, sufficient to induce breeders to take care of their j young stock, and to bring them out for exhibition at the time stipulated in condition to show them off to the best advantage. I A somewhat curious case was heard at the Eesident Magistrate's Court yesterday, when Edward Thomason, of the Waiinea, was charged with assault under the following circumstances. On the 28th September Charles Edward Cotterell, junior, a lad of about twelve years of age, was holding by a tether rope his father's horse within their own grounds close to the road. Defendant, who was passing, commenced cracking his whip, and the plaintiff asserted that the more the horse showed symptoms of fright the more he cracked the whip, until the horse broke away, and galloped off, and in doing so kicked out and struck the plaintiff on the back, inflicting so serious a wound that he was confined to bed for four days. Mr Fell appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Acton Adams for the defendant, and the latter, while admitting the infliction of the wound, contended that it was accidental, and that the defendant could not be found guilty of an offence. His Worship, in giving judgment, said that the law presumed that every person intended the probable result of his own acts. For instance, if a person pointed a gun at another and it went off and killed him, the law would presume that the party holding the gun intended to fire it. In the ease now before the Court the defendant might not actually have intended to make the horse kick the boy, but he was doing a dangerous and mischievous act, and there was strong evidence that he was acting wilfully ; the law would therefore presume that he intended to bring about the injury which was inflicted. Had young Cotterell been killed, there could be little doubt defendant would have been tried for manslaughter. The better plan in these cases of larrikinism seemed to be to cast upon the parents a special responsibility to look bharply after their sons. Defendant would be remanded until Monday next, when he would have to appear at the Spring Grove Courthouse, and his father would have to enter into a recognizance for his future good conduct. Costs to the amount of £2 were allowed. The first performance given by Barlow's Circa last night was most successful, both as regards the audience who were delighted by the entertain, ore it, and the performers, who man have been gratified at the numbers who H' tended to witness their clever feats. So varied is the entertainment that we cannot attempt to describe it further than to say that all that was done was done well. The doge, and the monkeys, and the ponies are splendidly trained, and their performances are most arousing while, as for the ' mule, do official telegram that ever was penned would induce us to rata'd him j as an " antiquated as?." The Company 1 do not intend to remain long, so we would recommend a'l who enjoy goiog (o a circus— and who does not? — to pay them a visit. The second entertainment in aid of the All Saints Church fund was given last ni°ut and waa a decided success. The Hall was crowded and the music was. harming. Songs, glees, and ohoruses were varied by readings, and at a late hour the large audience left the room highly pleased with the entertainment that bad been provided for them.