The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1868. THE PAPER HUNT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 10, 13 January 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1868. THE PAPER HUNT.

The second meet of the Nelson Hunt having been announced to take place on Saturday afternoon, our * Sporting Eeporter' was, of course, present to criticise the performance, and arrived just in time to find a goodly field assembled in a paddock situated about a quarter of a mile on this side of the Turf Hotel, at Stoke. A little after 3 o'clock, Captain Spiller, who, with that indefatigable love of sport which characterises him, had for several days previously been busily engaged in laying the paper, made his appearance on the renowned Harkaway, and calling together his field, proceeded at once to head them over a very pretty country on the left of the main road leading to Richmond, chiefly over the property of Mr Marsden and one or two other gentlemen who Lad kindly offered every facility for the sport. The course marked out was in a zig-zag direction, and after traversing the lower end of the plain, passed behind Mr Marsden's residence, across the Racecourse, round a farm in the occupation of Mr Rout, and terminated with a leap into the road close to the Turf Hotel, the whole distance being about eight miles. Thanks to the fact that some of the field were very energetic in smashing down hedges, and that others who, we suppose, possessed a small share of common sense, let down rails before riding at them the lookers-on,' (including our reporter) were enabled to see much more of the fun than was anticipated, and probably enjoyed the sight quite as much as those gentlemen who insisted on risking their necks for their own and the public amusement. Amongst these latter, we regret to state that Mr Carmichael Smy the, whom we noticed riding very pluckily, had a severe fall and received considerable injury. Various other individuals, as might be expected, also came to grief, "but without much damage done. A considerable 'fracas' occurred in consequence of a blow inflicted with a rail by a cowardly fellow on a valuable horse, the property of Mr J t Paul. Owing, however, to the confusion which 1 ensued, our reporter could not form 'any judgment on tfee merits of the case, but the general opinion appeared to be that the offender deserved a much more severe chastisement than he received. A goodly company of ladies graced the scene with their presence, and the sport appeared to give general satisfaction to a numerous field. We must not forget to record the expression of thanks given by each and all •who took part in the hunt, to the various proprietors who so kindly threw their Jtands open for the day's amusement.