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Bruce Herald, Volume XII, Issue XII, 14 November 1879, Page 3

The old adage "that the man who acts as bis own lawyer is a fool to his client " was never better il'ustrated than wa? witnessed in the R. M. Court at Milton on Tuesday last. The informer against Councillor D. Reid placed him self in that conspicuous position, and, to put it mild, really made an ms of himself, while he also gTßatly annoyed the learned gentleman , who opposed him, by impeding the progress of the case through genuine ignorance. He went so far as to state that he had seen a "deed of partnership " filed in the Supreme Court, whereas all he ever beheld was the affidavit of registration of a newspaper. The Resident Magistrate in his indulgence kindly granted an adjournment. The Secretary of the Tokomairiro Road Board is calling for tenders for various work*, as will be seen by our advertising columns. We l^arn with regret that Mr Broad, R.M. and Gobi fields' Warden, died ab Greymouth from congestion of the lungs. Wb learn that Mr Jonathan Golding, late pupil teacher at the Milton Higb School, and son of our iellofv townsman Mr J. Golding, has been appointed master of the Adam's Flat School. Mr George Coombe advertises for sale one of his valuable and highly bred stallions, namely " Boiardo." He is out of the late splendid mare " Swindle," by Barwon,, and should, meet with a ready buyer. Messrs Duthie, Moore and Co. will sell today at 2.30 p.m., at their yards^, a number of sheep, including 200 cross-bred hoggets. Also, to-morrow, Saturday, afc 7.30 p.m., withouc reserve, a lot of Household furniture, on the premises adjoining the Commercial Hotel. A brilliant meteor passed over Milton at about 10 o'clock on Tuesday evening. Ifc was travelling from North to South, and disappeared after breaking into a number of bright stars. The same meteor has apparently been observed from Lawreuce. Sparrows are beginning to mako their presence felt in and around Milton. Mr Burt informs us that they have completely stripped a large cherry tree iv his garden of all the fruit in its green state. The tree produced about 601 bof cherries last year, but will have none this season, though the show was splendid. A pair of feathered strangers arrived a day or two ago in the shape of a couple of starlings. The two mates may be seen in the early houis of the morning collecting building materials for their nest, which is e\ideutly being constructed in the vicinity of the National Bank and our office. Complaints reach us of the nightly depredations of a stray cow or two within the township of Milton. To one of these animals a wire fence is apparently no impediment, as she manages somehow to get through it, and oa to the crops. Something should be done to stop cattle- trespass by night as well as by day. A SPECIAL meeting of the Bruce Rifles is cJled for Monday evening, for the purpose of considering the question of new uniforms. As the old tunics of the Corps arc beginning to look rather shady, we think it will be well for the members to favor Captain Scott with a full attendance. In order to give the public an idea of the Prevalence Of anares iv many parts of thii Tokomairiro District, we ma>y mention that one of our townsmen last week took his dogs fur a run, by way of giving them exercise, when one of them suddenly gave unmtstakible signs of being temporarily fixed somewhere. Immediate examination revelled the fact that the dog was caught instead of a hare, for which the trap tvas intended. The next day the dog of a settler was found in a similar fix in another part of the plain. We do not of course wish our readers to think that those parties were poaching, for such was not the case. We ouly wish to point out the rascality of the misoreauts who will even persist in snaring hares during this period oi the year, as if they had not already done enough harm to legitimate sport during the proper season. A meeting of boys attending the High School was held in one of the class-rooms on Weduesday afternoon, when it was decided to form a Cricket Club in connection with the school. The title adopted by the Glub is *' Milton High School Cricket Club. " Mr Malcolm was appointed President, Mr Menzies Treasurer, John Ronaldson Captain, Jas. Ferguson Secrelary. A committee to act with the officers was appointed, consistin gof Mr Aid oni, John Stables", Arthur Palmer, and John Murray. As the subscription was fixed at a moderate sum it is expected that all the boys attending the High School will join the Club and raise the name of the Club to a position equal to that j held by the School among the Educational establishments of the Colony. Labuhiins are apparently nofc wanting even a considerable distance from Milton township. It appears that for some time Mr Chapman of Ooombe Hay, has allowed the public to make use of his boats, oars, &3., for the purpose cf crossing the Tokomairiro river at its inout.h. On or about the Lst instant the oars and pins were removed from the boats and not returned, and were only recovered with difficulty after a long search. The effsct of this piece of larrikinism is, that the public will not be allowed the use of the boats in future. The names of three of the perpetrators of this uncalled-for piece of folly are known, but that is but a poor satisfaction for the iosj of this couvenience to the public. A most severe thunderstorm passed over Timaru, and within a radius of only about five miles, on Tuesday morning, not without doing considerable damage. Tbe lower parts of the tcß-p were inundated to a depth of several feet and the watei? entered various offices and stores. Tha large warehouse of the Rational Mortgage aud A«oncy Company was speedily flooded to a depth of nearly five fret, and a large qnantity of sugar and valuable seeds, &c„ was destroyed, the loss amounting to LbJQQ or HSOO, The

gasworks had a narrow escape from being entirely stopped ; all the fires were put out but fortunately the water did not reach the retorts by six inches. The Grosvenor Hotel has suffered considerable damage through thr spouting being insufficient to carry cff the ! quantity of water which fed on the roof ; and as it accumulated on the parapet, it began to leik through the roof into the room?, saturating almost every apartment in the house. The storm lasted for about an hour aud a-half, and during that time a watertank, holding 3000 gallons, was fided from "one roof alone, which will give some idea of the immense quantity of water which fell. The Waste Lands Board met on Wednesday as ÜBUal. There Was no item of interest referring to the County of Bruce, but we give the following re Catlin's River :— Robert Andrews applied for a saw-mill license over 50 aores behind section 1, block 1, Woodlands ; and over 40 acres fronting Catlin's Lake. A report by Ranger Hungerford was read on the subject recommending that large areas only should be granted, as the portions applied for were the choice portions of the bush. Messrs Connell and Moodie, who appeared on behalf of the applicant, urged that he should not be required to take up a quantity of land upon wbich the timber was not of use to him. The applicant, applied for timber solely ; he did not want the land. After discussion, it was agreed that if applicant would accept the areas, license should issue over 80 acres in block 1, Woodlands, and 70 acres fronting the Lake, to extend over a period of three years, at the rate of 7s per annum. We learn with pleasure that a very old and respected fellow-settler, Mr Paton, brother-in-law to Mr Edward Stewart of Milton, is again on his way out from England, and is expected to arrive here early in January. Mr Paton, at a recent sale of the far-famed Panton stock, became the purchaser of a splendid stallion, named Bob of the Bent, for the purpose of bringing him to New Zealand. We have no doubt that Mr Paton will be welcomed upon his return by a large circle of friends, and we trust sincerely that he will have a safe and prosperous passage out. At the Metropolitan Meeting in Christchurch, which was held on Tuesday and Wednesday last, iv presence of the Governor and suite, the principal events came off as follows: — The Derby Stakes, 20 soys each, 250 soys added, for three year olds, were won by Mr R. Ray's b.c. Hornby ; Mr H. Redwood's blk. c. Grip was second and Mr Walter s b.c. Billingsgate third. One mile and a-half, time, 2 mm. 45 sec. The Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, of 500 soys added to a sweepstakes of 20 soys, was won by Mr Goodman's br. h. Chancellor ; Mr R. Ray's Maritana second, Messrs Mason aud Vallance's Pinfire 3 Dist ance 2 miles. Time, 3 mm. 39 sec. On Wednesday the Canterbury Cup, of 500 soys wa3 run, added to a sweepstakes of 20 soy. j , second horse 50 soys from stakes, tnird horse to save stakes. Mr E. G. Griffith's br c Betrayer first ; Mr K. Ray's b c Hornby second ;Mr R. R >y's b h Templeton third. Distance 2 miles and a quarter. The attendance was poor, pai ticulary on the secoud day.