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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 942, 13 February 1871, Page 2

The Rifle Volunteer Band gave another of their open air concerts in the Government lawn on Saturday afternoon. The weather to-day has been anything but promising. The wind has been from the southward and eastward, with every appearance of rain. A Rifle Match will, we learn, take place to-morrow morning between eight of the best shots of the Napier Rifle Volunteers and tw T elve others of the same company. Resident Magistrate's Court. — This morning, William Leonard was lined 5s for drunkenness. /. Bradshaw was brought up on the same charge, and it being his third offence within a very short period, was lined £l, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment. The money not being forthcoming, he was locked up. The carbine firing by members of the Volunteer Artillery and the Yeomanry Cavalry for the Championship of New Zealand, silver medal, and a prize worth XIO, took place on Saturday morning. There were ten competitors, of whom [VI r James Hague made the greatest number of points, ha\ ing scored 47.

A strange rumour has formed the sub* ject of much talk and speculation in Sydney within the past few days. The wife of a publican, who died supposed to be possessed of considerable wealth about four years ago, continued to carry on the business after her husband's death, and, as some people thought, successfully, while others entertained the reverse opinion. The widow, however that might be, effected a composition with her creditors about six weeks ago ; and after the business was concluded it was noticed that she became exceedingly lively and high-spirited, boasting of her success in the operation. But her exultation was very short-lived, for she died rather suddenly a.few nights since. It is stated that thereupon certain afflicted friends, who obtained access to her room after her decease, became impressed with the opinion that something was stowed away in or about her bed, and, in the course of an arduous search which they instituted, the bed-tick of deceased was turned over, and found to contain notes and valuable securities to the amount of <£7,000. Iu addition to this, it is said that a considerable sum was found on her body by those who performed the last offices after death. The amounts, as is usual in such cases, are probably exaggerated; but that there is a considerable degree of truth in the rumour is the opinion of those who knew the deceased. —Sydney paper.

William Williams, a boy living at Orawaiti was amusing himself, with a six barrelled revolver recently, and met with an accident that nigh led to fatal results. The pistol was loaded with powder and an iron tack, the head of a lucifer serving in place of a cap. The boy was busily engaged looking down the muzzle of the? piece when by some unexplained agency the pistol exploded, and a portion of the charge entered the boy's forehead, penetrating to the skull, the tack then passing upwards and finally out of the upper pare of the forehead.

The bankruptcy of five Peers during the last few months has raised the question of the propriety of excluding bankrupts from the House of Lords, as they are excluded from the House of Com* mons. Several English skylarks have been introduced into Tarauaki by Mr. H. R, Richmond.

A large exportation of horses his just taken place from Melbourne to India.

When the loud shouts of the German soldiers proclaimed the German victory at Sedan, a Prussian soldier of herculean frame lying on the ground mortally wounded and unconscious, suddenly revived, and, comprehending the situation, by a superhuman exertion rose bolt upright and joined his voice to those of his comrades, and then as suddenly sunk down again, falling over the body of a dead Frenchman, with the last life-blood gushing from a wound in the side.

A few day? since, says the New Orleans Picayune, a well-dressed and handsome youth, of some eighteen years of age, appeared before one of the city magistrates and asked if he could engage his services to perform a marital ceremony. The reply was in the affirmative, and the young man left, but shortly afterwards returned, accompanied by a sombre-look-ing female, middle aged and dressed in black. ■" Is this lady your mother?" inquired the magistrate. " Oh, no, sir j this is the lady I desire to marry !" replied the youth, as the lady drew aside her veil, disclosing a countenance wrinkled and sere, but on which for the moment gleamed a sort of icy smile. '• Indeed." "Oh yes, sir." ki But are you of age ? " " Nut yet; but this lady is my guardian." " And she gives her consent ? " ' ; Yes, sir." The magistrate was in a quandary. He didn't know exactly what to do. He hated to sacrifice the youth, and join the brightfaced May to the gloomy, icy December. " Isn't this rather a strange union ? " he asked. " Not at all," replied the expectant bride; " I have a large amount of property which I desire to leave this young man. As I have relatives who might dispute the will were I to give it him as a legacy, I prefer to marry him." " And are you content to marry this woman for her money ? " asked the jus* tice. " Well I shouldn't marry her for anything else ! " frankly replied the boy lover. " She ain't pretty." And with) out more ado the ceremony was cor\». eluded,