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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1174, 17 November 1871, Page 2

We learn that the Band of the Napier Artillery Volunteers purpose giving one of their popular open-air con certs this (Friday) evening, on the green opposite the Herald office. In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, the license of the Empire Hotel was transferred from Mr 0. Landon to Mr W. Mayo; Messrs E. Sutton and E. W. Knowles, sureties. Wood v. Livingstone.—Claim of £3 18s 9d. —Judgment confessed for the amount claimed and 15s costs. We are informed that the Colonial Government steamer Luna may be expected to arrive early next week, with his Honor Mr. Justice Johnston, Mr Brogden (railway contractor), and our members in the General Assembly except, of course, the Defence Minister. The Luna will also, it is expected, have on board the Auckland members in the Assembly, en route for their homes. The Yolnnteer review at Auckland on the Uth inst. was a grand success.

" The Branigan Pension Act" is the short tit]e of a measure which has been passed during the session of the General Assembly just ended. This Act, as we gather from the Wellington papers, makes provision in a lump sum of .£1,200, to be invested for the benefit of Mr Branigan's wife and family. Mr Swanson, of Auckland, strong opposed cbe pasvage of the Bill through aH its stages, but it passed its third reading in the House of Representatives on the 13th inst. On that occasion Mr Swanson remarked that he would prefer to see rewards offered to discoverers, such as Mr Ring, who was the person who discovered the fust gold in the Colony, or tor the discovery of coalfields. He saw no reason why Mr. Branigan should be specially provided for. There were plenty of applicants, for the position he occupied who would have been glad to have obtained the appointment without the addition of this pension. It struck him as rather remarkable that these men with large salaries could not provide for themselves. If they could not do it, how could men of smaller means? The formal opening of the Wanganui Bridge is fixed for the 29th November. The telegiaph between New Plymouth and Stoney River is to be erected at once. A very sudden death occurred at Auckland on the 9th inst. A seaimm named Gummins vent to He down on tlie grass afier dinner, and a few minutes afterwards was found dead. Potatoes at Hokitika on the 11th inst. were quoted at from £Q to £7 per ton. According to the Mayor of Hobart Town the working population in that city are in great distress, and theie is little or no employment in that country. Some cf the unfortunates have been cutting wood for wages of 4d an hour. Can any reasonable doubt be entertained of the stability of a bank whose directors always show a great reserve when questioned about its affairs ? A nugget weighing dlb 7oz lOdwt was found a few days ago in the Greenstone district, Westland, by a party of three miners named Frank Keen an, William Spier*, and William Connor. The nugget was found in a claim upon the Terrace, about 300 yards to the west of the Court-house, just off the main road. The fortunate finders were of course, exceedingly hilarious on espying the welcome stranger sticking out from the face, of the claim about 15 feet from the snface, and under where an immense boulder had been taken away. On taking the nugget to the bank the party were offered £257 cash for it; but they refused to sell it, and merely deposited it in the Bank of New Zealand. The amount of money annually expended in Victoria on intoxicating liquors is stated to be £3,887,000. It is expected 'hat 100,000 pounds of arrowroot will be exported from Queensland this year. Two enterprising Chinamen in Melbourne are doing a roaiing trade by supplying their countrymen throughout the Victorian diggings with pigs imported from Tasmania. A squatter in New South Wales has adopted the plan of giving to all his shearers who deserve it certificates of good conduct and efficiencv. It is believed that the practice, if generally adopted, would be attended with very beneficial results. Plenro-pneumonia and another unknown disease are making havoc with the cattle near Geelong, Victoria. A correspondent of a Melbourne paper says that many barristers in that city " are suffering, some of them acutely, from want of employment. 1 could, if pressed, give some instances which would astonish the ' select few,' but should be sorry to do so." Whales have been very numerous off the Tasmaiiian coast of late. An insolvent at Ballarat rejoices in the glorious name of " Nelson Wellington." A great proportion of the small arms in Victoria have been found to be totally unfit for use.