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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 424, 27 September 1866, Page 2

Crowded Opt.—A pressure of important news compels us to hold over many extracts of local and general interest. Earthquake.—Another shock has been felt in Napier during the week. It occurred about five o’clock last evening, and was not so heavy, bat lasted longer than the one felt on Monday morning last.

Mearee Church,—This place of worship, as will be seen by advertisement in our first page, will be opened on Sunday next, 20th inst. Rev. A. Shepherd, of Waipukurau, will officiate on the occasion.

Pakliamertaet Papers.—By the Ahuriri, wo arc in receipt of another batch of Parliamentary Papers, among which we notice the conclusion of the report of the committee on the Civil Service Commission. Wo will refer to these hereafter. Convictior op the Maurgatapau Murderers.—By telegraphic intelligence published elsewhere, it will be seen that Levy, Burgess, and Kelly have been convicted and sentenced to death for the murders at Maungatapu. The latest special telegram announces that Sullivan has been convicted of the murder of James Battle, and sentenced to be hanged. An impression, however, is prevalent that in the case of Sullivan the capital sentence will not be carried out, as his evidence is wanted in connection with the murders of Dobson and a shopkeeper on the West Coast. Report or the Proposed Income Tax.—The final report of the Civil Service Commissioners has just ben laid before the assembly. It is devoted to a consideration of the manner in which an Income Tax might be raised, and suggests that incomes below £2OO a year should not be taxed; that incomes of between £2OO ana £3OO a year should pay a rate of 7d per pound, and incomes above £3OO, a rate of lOd per pound. The Commissoners estimate the amount of “practically taxable income ” in New Zealand at £5,400,000, on which they think a tax amounting to £191,250 could be levied. They further state that an Income TaS Department, with commissioners, surveyors, inspector, assessors, et has genus omne, would be required to collect the impost. • The cost of collection is estimated at eight per cent, on the amount got. Of course there is little likelihood that an Income Tax will be proposed this Sea sion, but the people of the colony should witch jealously for any further attempts being mads to increase the taxation, as this report is suggestive of what may be proposed at a future time.—Wellington Independent, 20fch September.