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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 855, 2 July 1867, Page 2

Pbovincial Council. — The Council will meet to-day at 3 o'clock. The business of the day will be found in another column. It will be seen that three bills come on for their second reading, as well as several notices of motion for discussion. We this morning reprint the three bills, as well as various council papers of interest. The 14th in Hobakt Town, — Some unpleasantness has occurred at Hobart Town in connection with the -ball to be given by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, in honor of her Majesty's birthday. The practice hitherto, it appears, has been to invite the officers of any regiment which might be in garrison in Hobart Town at the time, and their wives, by one general card. This year the invitations aye been made special, and have been forwarded to all the officers of the 14th Regiment t3ifiwiAVJtl lo;iie^3 i<}<> x :>^' lOKt: — tkatof • "Ensign Thorns, who was lately charged with a serious offence, the person assaulted being a girl, said to be under ago, but who left the colony while the charge was under investigation, and who has not since been found. In consequence of- her absence, the case could not oe proceeded with, and tho charge was dismissed. The omission of this officer from the list of guests gave offence to the regiment, and all the other officers returned their cards. The Municipality Bill. — On the 14th inst., the Postmaster-General (the Hon. John Hall), in the Provincial Council of Canterbury, said that he wished to offer a few observations on that paragraph in the Superintendent's address referring to the legislation of the General* Assembly for establishing Municipal Institutions throughout the Provinces. It. had been stated in public speeches that it Avas the intention of the General Government to propose a scheme of a revolutionary character — in fact to annihilate the Provinces ; but he asked honorable members to take the intentions of the Government from their words and acts, and not from the Words of not over-scrupulous opponents. The Government said they would "bring forward a proposition for endeavouring to give an efficient measure of local government to districts to which Provincial institutions were no longer applicable. It might not be done in one or two sessions, but he believed it was what the people of New Zealand wanted. When local selfgovernment was more localised than at present, Provincial institutions would havo accomplished their mission, and need not be abolished, as they would have died out. The Loan Consolidation Bill. — The " Lyttolton Times " of the 14th inst. publishes a correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and the Superintendent of Canterbury, respecting the conversion of Provincial loans into colonial stock. The following is the substance of the correspondence : — The Cabinet has definitely "determined to introduce as a part of its financial policy a bill to authorise the issue of colonial bonds to an amount which will cover the entire amount of provincial loans hitherto authorised, including those already raised, and .those not yet raised (wholly or in part) respectively. In all probability the interest will be iixed at 6 per cent, and the colonial debentures so to be raised will be secured on the entire revenues of New Zealand, territorial and ordinary. As to the inter-provincial arrangements and guarantee for re-payment, which it may be necessary to introduce, the Government is unable, at present, to furnish the particulars." Dangerous Oils. — The "Argus" of June 12 is informed by an American house that a great many dangerous oils are now being shipped from the United States to this market. It is necessary, therefore, that buyers should test the articles they purchase. The following extract from tho amended Internal Kevenuc Law of the United States, dated March 2, 1867, shows that the sale of these oils is regarded in the States as a misdemeanor : — " No person shall mix for sale naptha and illuminating oils, or shall knowingly sell or offer for sale such mixture, or shall sell or offer for sale oil made from petroleum for illuminating purposes, inflammable at less temperature or tiro test than 110 degrees Fahrenheit ; and any person so doing shall be held to be guilty ot a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof by indictment or presentment in any court of the United States, having competent jurisdiction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than 100 dols nor more than 500 dols, and by imprisonment for a term of not less than six months nor moro than three years."