CABLE NEWS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 116, 26 April 1884, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

(reuteb’s TELEBBAMS.) SUICIDE OF FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE. Hoxa Kong, April 24. Intelligence is to hand from Pekin report, ing that Prince Hung, late First Secretary of State, and who was recently publicly degraded by the Empress, has since committed suicide. THE BUDGET. London, April 24. The Right Hon. H. C. E. Childers, Chancellor of the Excheiiur, delivered his budget statement in the House of Commons this evening. He estimated the revenue for the ensuing financial year at £85,500,000 and the expenditure at £85,250,000. It was proposed to continue the reduction of the national debt, and £8,000,000 would be paid off during the year. In order to meet the deficiency arising from the re-coinage of worn and light coin, it was proposed to issue gold ten shilling pieces containing only nine-tenths quantity of gold contained in the present half-sovereigns. The speech also announced that it was intended to issue stock bearing interest at the rate of 2f per cent., which would be offered to holders of all 3 per cent, consols. No increase of taxation was an. nouuced. April 25. It is announced that Childers’ proposals, set forth in the budget last night, regarding the issue of new half-sovereigns, will not affect Australian coinage. THE BECIDIVISTES QUESTION. In the House of Commons last night Lord Fitzmaurice, Under-Secretary for Affairs, in reply to a question, stated that the Government is awaiting further communication from the French Government on the subject of the recidivistes question, and that no negotiations had taken place with the German Government in reference to the transportation of French criminals to the Pacific.