"AGE "'SPECIELS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2062, 7 August 1885, Page 2

"AGE "'SPECIELS.

' United Press association, London, July 88, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced in the House of Commons last night that the tax on Colonial bonds would remain unaltered, namely 2s Gd. The latest news from the Soudan shows is reported that the rebel tribes repudiate tho right of Khalifa Abdoola to succeed the late Mahdi as commander of the rebel forces. The British authorities hope that it will be possible to placatfe the rebels, and so end the struggle. \ London, August 2!). It is currently reported that the Marquis of Salisbury intends to make a strong bid for the vote of the whole Irish party by introducing sweeping measures of r'efprn) fyt Iceland, which will be equivalent to thji'granting of Ijome rule, It is understood that should Lord S4iabury effeot legislation of this character, Mr Parnell and Mb followers will accord to the prfesent'Oonservative Ministry their support, and in that event the Consrvative tonure of office iB likely to be a long'one. A well-known baronet- occupying a high political place, and who . waß formerly Ministerial Under-Secretary, is now figuring as co-respondent in a divorce suit pending against him for his alleged relations with a well-known lady occupying a high position in London Society,

and renowned for her beauty. In consequence of the excitement which the scandal has created, the criminated politician had been compelled to cancel for the time being all his political engagements. ' The proceedings in the Divorce Court promiss to be very sensational, and to lift the curtain of London society Bomewhat higher than it has ever been before, •