CABLE NEWS. HOME AND FOREIGN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 3835, 17 April 1899, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. HOME AND FOREIGN.

British Budget. London, April 14. — The British Budget shows a surplus of £186,000. _. Tie Samoan affair. London, April 14. — Mr Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, interviewed on the subject of the fightaig in Samoa and asked as to his opinion on the best solution of the present difficulty, said he thought it would be brought about either by the acquisition of German property in the group and granting Germany territorial compensation in the Western Pacific or by the partition of Samoa. Mr Beeves re-submitted to Mr Chamberlain Mr Seddon's offer of troops for Samoa. Washington, April 14.— -Baron Speck Desternberg, First Secretary of the German Embassy at Washington, has been appointed German Representative on the Samoan High Commission. The Commissioners will leave Sail Frau oisco for Samoa on the 25th inst.

Berlin, April 16. — In the Reichstag Baron Von Bulow, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in a temperate but firm speech upheld the Samoan treaty ! whiah he said would secure the principle of unanimity. I The Commission would assume provisional Government and control the consuls and warships, restore order and make a recommendation as to future arrangements. War by civilised Powers over the matter would be criminal. The maintenance of Germany's treaty rights the nation considered to be a point of honour. Mataafa had been unanimously elected King and it required a unanimous vote to depose him. Washington, April 16. America has dispatched the cruiser Newark to Samoa. Increase of the wine duty. London, April 15. — Imposition of an increase in the wine duties is attributed to the action qf France in disregarding British remonstrances in regard to her arbitrary actions in Madagascar. The Empire Trade League will deputationise Sir M. Hicks Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in support of the amendment moved by Sir Howard Vincentin favour of exempting colonial "wines from the increased duties. The agitation in the Transvaal. Pretoria, April 16. — The charge against Webb Dodd"for convening a meeting of the Uitlanders to protest against the shooting of the man Edgar was dismissed.