THE LATEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4822, 19 April 1890, Page 3

THE LATEST.

(Electuic TELCGitAru — CopyKiaur). (P3K i'KESS ASSOCIATION.)' (Received 1.25 a.m., April 19th.) REDUCTION OF POSTAL RATES. London, Aoril 18. Mr Gosclten is willing to redticu the postal rates to India and the colonies by all route 3 to 211 if the colonies concur. By this reduction he eatimntes a loss of £80,000. THE BUDGET PROPOSALS. The estimated expenditure for the year h £86,857,000, leaving an available surplus of £3,549,000. The coinage fund his been restored, and the gold fund created and credited with £000,000 arising from the mint profits on the circulation of silver. The duty on silver plate is remitted to the extent of £80,000, anil that on tea is reduced to 4d per pound, and on currants to 2a per cwt. As Greece 13 making important concessions with respect to the latter article the home duty is reduced by £540,000 and there are several other minor reductionf. The duly on British and foreign p.pirits has been increased Cdper gallon, which, with the additional bter duty imposed la3t year will bo handed over to the local authorities. RELEABE OF THE FROME MURDERESS. Constance Kent, wh'> was sentenced to death m 18C5and subsequently committed to imprUonment for life on a charge of murdering her brother, four years old, on a road near Frome, ba3 been released. At the time of the murder CoDstance Kent was sixteen years of age. THE VICTORIAN LOAN. One syndicate applied for three and a half million of the Victorian loan. RECALL OF AN EXPEDITION. .Lisbon, April 18. The Governor of Mozambique has bean directed to recall the Portuguese expedition to Mpondo if it has started.