LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 624, 23 May 1870, Page 3

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

April 13. A paper on the South Sea slavery Question was laid before Parliament, t states that the expenses of the Daphne will be refunded. The Commander^of H.M.B. Eosario has been promoted to the rank of Captain. The Prussian government is supposed to be favourable to assuming the sovereignty of the Fiji Islands. The corvette Hertha, is ordered there. Sir "W". Denison advocates National emigration, with Government loans to families, to be guaranteed by the Colonial Governments. Wools realise prices equal to the last average, with fair competition. The stock amounts to 162,000 bales. Tallerman's meat auction went off badly. Another sale will be held this month at Liverpool. , South American cattle have been sold at a heavy loss. April 14. Mr Lowe delivered his financial statement on the Tlth inst. He stated the revenue for 1869 to be £75,434,000, and the expenditure £67,654,000, leaving a surplus balance of £7,878,000. Of this surplus, £4,300,000 was applied to defraying expenses of the Abyssinian expedition ; the remainder is devoted to

paying off Exchequer bonds and buying iup Exchequer bills ; £7,000,000 of the National Debt has been thus paid off. It is proposed to abolish hawkers' licenses and other small taxing licenses, the tax on playing cards, and the 5 per cent, railway passenger duty; also to reduce the inland postage on newspapers to a halfpenny. With the remaining £4,000,000 it was proposed to reduce the income tax 4d and the duty on sugar by one and a half per cent., retaining a surplus of £331,000. Colonel Greville-Nugent, M.P. for Longford, has been unseated. Consols, QBh The Irish Peace Preservation Bill has become law. The House of Commons will adjourn on April 25. The Duke de Montpensier, in consequence of the fatal duel with Prince Bourbon, has been condemned to one month's imprisonment and to pay 30,000 francs fine. His candidature for the throne is abandoned. The revenue ol Great Britain for the first quarter of the year exceeds the estimated sum by £47,088. The Irish Land Bill is slowly proceeding through committee. The chief clauses have been passed. Mr Bright's health is improving, but he will not be able this session to resume his parliamentary duties. The Creuzot strike, which broke out a second time, is now ended. Great excitement was caused in Canada by the execution, at the Red Eiver, of Schuitze, by Riel, insurgent leader. The Government announces an energetic policy, and strong forces have been sent. Agrarian outrages continue in Ireland. The Cathtlic clergymen have pronounced anathema against Fenianism. Prince Pierre Bonaparte has been acquitted on all points of the indictment. Serious fighting of an undecisive character has taken place in Cuba. Cambridge, after nine successive defeats, won the University boat race by a length and a half. There has been a revolt in some pro* vinces in Spain, occasioned by the conscription. Strong measures are adopted to repress the insurrection. I The Austrian Ministry is dissolved, M. Polocke is commissioned to form a new one. ' Sir W. F. 'Williams, of Kars, and General Charles Grey, are dead. The disturbances in Paraguay are finally ended by the defeat and death of Lopez there. April 16. Government has introduced a Bill disfranchising Beverley and Bridgewater. The apprehension of a Fenian raid induced the Canadian Government to send militia regiments and the 16th Regiment of foot to the eastern Frontier. The Habeas Corpus Act is suspended in Canada. M. Ollivier has submitted to the French Senate a scheme for liberal reform. The constitutional power of the Senate is to be transferred to the Corps Legislatif; legislative power is to be divided between the Emperor, Senate, and the Corps Legislatif. The matters relative to taxation are first to be voted by the Corps Legislatif. lIL. Ollivier announced his intention of submitting the question of a, Senatus Consultum to a plebiscitum, but this caused dissensions and ultimately a crisis in the Cabinet. Some resignations took place, amongst them that of Count D'Aru. M. Ollivier remains Premier. The plebiscitum takes place between the Ist and 18th May. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Duke of Manchester at Kimbolton Castle on the 14th March. Bernal Osborne was returned for Waterford by a majority of six. He had a narrow escape, as the house in which he was stopping was attacked by the Irish National party. The President of the United States has sent a special message to Congress about the decline of American commerce. The House of Representatives passed a Bill, enforcing laws in the west and in the Mormon settlement.