London, 18th April. certain that the Eastern Extension The Budgetsurplusamountsto£3,221,000, Company would be materially injured and Mr. Goschen proposes to reduce the if the convention were finally upset, duty on tea twopence, on beer threepence, and the Chinese left to develop their and the postage to India and the Colonies to twopence-halfpenny, provided others telegraphic system freely without any interested agree. restrictions. A reduction in the tariff 'The duty on gold and silver plate to be would undoubtedly increase the Com-abolished, and that on spirits raised sixpany' business, and it has always the pence a gallon. local traffic of the Straits Settlements
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.