Sir Stafford Northcote brought on the Budget on Monday, be-

fore a very inattentive House. He had for the past year a sur- plus of £710,000, but for the coming year he expected a deficit of £774,000, which he should increase by £26,000, sacrificed by abolishing the oppressive little tax on boys or men casually employed as servants to do odd jobs. He proposed to turn this deficit into a surplus of £368,000, by raising the Income-tax to threepence. The limit of total exemption is, however, raised to £150, and every one with less than £400 a year may deduct £120. The figures are :— Permanent charge of Debt... Interest, &e., on Local Loans Charge of Suez Loan ... Consolidated Fund charges Army Army Purchase Commission ...

••• ••• •••

•

••

47,700,000 160,000 150,000 1,590,000 15,282,000 464,000

• • .

11,289,000 Civil Services

13,309,000 Post-Office

3.120,000 Collection of Revenue (Customs and Inland)

2,730.000 Telegraph Service (Collection of Revenue)

1,280.000 Packet Service ...

852,000 Repayment of Indian charges to War Office

170,000 Manchester Post-Office

100,000 Total, 1876-77 ...

... £78,044,000 REcEirrs.

...

Customs ••• •••

£20,250.000

... 27,630,000 Stamps ... 11,000,000 Land Tax and House Duty ... 2,500.000 Property and Income-tax ...

4,100,000 Post-Office ... 5,950,000 Telegraph Service ...

1,325,000 Crown Lands ... 395,000 Miscellaneous ... 4,100,000 Total ... ... £77,270,000 No serious criticism was offered on the Budget. OUTLAYS.