SPECIAL TELEGRAM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5829, 13 October 1880, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAM.

(FEOlt ODE OWN COBBESPONDENT )

Wellington, October 12th. ; It was rumoured to-day that one of the Government measures in the direction of retrenchment would b<3 the dismissal of all the Commissioners of Crown Lands ia.the Colony and the abolition of their offic9. I find that this is a mere canard, as the office of Crown Lands Commissioner ia required by law, and could not be dispensed with unless by authority of fresh legislation. This is not in contemplation, but in caies where the Commissioners' duties are very light an effort will be made to economise by transferring' to them the' charge iof other public departments in conjunction with their functions. ; '

: The Natives went through the usual farce 'to-day. : ■■ '■ . . . '■.'■"'.■K

; Tne illness of Mr Mansford, district judge and resident magistrate at Wellington, haß at :lenglh compelled him to apply for 12 months' leave of absence, which ■ has been readily granted. It is not at all probable that he will resume his duties at the end of that period, but it is almofit certain he will then be pensioned. I fancy this will prove another step towards the fulfilment of my prediction regarding the Ministerial and judicial changes. Mr Mackay's ; compulsory retirement from Greyinouth makiDg another vacancy, two magistrates can thus be disposed of by being transferred respectively to Wellington and Aehburton, Mr Stratford, as mentioned previously, being transferred from the latter place to Greymouth as successor to Mr Mackay. These two opportune vacancies may possibly obviate the necessity for dispensing: with so many magistrates as was first ■ reported likely.