SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8076, 11 January 1888, Page 3

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

{F.H031 Oun Own Correspondents.; Auckland, January 10.

A LABOUR BUREAU. 'Tho Labour Bureau is to be starred shortly. A LAND TAX. The New Zealand Radical Reform League has issued a manifesto in favour of a land tax. THE TREATMENT OF DRUNKARDS. In a communication to the Charitable Aid Board, Dr Lindsay, house surgeon, referring to tho refuges, said ho was sure the House Committee could have no idea of the number of inmates who had been brought by the police up to the hospital during his residence there. They had been uniformly iv a state of helpless drunkenness, aud h« thought it was time this state of thiugs was put an end to. THE GAOL INQUIRY. The evidence in the Wakeham inquiry re the Government management did not dis :lose anything of note, aud nothing is expected to come of it.

THE UNEMPLOYED,

As a commentary on the unemployed difficulty, the Devonport Borough Council called for tenders for the removal of gorse, but not a single tender was received. Hen were.willing to remove gorse on daily wages, but not toy piecework.

Wellington, January 10. THE VISIT OF THE SQUADRON.

Admiral Fairfax will inspect the various forts in the vicinity of Wellington to-morrow (Wednesday) morning. He will be accompanied by tho major-general. The Nelson has had a number of fashionable visitors to-day —the Governor, Premier, and Minister of Lands laving been off.

CABINET MEETING.

It is understood Ministers will meet in Cabinet early next week. Mr Mitohelson arrived from the North by train to-night, Mr and Fisher, Mr Fergus, and Mr Hislop will be recalled to Weilington.

RETRENCHMENT,

Meanwhile, however, the work of retrenchment is going on pretty vigorously in other parts of tde colony as well as iv Wellington. Generally tho reductions are being made because tho work can be done equally as well with less men, but there is no doubt that in one or two departments the prevailing state of things is rotlen, and these are beiug freely purged.

WHY THE KABBIT'I"RODF FENCE WAS

ABANDONED.

The matter of the rabbit fence along the Otago-Cantel'bury boundary line has been reported upon by an officer of the department. A contract for the supply of fencing was let to a Wellington firm by the late Government just before they went out for £3605, and the total liability incurred is about £3000. The officer who reports, however, does so very unfavourably to the work. The rabbits have already got into the Canterbury district, so that inasmuch as they are thinner on the Otago frontier than usual, the fence would have very little effect in that way. However, even if it would, the fence would be useless, for other reasons. It would be1 covered in snow iv many parts for the greater part of winter, and in summer the snow rivers would be a far better barrier than the wire feDCO. In many places the fence would rest for long distances on shingly, shifting ground, which could not be depended upon; and finally, the fence would have to stop at a glacier, where the rabbits could easily get round. Under these circumstances, I understand it is exceedingly improbable that the Government will go on with tho work, and the wire fencing will be added to the available assets of the colony. The plan which is likely to be 'adopted on this question is expected to bo much better than the fence, and will be in the direction of stationing men along the line with dogs | where it is believed they can keep the rabbits <3own.

OFFICIAL NOTICES,

The Government have notified the education (boards that tho Order-in-Council prohibiting .children who have passed the Sixth Standard :from attending school has beon revoked. Notices .■have also been issued to local bodies that nothing •will be paid under the Crown aud Native Lauds Bating Act after this financial year.

MR DRIVER'S RESIGNATION.

Tv« l'ress has ati article to-night alluding to Mr Driver's separation from the Government Insurance agency at Dunedin, and taunting the .late Government with having made a grave mistake originally in the appointment.