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Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 473, 5 November 1879, Page 2

In answer to questions, the following pieces of information have been elicited. It is not the intention of the Government to dispense with the services of Sir Julius Vogel, although they expect him to withdraw from the directorship of the New Zealand Agricultural Company, arid to abandon his intention to stand for a seat in the Imperial Parliament. Whether he will be dismissed or not, should he refuse to comply with those directions, does not appear.—The Government intend to bring in a Bill to regulate the immigration of Chinese.-—The expert dnty on gold, which- is at preserit half-a-crown an ounce, and is, of course, a tax upon the digger to that extent, is to be reduced sixpence every year until it disappears.—For the nine months ending September 30, 1879, the loss to the revenue arising from Sir George Grey’s remission of duties on tea and sugar, in order to give the poor man a cheap breakfast table, amounted to £85,086, being £24,016 on tea, and £61,070 on sugar. We have not heard of any corresponding reduction in the price of these commodities, and infer, therefore, that £85,086 has gone into tiic pockets of tradesmen, and not into those of the “ poor man.”—The Government do not intend to place the members of the police force in every part of the colony on an equal footing in regard to long service pay, but they do intend fo deal equitably with the force.—A book is being prepared, by order of the late Government, on “ Fijian Matters.”—A reduction in the railway tariff is contemplated.