IRELAND.
Although the commission for inquiry into the management and eco- nomy of the Irish General Post-office has not perfected its labours, re- ports have transpired which, if well founded, would show that the work of retrenchment in this department of the public service will be carried out on a scale of no mean magnitude. The Dead Letter office and the offices of the Receiver and Accountant-General are to be swept away, or amalgamated with head-quarters at St. Martin's-le-Grand. By these means, a large number of hands will be dispensed with, and a consider- able saving effected. The heads and clerks of the departments about to be abolished, if they have served ten years, will, it is said, receive a year's salary as compensation for the loss of their places. If their ser- vices have extended to a longer period, pensions will be granted accord- ing to the length of such servitude. The office of "Secretary" is to be done away with ; and the management of the establishment is to be in- trusted to a "Postmaster," the same as in Liverpool, Cork, Belfast, or any other provincial town. It is also contemplated to abolish the mail- guards, and transfer the duties of those functionaries to the several rail- way companies who hold contracts for the conveyance of the mails. Al- together, it is calculated that, by strict economy, and without in the least impairing the efficiency of the Irish branch of the Post-office, the Trea- sury and the public will be gainers to the amount of at least 10,0001. per annum.— Times, Dublin Correspondent.
The Victualling department of the Navy have issued a circular calling for tenders to furnish a supply of beef and pork supplementary to the annual supply contracted for.
From the statements of the Southern papers, we gather that the labour- ing classes are subjected to great hardships and privations in consequence of the high prices of provisions ; while numbers, without employment, are applying to the unions for relief.
At Cork, on Saturday, white wheat was 44s. 3d., which is considered " a famine price."
Mr. Metcalf, a farmer near Dunlavin, was robbed of 1051. by his daughter, a girl only fourteen years old, who fled with a young farm-labourer : they intended to go to America, but they were arrested at Maryborough. On the girl was 751. of the money. The labourer, and his mother, who had har- boured the pair of lovers, have been committed for trial.
Extensive flour-mills at Ballyclough, near Limerick, have been destroyed by fire. They had been insured for 26001. only a fortnight before.
A man has been found dead in the townland of Manug, suffocated in the snow. A companion was discovered earlier, and his life was saved.
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