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Our Correspondents.

Trade continues pretty brisk in all the offices, and no doubt will keep so during the session of Parliament, which bids fair, at the present rate of getting through the business, to hold out for another month. The Government Printer is in future to print the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, which will be missed very much by Messrs Lyon & Blair, whose imprint has appeared on the title to the « Trans. » for the last fifteen years and more. Messrs Whitcombe & Tombs of Christchurch will also suffer by the Government taking charge of the printing of the Railway Department, the contract for which was secured at the last tendering by the Government Printer. This will be a greater blow to the latter firm than the loss of the first mentioned. The new Government Printing Offices offer room for a great deal of printing which could not be done for want of space in the present premises. I hear that the Printer has definitely decided not to move until the recess.

I informed you in my last of the deputation from the Wellington Branch of the N.Z.T.A. which waited on the Colonial Secretary to protest against a rule established in the Government Printing Office forbidding any employé holding office in the Society. The Hon. Mr Hislop then promised to consider the matter, and he has now informed Mr Rigg, the Secretary, that the following memorandum has been forwarded to the Government Printer:— « Relative to the rule which has been in force with regard to the members of the Typographical Society, I have now to intimate that it has been determined that no obstacle shall be placed in the way of any printer employed by the Government holding any office in such Society. It is, however, to be understood that no person employed by the Government shall be allowed to attempt, by any means, to coerce other printers who may be employed either by the Government or by private firms. —(Signed) T. W. Hislop. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 18th July, 1888. » This deputation waited on the Colonial Secretary on the 25th May, and after repeated reminders—Dr. Newman even going so far as to place the following question on the Order Paper: « What answer does he (the Colonial Secretary) intend giving the deputation of printers who waited upon him last May?—it was not until the 19th of July that the answer was received, and rumor hath it that a certain member of the Cabinet, the typo's friend, lent his energetic assistance, otherwise the answer might still have been wanting.

The last number of Typo was a surprise! both in quantity and quality. The supplement was greatly admired. I pinned a copy of it over the stone, and there were far more than the ordinary number of conferences « round the stone » while the « spec » was on view. I have heard it since referred to as « that fine engraving! » There is no doubt but that it is a first-class (the word sounds dull) specimen, and ranks with the best American productions of the Typographic Art. The small menu title in the top right-hand corner a took the fancy and the palm. » I for one look forward to « the next » contribution to the Typefounders' Gallery of Specimens.

The second number of Hestia is to hand. In an answer to a correspondent the editor writes: « We are not Spiritualists … but will uphold Spirit, a very different thing to 'Spirits.' »

The Catholic Times Company have settled down in their new premises, which are situated on the same plot of land as the St. Mary of the Angels Chapel, Boulcott Street. The paper is turned out on the « cheap » system, about two journeymen, turnovers, and boys. Of course there were a few mishaps at the start, breaking down of machinery always coming in at the wrong time. Luckily for the proprietory, Lyon & Blair's establishment was only a block away, so —shove the forms into an express and « right away, driver. » I recollect a mishap of this kind occurring down South, and an expressman was called in hurriedly and told to « lug out one of those forms. » « What, this thing? » asks the lowly innocent jehu. On being assured that the « thing » was the form referred to, he grips hold of the clinging demy, turns it round squarely, and rests it, not tenderly, neither with care, upon that portion of his head where « firmness » and « veneration » are strongly marked. Too late came the warning of the boss, for the next moment the terrible sound which calls to mind the « chuck-chuck » style of dis. was heard, and the foreman's look of anger was only equalled by the ignorant jehu's astonished phiz, as he realized that he had « broken the thing into little pieces! » But no such mishap has happened the Times, though they came near a « smash » last week. It appears that Dick Silk, the machinist, was lifting a form on to the machine, when the form slipped, and Silk, not having a firm hold, (« rheumatics in the wrist! » it is sometimes called) down came the form to the floor, but in its passage it struck the machinist's leg, which, acting as a buffer, saved the « batters. » Of course there was a rush to the machine—not to look after poor Silk, but to see that the form was all right—then they turned their attention to Silk. His form was greatly battered, but no bones were broken, and he is now about again.

Early in this month a telegram from Melbourne announced that the printers had threatened to strike if their demand for a rise in wages was not acceded to, and four days afterwards another cable announced that the masters had acceded to the demands. I hear that neither of these items appeared in any of the Auckland newspapers. Where is the freedom of the Press? Auckland has been termed « the nursery of type-snatchers, » and when one finds such an office as the Star employing half-a-dozen men and between forty and fifty girls and boys, one cannot wonder at the phrase or at this free-dooming of cables, but I can hardly credit the Herald being capable of doctoring. Do they fear the amalgamation of labor? Perhaps so.

Land and Sea, published at Port Chalmers, is offering a one-pound prize for a printerian story, Now then, ye knights of the stick and rule, rub up your weapons and have a tilt, committing to paper all the technics you can think of. Let me help you. Round the Stone one night while waiting for copy, Jack asks Bill does he remember that night when the cut had been given and he and Bill were waiting for late cable? « Don't I? » says Bill. « I had been in fat that night, was in ads. and first in pot, and struck a column change, with the head and tail standing, and by supper-time I had 20 thou. up and a good case. Then I was in cable heads, and fortune was smiling all the blessed night, and I totted up a grand doc. Oh, yes, I remember that night, and I've had no fat and more than my share of muck ever since. » Continue this on, throwing in breviers, whites, clumps, quads, galleys, pulls, dirty proofs, &c. &c., ad libitum, and if you don't get the £1, then you don't deserve it.

Death has been busy with his mallet and shooter during the last month in this district. Two very old journalists have had their mortal remains laid aside, « Jock » Anderson was a well-known character in this city for many years, and was much more in public than was Mr Revans, who has lived in retirement in the Wairarapa for many years.