Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 3

Our Correspondents

page 46

Our Correspondents.

Wellington,

23rd May, 1889.

Meeting one of our M.P.'s the other day, I said, « Good day, sir, how's the printing business doing just now? » « Oh, things have brightened very much during the month, and prospects are fair, judging from the jobs on the file. » I am happy to say that this answer puts the case correctly. Half-time has ceased at the Government Printing Office, and some extra hands have already been taken on. Not only does the trade appear bright, but I find that Typo is growing in the affections of my fellow-craftsmen. On every hand I hear words of praise in regard to this journal. I do not now hear the cavillings which were wont to be made, and there is no reservation as to the merits of our only monthly. These expressions of opinion are pleasant to me, and doubtless to you also, Mr Editor—especially when accompanied by a subscription.

A report is current that the New Zealand Times has changed hands, the new proprietor (or-tors) taking possession next month, but I have been unable to ascertain the name of the person or party. Mr Chantrey Harris is the present owner. Various rumors are in circulation as to the new proprietory. One says that it is an Auckland man of means, or syndicate; another has it that a wealthy merchant of this city is the man; while a third has it « on good authority, » that a prominent politician, who was at one time a printer, then a journalist, member of Parliament, and a Cabinet Minister, is the man, acting for a company. I hope that the latter is the case, as it is well known that the Times has not been conducted in a popular or enterprising spirit, and if any man can put a dash of energy into a news-paper, the ex-minister is the man.

I hinted recently that there were to be some improvements in the appearance of the Evening Press of this city. I have « been placed in possession of the facts of the case, » to quote the special's style. The paper is to appear in a bran-new suit of type, which will be Miller & Richard's broad-face minion. The one size of type will be maintained throughout, with a leaded leader. The proprietors have also made an arrangement with Cassell's whereby the Press will have the sole right for the North Island to publish their latest works of fiction. Commo-dore Junk, by the popular Manville Fenn, will be the first of the series, and they will run through every evening's issue. Mr Wakefield will also send letters containing his impressions of the localities at which he touches during his trip, which will be all the places on the line leading through New York, London, and Paris. From the latter city he will send descriptions of the Exhibition. These letters are being eagerly looked forward to. Mr Wakefield had an early opportunity of sending a « special, » as he was a passenger on board the Mariposa when she put back into Auckland on her last trip, owing to the outbreak of fire.

I have not heard anything further about the Weale-Redwood compensation case, and I understand that Mr Weale has left our colony. Probably the dispute has been settled quietly.

It is said that the firm of Messrs Bock & Cousins, printers, litho-graphers, and engravers, are undergoing some change, one of the partners retiring (not Mr Bock) and his place being filled by a gentleman from Melbourne, who has had some connexion with Messrs Cowan & Co., papermakers. Mr A. G. Cousins, who has held the position of foreman, has just left the establishment, and taken his departure for Sydney. Mr Cousins (who is no relation to the partner of that name) has been with the firm for four or five years, and has done much by his skill as a job printer to give the house the good name it has held for its artistic printing. Mr E. Thornton, late a member of the Times companionship, has taken the foremanship of the office. This gentleman served his time as a pressman at the Christchurch Press office, and must have « picked up » case-skill afterwards.

The above firm have finished their splendid piece of chromo-litho-graphy and typography, the Album of the Flora of New Zealand, although the subject is by no means exhausted in the three volumes published.

Mr David Jones, jobbing foreman of the Wanganui Chronicle, and who has been connected with that paper for eighteen years, has left the staff to engage in another line of business. On the 27th ult. Mr Carson, in the presence of the staff, handed Mr Jones a present of a set of theological works, and made reference to his long and faithful service. Mr Jones, in reply, expressed his attachment to his old office. Sir Julius Vogel's novel has had a large sale in New Zealand, especially considering the high price for a book no larger than an average Shilling Shocker. The unusual demand is not attributable to the literary qualities of the work—for it is generally voted to be rubbish, and, moreover, the author is freely charged with plagiarism—but from a curiosity as to what shape the latest development of our imaginative politician's fancy had taken. A Dunedin firm has placed 1000 copies in our bookstalls, and Messrs Lyon & Blair, of Wellington, have disposed of the same number.

Christchurch,

20th May, 1889.

There is a new company in course of formation here with a proposed large capital to carry on job printing. The company is started with the avowed intention of cutting the ground from beneath the feet of the master-printers who have recently formed an association for the protection of the prices of work. The Master Printers' Association at its foundation drew up a scale of prices for work on a much higher grade than has been ruling here for several years, and it is the intention of the new company to cut in and do work at less than scale prices. However, from what I have heard, the master-printers have not much to fear, and I think it is time—in Canterbury at all events—that the price of printing was raised to a payable scale; for I believe competition has been so strong of late years that work has been done at prices that would not permit of the masters employing men to carry it out.

I hear that the Canterbury Typographical Association has under consideration a motion for giving scholarships in the high schools for the children of printers. This is, I think, a step in the right direction, and perhaps it might be better still if instruction could be given to apprentices in the shape of a course of lectures on printing; or the society might offer a prize or two for apprentices answering a series of questions drawn up by, say, a committee appointed for the purpose. It would tend to make the boys take a greater interest in their work, and also be an incentive to them to make the most of their time in perfecting themselves in their trade. This is done at home by the heads of big houses and founders, and perhaps it would not be out of place to introduce the system into the colonies. I also hear that the Association are trying to have a Printers' Library established.

At the meeting of the Literary Society of the Y.M.C.A. on the 13th inst., Mr Chapman, of the Referee, read a paper on « Printing. » The subject was well dealt with, and received very favorable criticism at the hands of those present. Mr Chapman touched upon the invention of printing; printing in America, China, Japan, and Russia; printing for the blind; manufacture of type; photo-printing; photo-engraving; and the influence of the press.

Dunedin,

21st May, 1889.

After long working under cost, to their own serious loss, and the great detriment of the trade, the master-printers have formed an association, and agreed upon a tariff; but they find it hard work to reinstate rates once reduced. The tenders for the burgess rolls this year, though a long way above the ridiculous figures of twelve months ago, were very moderate, being the same as allowed by the Government for the electoral rolls—a much lighter job. But on the recommendation of Mr Gibson, town clerk, who stated that « a printers' ring » had been formed, and that the rates were « exorbitant, » the city council refused to accept any of the tenders. A writer in the Star suggests putting the handsomely-paid billet of town clerk up to tender, as there are plenty of honest and capable men who would be glad to fulfil the duties at half the present salary.

The new magazine Zealandia is announced to appear on 1st July, and is being freely advertised. It has secured some good contributors, and has a fair prospect of success. The fact that several similar ventures have failed in bygone years need not discourage the promoters, who start under better auspices. The name of the editor is given as « William Freeman. » I do not know him, but Mr William Freeman Kitchen is pretty well known in literary circles. « What's in a name? »

The industrial committee of the exhibition have issued a circular, giving a list of classes of work in which competition is proposed to take place, and for which a court will be provided. The list of classes is a very full one, but I fail to see a class set down for printers. And there are two printers on the committee! Why is this thus?