Trade is not very brisk, and three or four comps have had to seek « fresh woods and pastures new » during the month, some having gone to Sydney, and others to Wellington for the session.

The difficulty between Messrs Whitcombe & Tombs and the Canterbury Typographical Association is not yet settled. It was decided at the last conference of the N.Z. Maritime Council, held at Wellington, to send a deputation to wait on the firm with reference to the trouble at their establishment, after conferring with the Trades and Labor Council. By direction of his Board, Mr Whitcombe declined an interview with the deputation. In consequence of this refusal to meet the delegates from the Maritime Council, all attempts at conciliation and arbitration have so far failed, and the Trades and Labor Council have instructed their secretary to forward a full statement of the facts in connexion with the dispute, with correspondence and reports relating thereto, to the New Zealand Maritime Council.

In connexion with this difficulty, the Typographical Association have received letters of sympathy and support from all parts of the colony. The Canterbury Branch of Railway Servants and the Federated Wharf Laborers' Union of Lyttelton have also sent letters to the same effect to the Trades Council to be forwarded on to the Association.

Mr J. Joyce, m.h.e., has taken up the question of uniformity of text-books in our public schools, and at the last meeting of the Board of Education gave notice of motion in this direction. That this is a much-needed reform, there can be no question, and the only wonder is that the present unsatisfactory arrangement has been allowed to exist so long. Mr Joyce's resolution applies only to the North Canterbury district, but it would be in many ways a direct benefit to parents and others if the same regulation were adopted throughout the colony. The Trades and Labor Council, at the suggestion of the Typographical Association, have taken the matter up, with a view to assisting Mr Joyce in getting his motion carried. The Council are anxious to see the regulation apply to the whole colony, and the books produced in the colony, and have passed the following resolution:— « That the Council communicate with other Trades and Labor Councils upon the foregoing, and secure their co-operation; that the whole of these books, &c., be produced in the colony, either in the Government printing-office or by public tender. If in the latter case, provision to be made that Typographical Association rules be observed by the contractors. »

William Stanley, who in the early days of the Christchurch Telegraph was engaged in the reporting staff, died a few days ago at the hospital.

Mr P. Selig, of the Referee, has gone to Sydney with the New Zealand Amateur Athletic team to chronicle their doings in the sister colony.