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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 4

Our Correspondents

page 80

Our Correspondents.

Dunedin, 19 July, 1890.

When that remarkable book, « Looking Backwards, » arrived in New Zealand, it was found that the supplies sent from home were inadequate, the booksellers clearing out their stocks in a few days. It occurred to Mr James Horsburgh, of Dunedin, that the demand would justify the publication of an edition of his own; and he gave the order to the Caxton Printing Company. Mr Nind, the foreman, put the copy into the hands of his staff at 8 o'clock one morning, and in exactly twenty-four hours the composition was finished. Within three days of giving his order Mr Horsburgh was supplied with complete copies of the work; and within a week he was supplying the New Zealand and Melbourne trade. Notwithstanding that his example was speedily followed by Whitcombe & Tombs, of Christchurch, and a publisher in Auckland, Mr Horsburgh sold a sufficient number to justify the enterprise. Of course I do not ask whether Mr Bellamy has received any royalty upon the New Zealand editions, only I would like to know, you know. Mr Horsburgh is the publisher of several works by colonial authors: « The Reign of Grace, » by W. Salmond, D.D.; « The Riven Cloud, » by William Ross; « Stories of New Zealand Life, » by William Davidson; and two volumes of verse, « Paddy Murphy's Annual, » by Thomas Bracken, and « New Zealand Voices, » by Arthur Eversley.

The remarkable change in the position of our Craft in New Zealand, owing to the spread of Unionism, fulfils the old proverb concerning bread cast upon the waters, which shall return after many days. It was only to be expected that after the improvement in Wellington, the Craft in this district would wake up also. And something notable has happened within the jurisdiction of the Otago branch. In the city of Oamaru, some seventy miles north of Dunedin, with a population of between ten and twelve thousand, there are two newspapers —the North Otago Times (morning), and the evening Mail; but until very recently there have been no society members there. The papers have been worked at the rate of one shilling per thousand. A few months ago, several comps applied to join the Otago branch of the N.Z.T.A., and were admitted; but all, with two exceptions, fell into arrears, and when reminded of the fact, some dropped out altogether. Soon afterwards a notice came to them that after a given date, the price per thousand would be 11d. This aroused them—nothing like a touch on the pocket to waken some men up—and they sought the aid of the Typographical Association:—as an indispensible preliminary paying up their arrears. Upon receipt of the news, a special Board-meeting of the Society was held in Dunedin, as a result of which the President and Secretary repaired to Oamaru to fix matters up. The first step taken by the deputation was to enrol every comp as a member, after which they waited on the masters and argued the matter out. Whether it was the astuteness of the President, the herculean muscle of the Secretary, or the united front of the local comps—or all three combined—which brought about the result, I cannot say; but I have the pleasure of recording another victory to our Society, the notice of reduction having been withdrawn.