On Saturday, 21st February, the Wellington Branch of the N.Z.T.A. held its half-yearly meeting at the Trades Hall, Manners-street, Mr F. C. Millar, in the absence of the President and Vice-President, being voted to the chair. The attendance was fair, about sixty members being present. The report and balance-sheet for the half-year ending 31st January were adopted without amendment, the former recording that the branch was in a flourishing condition, the membership having increased from 115 at the end of the previous term to 128. This may be considered exceptionally satisfactory, as the membership is usually less for the August-January period than for the February-July term. The statement of ordinary receipts and expenditure showed that the former amounted to £139 4s 6d, and the latter to £119 3s 2d, leaving an amount of £20 1s 4d to be carried forward. The credit balance is not so large as might have been expected under ordinary circumstances, the expenditure having been considerably increased by the late labor troubles. The sum of £142 17s 9d was received during the term by way of levies and donations in aid of strikers; £13 15s of this amount having been expended by way of relief to the Tramway employees, £5 to the coalminers, and £120 13s as relief to those affected by the late general strike. These figures will show that the Branch has not been behindhand in contributing to the support of their fellow-Unionists who have unfortunately been engaged in strikes during the half-year. A vote of thanks was passed to gentlemen who had voluntarily contributed to the strike funds, several of whom did not belong to the Association. Nominations for the Secretaryship of the Executive Council being required, Messrs D. Archibald and F. C. Millar were nominated for the office; and Mr H. Mason was appointed a delegate to the Trades Council. The Trades Council having brought under the notice of the branch the needy condition of the coalminers on the West Coast, a sum of £2 10s was voted to them. The lateness of the hour prevented other business on the order-paper being gone on with, and the meeting adjourned to Saturday, 7th March.

Trade during the past month has been exceptionally slack, and several members have taken their departure for fresh fields. From all accounts, however, there is little prospect of their being able to better their condition, as the depression seems to be general throughout the Australasian colonies.