The local ballot for the election of Council Secretary resulted in Mr Archibald securing 24 votes and Mr Millar 3.

Mr J. S. Keen, who had been out of work for some time, left Napier about a fortnight ago, with the intention of making a pedestrian journey to the Empire City.

It is pleasing to note that the Executive Council has removed the restriction formerly placed on members of the Auckland Typographical Association. Previously Auckland clearance-cards were not received by the N.Z.T.A., but now they entitle the holders to the same privileges as are extended to the members of other Typographical Societies. This action of the Council should tend to establish more friendly relations with Auckland than have existed since the secession of the latter body. I hope that the next step taken by our Auckland brethren will be in the direction of re-union.

I have been favored with a copy of the report of the Auckland Typographical Association for the half-year ending January, from which I notice that the Auckland Craft, in common with members of other Typographical Societies, contributed handsomely to the strike-fund during the late struggle.

A former member of the Hawke's Bay Branch, Mr W. Stewart, who left for the Old Country about two years ago, and at latest advices was employed on the Manchester Evening News, writes again to friends here, and as usual regrets that he ever left the colony, as the genial climate of Napier is far preferable to that of Manchester, He mentions that Mr S. Lord, formerly of the Dunedin and Hawke's Bay Branches, who left Manchester some three years ago in search of health, died in Sydney last year. Mr Lord's first port of call in New Zealand was Dunedin; but the climate proving too trying, he journeyed farther north, ultimately reaching Sydney.

The Salvation Army have removed to new quarters, next to the Telegraph office. It is fortunate for the comps that that journal is an evening paper, as they thus escape the nightly musical exercises of that demonstrative body.

Mr A. A. George, of the Hawke's Bay Branch, left on the 19th inst. for Auckland, to take part in the Fire Brigades competition,

Trade has improved slightly, and the temporary briskness has absorbed some of the surplus labor.

At a Board meeting on the 26th ult., the Secretary, Mr J. Carruth, who had been chosen as delegate to represent the Hawke's Bay Branch at the Master Printers' conference in Dunedin, resigned the appointment on account of illness in his family. Mr G. H. Long, President, was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy, and attended the meeting. He returned on Saturday last, after three weeks' absence, and looking as if his trip had agreed with him.

Trade fairly satisfactory.

I regret to say that matters in connexion with the printing trade are not improving in this city; and to my mind the reason is not far to seek. There is general business depression; prices, and consequently profits, are very low; and at the present tariff of the Master Printers' Association, retailers simply cannot afford to go in for printing or advertising. One of the features of the month has been the sweeping reductions in the Star office. Several men are under notice to leave, while all who have been hitherto in receipt of more than 50/-, the society's minimum wage, are being cut down to that level.

The Auckland Typographical Society have at last made arrangements with the various local firms for the proper carrying out of the Society's rules. This had been almost accomplished for a long time; but one or two firms standing out from the Society kept the matter open. The Observer office was the last to come in, which it has now done, on the same conditions as the Star. At the General Meeting of the Society, held on Saturday last, the subject was discussed: and it was considered that the present relations between master and workmen were exceedingly satisfactory. Now that all the offices are working under Union rules, it can hardly fail to be to the welfare of both sides.

The bootmakers' strike continues. It has caused surprise in some quarters, as some of the men who are working under the « statement » say that they find it both fair and profitable. Both sides are confident of holding out, and appear each to have settled down to await the other giving in. The printers, as usual are levied in support of the strike-fund. Let us hope that the end may be near.

The Craft here think highly of Typo's New Year Greeting Card. They praise its simplicity, its absence of stiffness, the harmony of its tints; and last, but by no means least, its appropriate and well-written message.

The Star of the 20th inst., in reporting the inquiry into the fire on board the Leading Wind, refers to the « topgallant mast forecastle. » ؟Is not this something novel in ship-construction?