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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 1
[miscellaneous paragraphs]
The late ministry distinguished themselves in the encouragement of « literature. » The official publication of the eccentric Mr Tregear's Aryan Maori—a work which, as a scientific treatise, deserves to rank with Rowbottom's Zetetic Astronomy or Hine's Identifications—caused much amusement and surprise; and during the late session other instances of similar liberality came to light. In the Wairarapa district a political pamphlet was printed, and found to be unsaleable. The Government came to the rescue, and bought up the whole edition for £18 15s. Not a very great sum; but one which the minister concerned should certainly have been compelled to pay from his own purse. The item was charged to Contingencies—Forest Department (!) A few copies were distributed gratis to newspapers and libraries, and the rest remain in store—waste paper. A more extravagant purchase was that of a large number of copies of The Heroes of New Zealand, a work which some of our readers may have seen in the hands of book-agents. The book is showy and costly; but as a history and a literary work, is a poor production.
The Dunedin Herald, the organ of the protectionists, longs for a big European war, which, according to our contemporary, would «first, produce better prices for our products,» and secondly, «burst up » some of the local financial institutions,—results which it coolly adds «would be extremely satisfactory to every true colonist.»!
A Marlborough paper advises a correspondent not to « spill printers' ink on an uncertain foundation. » Typo's devil knows better than to spill it anywhere about. We do not think it damages the foundations of a building to any extent;—if it does, some offices we know of are rather unsafe—but it does make a great mess on the floors.
«Fourteen years of free trade,» according to a writer in a contemporary, have brought about the present depression! Has the good man been dreaming? For more than fourteen years the colony has borne the incubus of a protective tariff, steadily increasing in pressure—and their proposal to add to this crushing burden was the main cause of the ignominious defeat of the late ministry.
Messrs Innes & Co., Hawera, send us a copy of their Star Almanac and Directory for 1888. This is one of the most carefully-compiled books of its class in the colony. It contains an excellent account of the district in which it circulates, and is full of valuable practical information for settlers. A map of the Taranaki provincial district is enclosed.
In the specimens sent us by Mr. Gustave Mayeur, the Paris typefounder, the following note occurs at the foot of a page of elaborate rule-work: «Composié par Léon Saling, typographe attaché à. la Fonderie.» This is a commendable plan, which we would like to see more widely adopted. The artistic compositor deserves this recognition of his skill.
Mr J. Hardcastle, a Napier journalist, has patented two very handy newspaper files, that should entirely supersede the awkward and destructive lath and string system. The first, for single sheets, consists of gummed guards, firmly bound, and the paper, once attached, is permanently fixed, and opens freely. The other file, or «A1 binder,» is intended for weekly and other papers of many pages. The whole apparatus consists of a box of special wire staples, and a threadingneedle of peculiar form. Each paper, when filed, is bound as well, and on the completion of the volume nothing is required but the covers. The wires being of brass, there is no danger of damage from corrosion. These binders should have a large sale.