The annual picnic of the employés of the Government Printing Office was held at Mrs White's paddock, Khandallah, on Saturday, 2nd inst. The weather was glorious, and fully 300 persons enjoyed themselves in the outing. The committee of management was composed of Messrs F. Chinchen (bindery), A. S. Dryden (piece composing-room), W. M'Girr (time composing-room), J. Phillips (machine room), B. B. Allen (clerical department), hon. sec. The usual picnic amusements were indulged in, while a goodly list of races were gone through. The chief events resulted as follows:—Office Boys' Handicap, Bob Gamble; Men's Handicap, Fred. Mountier; Apprentices' Handicap, Little and Page; Tug-of-war (Married v. Single), Single; Running Hop, Step, and Jump, T. L. Mills and Fred. Mountier. The Government Printing Office Handicap, the event of the day, brought in Mills and Mountier in the order named again out of a field of a dozen. Besides these events, there was plenty of races for the youngsters and youths—not forgetting the maidens. Tea, fruit, and confectionery galore was supplied, and everything was so well ordered and carried out that only praise was bestowed upon the hard-working committee for their exertions on behalf of the party.

I have taken the following from one of last week's copies of the Post:— « The Government have been offered a large sum of money for the right of advertising on the back of postage, stamps. The offer is, we believe, under consideration. » Here's enterprise for you! By gum, won't there be some rushing up for space! I think it would be a good idea for the Government to advertise themselves on our postage. Example: « To Let, any amount of Good Land. » « For Sale, some Good Cabinet-work. » « Wanted, some Money. » In short, the Government could well use up all the space to be found on the back of a postage stamp. I wonder who has made the application. D'ye think it is Pears, Beecham, Warner, Sapolio, or is it Typo's notice of enlargement? Now's the chance for Government to bestow upon us the boon of a free newspaper postage, such as is enjoyed by New South Wales and Queensland. If the advertiser's request is granted, we shall be one ahead of the U.S.A.

The half-yearly meeting of the Auckland Branch N.Z.T.A. was held at Robson's Rooms, Queen-street, on Saturday, February 23, when the report, of which the following is a. précis, was presented:— « In presenting the Report and Balance Sheet for the half-year ending January 31, 1889, your Board of Management are pleased to be able to chronicle a somewhat better slate of affairs in the printing trade in Auckland during the last six months than has for a long time existed. Since the publication of last Report trade has considerably improved, both as regards employment and the favor with which our Society has been regarded by those who have hitherto held aloof. The income from entrance fees during the last half-year has been greater than usual; nineteen new members having been enrolled. Your Board consider it a matter for congratulation to be able to say that, with few exceptions, every journeyman compositor in Auckland, and a large percentage of apprentices in the last year of their time, are now members of this Branch. These results have no doubt been brought about mainly by the publication of a circular, issued by the Board to the Trade in November last, and which has been forwarded to almost every Printing Office throughout the province; though your Board regret to say that only one or two applications for membership have been received from country offices, and these have been from the Thames. In terms of the circular those who wish to join the Association now will have to pay an increased entrance fee of £2. A change in the officers of the Branch has occurred during the half-year, caused by the resignation of Mr J. H. Kirkham, who was elected Secretary at the last half-yearly meeting. Mr F. Christmas was elected to the office of President in September, Mr J. Graham taking his place as Vice-President. Mr Kirkham has removed to Sydney, having accepted a position on the livening News. The Board thinks that some steps should be taken to give effect to a motion carried some six months ago. For the protection of females employed at the printing business every means should be adopted to induce them to join branches of the Typographical Association. In America some of the ladies employed in the business are Board members, and prove themselves in every way as good « men » as some of the sterner sex. The question of the advisability of admitting lithographers and bookbinders as members of the Association has occupied the attention of the Board, and as a strong desire has been expressed by members of these branches of our profession to be affiliated with us, the Board thought it advisable to relegate the matter to a Branch meeting to consider what steps should be taken to bring this most desirable addition to our ranks. The Board is pleased to observe that the Conference of the printing trade, recently held in Melbourne, is likely to bear good fruit. Though no official intimation has been received that the New Zealand Typographical Association has become affiliated with the Australian Unions, we believe the time is not far distant when this will be accomplished, and the compositors of new Zealand will be participators in the privileges at present enjoyed by their Australian brethren. In conclusion, the Board feels justified in congratulating both members of the profession and employers upon the improved prospects of the trade in Auckland, and there can be no doubt that if the proprietors combined to maintain a fair price for their work, as is done in other pait of the colonies, both they and their employés would soon experience such a prosperity as would redound to their mutual benefit.

Mr G. M. Reed, on the eve of his departure for Melbourne, was presented by his friends with a purse of sovereigns, Sir George Grey handing over the gift. The Auckland Industrial (Protectionist) Association also presented Mr Reed with an address. Sir George Grey, with his usual eloquence, described the ideal journalist—a rara avis, I fear. At the same time, the higher the ideal standard is fixed, the greater and nobler is the actual attainment. Sir George said, « Ability of the very highest order was required for the profession, honesty of the very highest class was necessary, and integrity also, so that no feeling of friendship, no party feeling which he might indulge in his own heart, for particular causes, must prevent the journalist from doing what is right. Those journalists who labored to keep the public in the right, whose lives were a continued series of mental labor day by day—occupied, it seemed to him, somewhat the position that the ancient Roman orators did in the forum, directing public opinion; in fact, they occupied a much higher position, because they formed public opinion on every event that took place throughout the world. »

Trade is in a rather poor state since the holidays gave in. The amount of matter in the papers is very light, and will remain so, I suppose, until Parliament meets, which time, Dame Rumor hath it, will not be before June. The competition between the Times and Press companies has been and still is ruinous to our trade. It was bad enough, goodness knows, when it was only with regard to the newspapers, but now it has extended into the job-work. When it was strictly confined to the papers, there was no one else in that line to suffer, but now that the rampages have extended into the domain of the jobbing printer, it affects many persons. I hear that the Times is taking work at so low a price that the other offices have no show whatever. Undoubtedly this state of things has done more to bring about the much-talked-of Master Printers' Association than all the efforts of the Canterbury Typographical Association. I understand that a company of masters are at work on the drafting of a schedule of prices, and have asked the aid of the Association as regards the fixing of wages, &c. I am also given to understand that the M.P.'s Association intend inviting the M.P.s throughout the colony to form associations, and to have a council of masters, so as to regulate the trade right through N.Z. I wish them every success in their efforts.

There is very little news indeed to chronicle this mouth, trade being dull and several comps out of work.

The half-yearly meeting of the Branch was held last week. The report shows that the number of members on the roll is sixty—14 new members were enrolled during the half-year, the majority of whom were from the country, no doubt in response to the Council's circular, while 4 members left to seek their fortunes in Australia. The amount of funds credited to the Branch is £87 14s l0d. With regard to the Otago Daily Times office, nothing of importance has occurred, there having been no improvement in the management of the paper so far as the Society is concerned.

Mr John Bilson, for many years assistant printer on the Star, left last week for Tasmania. He has taken a holiday, on account of bad health. As he has always been a popular man with the « ship, » he was not allowed to go without some expression of friendly feeling, in the form of a presentation from the members of the chapel, coupled with the wish for a speedy return to health and Dunedin.

The Secretary of the Dunedin Exhibition Company having written to the Branch's Board requesting the appointment of two printers to act as members of the Committee, the Board brought the matter up at the half-yearly meeting. After some discussion, Messrs W. Baird (news) and John Macindoe (jobbing) were appointed as the Branch's delegates.