During the month matters typographical have run an even course, with the one exception of a little ripple of excitement caused by the calling of a special meeting of this branch of the N.Z.T.A. to consider some proposals which were tantamount to want of confidence in the Federated Trades Council of this city. There was a good attendance at the meeting, which was of a rather lively nature. and the resolutions were thrown out by two votes to one. Mr W. M'Girr, President, was in the chair.

The Labor Conference which has been called together by the Government at the instance of a resolution of the House of Representatives, begins its sittings in the Parliamentary Buildings on 1st October. All the Labor Unions invited are sending delegates, and among the thirty chosen to represent the various bodies are the names of five printers: Mr D. P. Fisher, representing the wharf laborers; Mr Sansford, representing the Canterbury Trades and Labor Council; Mr H. Jones, representing the Wellington Trades Council; and Messrs T. L. Mills and F. Miller, representing the New Zealand Typographical Association.

The dinner of the piece-hands at the Government Printing Office. which came off as notified on the 6th inst., was a great success, There were forty gentlemen present, the Father of the Chapel (Mr H. Jones) being in the chair, the guest of the evening (Mr. T. Gamble, foreman of the room) on his right. The Divider (Mr Fred. Mountier) ably officiated as vice-chairman. The Government Printer and the Secretary of the Wellington Branch of the N.Z.T.A. sent apologies, but Messrs Miller and Swift (Evening Post Chapel), and Messrs Pope and Mills (New Zealand Times Chapel), as well as the President of the Executive Council N.Z.T.A. (Mr D. Archibald) and the President of the Wellington Branch (Mr W. McGirr) accepted the invitations sent to them. Messrs D. Haggett, Ludford, Tierney, and John Rigg (secretary) formed the committee. After the eatables were disposed of a long list of toasts and incidental items was gone through. The principal toasts were:— « Trades Unionism » (Mr McGirr, responded to by Mr T. L. Mills), « N.Z.T.A. » (Mr Haggett, responded to by Mr Archibald), and « The Management » (the Vice-chairmen, responded to by Mr Gamble). Among the musical items was an original song by the the printer-poet, Mr John Ludford, sung by the « only one » himself.

I give three of the stanzas:—

Only One
Only one
Piece-hand here you see—
Only one.
If you'll kindly gaze on me
You'll observe the sunny smile
Of a comp devoid of guile,
Who has made a blooming pile—
But only one!
Only one!
I took my stick and rule—
My only one!
And I squatted on a stool;
Then I felt my pulses throb.
But when four hours on the job
I found I'd only earned a bob-
Only one!
Only one
Session I've worked through-
Only one!
And I've made a record, too,
For the readers came to me,
And they said they must agree
That my « style » was very free—
I'd only one!

Mr Ludford also wrote for the occasion the following

Ode.
God bless the man who first devised the way
To lighten work by intervals of play;
And peace to him who. with « the flowing bowl, »
« The feast of reason and the flow of soul, »
First taught mankind a good and noble plan—
To recognize the brotherhood of man,
And at the board, amidst the friendly smiles,
The « quips and cranks, » the jests, the « wanton wiles, »
The kindly speech, the merry laugh, the song
Which ever to such festive scenes belong,
Grim care and sorrow dare not show their face,
But mirth and friendship occupy their place.
'Tis well, amidst these stirring times of strife,
When bitter feuds and jealousies are rife,
To see that men an honest hand extend,
And recognize their neighbor as their friend:
So may this night throughout the future be
To one and all a pleasant memory!

Owing to the finishing-up of the session's « Hansard, » several hands have been discharged from the Government Printing Office.

By a ballot of the N.Z.T.A. Mr D. P. Fisher has again been elected secretary of the Executive Council. Messrs H. Jones and T. L. Mills were his opponents.

The Wanganui comps have decided to form a branch of the N.Z.T.A., and appointed delegates to confer on the subject with the principals of the local offices.

Mr A. G. Kent-Johnston, formerly proprietor of the Wairarapa Observer, now fills the position of mining reporter to the Sydney Truth. The number of New Zealand pressmen who have secured good positions in Sydney and Melbourne is remarkable.

Members of Parliament possess the privilege of obtaining on application reprints of their speeches from « Hansard. » This privilege has been abused to such an extent as to become a public scandal, and the Government Printer has found it necessary to write to the Reporting and Debates Committee, calling attention to the sensational headings attached by members to these reprints. He enclosed copies of a speech by Mr Fisher, headed, « The Condition of the Colony—Supineness of the Government, » and Mr Hutchison's, « Indictment of the Government, » and asked for instructions. The Committee reported, recommending that in the future reprints of members speeches shall only hear the heading given to them in « Hansard. »