Obituary.

Mayeur.—On 7th August, at Paris, Mons. Gustave Mayeur, the celebrated typefounder, aged 54.

Foster.—On 15th August, Thomas Cooke Foster, editor of the Weekly Times and Echo, and a leading dramatic critic. He was seized with a fit at the Adelphi Theatre, and died almost immediately. He was formerly an architect.

Lock.—On the 8th August, in his sixtieth year, Mr George Lock, one of the principals and founders of the firm of Ward & Lock, now Ward, Lock, Bowden, & Co. His life-work, in the general diffusion of valuable literature, is well known. The firm of Ward & Lock was founded in 1854, afterwards absorbing the houses of Beeton, Moxon, and Tegg.

Hickok.—At Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in May, aged 76, William Hickok, President of the W. O. Hickok Manufacturing Company. In his youth he was apprenticed to his father, in the publishing business, and at the age of 19 became foreman. He developed great mechanical aptitude, and devoted his energies to the production of bookbinding machinery; becoming in 1886 the head of the celebrated company that bears his name.

Galloway.—At Riverton, on 2nd September, in his 44th year, Alexander Galloway, proprietor and editor of the Western Star, who passed away after a fortnight's illness, the cause of death being inflammation of the lungs, following on a severe cold. He leaves a widow and three children. We are indebted to the Southland Times for the following particulars: Mr Galloway, who was a native of Glasgow, served his time as a printer in the Otago Daily Times office; subsequently went to the West Coast and was engaged for three years on the Grey River Argus. In 1873 he joined his father in the purchase of the Western Star. Four years afterwards, Mr Galloway senior sold his interest to Mr A. Burns (now of the Press, Wellington). The partnership continued till 1887, when Mr Burns was bought out by Mr Galloway. The deceased journalist, who was associated with nearly every public institution in Riverton, was held in high esteem by his brethren of the press, as a thoroughly conscientious and hardworking member of the profession. Obliging, kindly, and unassuming, he was a general favorite throughout the western district. His removal leaves a blank that will not be readily filled; and the heartiest sympathy of the Craft is extended to his bereaved family.

Jones.—On 12th August, George Jones, for forty years proprietor of the New York Times, a paper which has rendered important public services, and has gained world-wide renown for courage and integrity. Mr Jones was largely instrumental in breaking up the infamous Tammany ring. Not only did he persevere in this work at the daily risk of his life, but he indignantly rejected the enormous bribe of $5,000,000, offered by the ringleaders to silence the Times.

Baines.—On 3rd August, at Leeds, in his 59th year, Thomas Blackburn Baines, eldest son of the late Sir Edward Baines, founder of the Leeds Mercury. He was a man of much simplicity, earnestness, and kindness of character, and of strong religious feeling. At one time he was editor of the Mercury, and took an active part in its management until about twenty years ago, when, coming under the influence of the Plymouth Brethren, he deemed it his duty to sever his connexion with the concern.

Wylie.—On 5th August, aged 57, the Rev. William Howie Wylie, proprietor and editor of the Christian Leader, and formerly subeditor of the Christian World. In his 18th year he became connected with the Ayr Advertiser, and afterwards with other journals. Subsequently he qualified for the Church, and became a Baptist minister. In time, his health, never robust, gave way, and he felt compelled to resign his pastorate, after which he reverted to journalism. He is known as the author of a Life of Carlyle and of other works.

Sibbin.—A fatal accident occurred to a well-known printer, Mr Thomas Sibbin, at a football match in Auckland on the 5th inst. He was running backwards to catch a descending ball, and while leaning backward as far as he could, tripped over a player named Hugh, who was in a stooping position behind him, and fell, his head doubled under his breast. The other players thought nothing of the accident, until on being spoken to he replied, « I think I am badly hurt about the neck, » and relapsed into an unconscious state, from which he never recovered. He was admitted to the hospital, where he died shortly afterwards, from spinal fracture. He was a son of Mr George Sibbin, auctioneer, and leaves a wife and several children.

MacDonald.—On 15th August, killed on a railway crossing by a passing train, Mr Jas. MacDonald, of the firm of John Walker & Co., Warwick Lane. Mr MacDonald was born in 1842, at Hopeman, on the Elgin coast. In 1860, having completed his apprenticeship, he obtained a post in the Edinburgh house of Nimmo. Here he made many friends, one being Mr John Walker, with whom he afterwards became associated as partner. After a successful career as traveller for several houses, he was in 1870 appointed Canadian traveller for William Collins, Sons & Co., and ten years later, when the new firm of John Walker & Co. was formed, he continued to travel in Canada and the United States, where he made a wide circle of friends. About two years he gave up travelling, and took control of the export department. The trade papers speak in the highest terms of his personal character and goodness of heart, and few men in the trade appear to have been more widely known or more generally esteemed.