Obituary.

Bassett—On 14th December, 1892, John Bassett, proprietor and editor of the Printing World, aged 29.

Sherrin.—On 9th January, at Auckland, R. A. A. Sherrin, an old journalist and parliamentary correspondent.

Smart.—A London telegram of 10th inst, records the death of Hawley Smart, a wellknown novelist.

Higinbotham.—On 31st December, George Higinbotham, Chief Justice of Victoria, aged 65. He was associated with the London press prior to his call to the bar in 1853; and after emigrating to Victoria, joined in 1856 the staff of the Melbourne Argus, which paper he edited for several years.

Alabaster.—On 18th November, at Richmond, Surrey, aged 86, James Alabaster, of Passmore & Alabaster, printers and publishers. The firm was established in 1853, and its business consists entirely of printing and publishing the sermons and other works of the late Rev. Thomas Spurgeon.

Kemble. On the 16th January, at London, aged 83, Frances Anne Kemble, the famous actress, and author of interesting books of reminiscences. She belonged to an illustrious family of actors, being grand-daughter of Roger Kemble, daughter of Charles Kemble, niece of John Philip Kemble and of Mrs Siddons, and sister of Adelaide Kemble.

Jackson.—On 1st January, at Nelson, Mr H. D. Jackson, a well-known bookseller, in his 66th year. Mr Jackson was a native of Leeds, and arrived in Nelson with his parents in the barque Phœbe, in March, 1843. The family had their full share of the heavy pioneer work which fell to the lot of the early settlers. Mr Jackson was on the staff of the Nelson Examiner in its earlier years. He was promently connected with public institutions and local bodies. He married in 1854, and has left a widow and seven children.