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Monthly Record.

At the meeting of the Wellington Typographical Society on 20th January, Mr H. C. Jones, vice-president, occupied the chair. The board of management reported that during the past five months the printing trade had been in a fairly prosperous condition, notwithstanding an influx of competitors from other parts of the colony and from Australia. Most of these men had been absorbed by the Government Printing Office. The report congratulated the hon. J. Rigg, president of the association, on his appointment to the legislative council. The membership numbered 140, a decrease of 27 since July last, and the balance to the credit of the society at the end of the year was £128. The elections for office for the ensuing twelve months resulted thus: President, D. P. Fisher; vice-president, R. E. Vaney: secretary, (reelected), W. P. M'Girr; treasurer, A. Clark; trustees, (re-elected), Messrs Vanderburgh and Vaughan. Messrs T. M'Intyre and G. A. Pope were elected board members; and the hon. J. Eigg, M.L.C., Messrs D. P. Fisher, R. E. Vaney, D. Haggett, J. Hodge, H. C. Jones, delegates to the trades council.

A sad accident occurred at a Sunday school picnic at Epsom, Auckland, on the 2nd inst., when a boy named William Bruce, son of Mr Walter Bruce, reporter on the Herald staff, was instantly killed by a large iron tank falling on his head.

The Evening Press, 24th January, says: Carterton was yesterday very much interested in a ceremony which took place at St. Matthew's Church, when Mr W. McKenzie, the proprietor of the Wairarapa Observer, was united to Miss Louisa Parker, fourth daughter of Mr W. Parker, one of Carterton's oldest and most respected settlers.

The staff of the Wairarapa Star have presented two of their number, Messrs A. H. Vile and R. J. Malcolm, recently married, with gifts of silverware in testimony of goodwill. Trade customs change, and for the better, as the world moves on. Had these two gentlemem lived and entered into the holy estate of matrimony fifty years ago, they would have had to devote a fortnight's wages to provide a glorious spree for all hands.

The Wanganui Chronicle of 17th inst. says: We regret to record the death of Mr H. A. Cave, of Brunswick, at the comparatively early age of 53 years. Mr Cave followed the profession of a journalist in the Old Country, and served on the literary staff of the Auckland Herald, and subsequently of this journal, after his arrival in this colony. Being a man of independent means he quitted journalism and took to farming some three or four years ago. He leaves a widow and a large grown-up family.

Mr A. Dolamore, editor of the Mataura Ensign, has again been elected Mayor of Gore; not, however, without some tribulation. The contest was both warm and close, and Mr Dolamore's opponent was declared to have been elected by a majority of two. A petition was at once lodged, on the ground that a number of persons had voted illegally. While the matter was pending, the successful candidate unwisely took his seat, gave his inaugural address, and laid down his intended course of action. A scrutiny revealed that three votes had been unlawfully polled in his favor; and being in a minority of one, he has had to give place to Mr Dolamore.

Mr W. F. Howlett has a grievance against the postal department: having press correspondence charged letter rates. In the Wanganui Chronicle he narrates that he wrote to the post office asking how the following communication would be classed:

Sir,—In reply to your correspondent, I beg to say that sulphur and lime is not now thought to be a good sheep dip.—I am, &c., Viator.

After seventeen days he received the reply that such a letter, not being bona fide press manuscript, must pay letter rates. We give this curious decision the prominence it deserves, as showing that there are postal officials holding responsible positions, who do not understand the regulations of the department.

The Hawera Star has changed hands, Mr J. C. Yorke (trading under the name of Innes & Co.) having disposed of the business to Mr W. A. Parkinson. In an article published on the 14th inst., the day the announcement was made, the Star says: « This has been caused by the necessity having arisen for the late proprietor to reside in England—at any rate for several years to come. It will be noticed that the paper has not passed into the hands of strangers; but that the proprietorship has been assumed by one who has for nearly the whole term of the paper's existence been associated with the editorial staff. » We hope that Mr Parkinson will find the business prosper in his hands. The Star is one of the best country newspapers in the colony.

A country contemporary gives currency to the curious idea that ratepayers in adjoining counties have no right to complain of neglected highways outside of their respective districts. Consequently, when a letter from a luckless traveller comes to the office, the editor looks up the rate-book to find whether the complainant has a locus standi!

The most thorogh-going Bohemian of New Zealand journalism has just passed away in the person of Mr Richard A. A. Sherrin, who died at the Costley Home, Auckland. Mr Sherrin at one time made a good income at Parliamentary correspondence, was one of the readiest of writers, and could deal with any subject, and write for any party with equal facility. In 1875-6 he edited the Maori paper Te Wananga for the English committee who ran the concern for certain political and private ends. Mr S. then figured as a strong Maori « nationalist, » and was nearly getting into trouble for seditious writing. His articles were always clever if not convincing, and sometimes even savagely personal. For political services, a grateful government commissioned Mr Sherrin to write a work on the Fishes of New Zealand. He was no authority on ichthyology, or any other branch of science; but was far too experienced a scribe to decline the task; he knew pretty well where the requisite information was to be obtained; and the work is interesting, if not altogether accurate. His latest piece of book-making was in connexion with a history of New Zealand published by Brett of Auckland—a work which may in years to come prove of some little service to a qualified and discriminating historian.

The Philadelphia Ledger office has been partially destroyed by fire, and a valuable collection of curiosities has been lost with other property. The total loss is estimated at $800,000.

A gentleman who recently visited Russia had with him a tonic sol-fa text-book, which was seized by the custom-house officers, evidently under the impression that it was Nihilism in cipher, and in spite of the owner's explanations it was confiscated.

Mr Labouchere, who held a one-third share in the Daily News, has sold out to the other proprietors. The property, it is said, is now practically vested in Mr Arnold Morley and Mr Oppenheim. Mr Labouchere originally paid £11,000 for his share. He is believed to have sold it for more than eight times that amount.

The Stationery Trades Journal says that Mr David Thomson, of the Goupil Gallery, author of the Life and Works of Thomas Bewick, &c., has been appointed editor of the Art Journal, in succession to Mr Marcus Huish, resigned. Mr Thomson's first contribution to the magazine (of which for some time he was assistant editor) was an article upon Ruskin, written before he was out of his teens, which was accepted and published as the chief article of the first number issued under Mr Huish's regime, when that gentleman succeeded the late Mr S. C. Hall.

Mr J. J. O' Kelly has abandoned the libel action against Le Caron; and the book is again freely sold, with the advantage of a good advertisement, and a valuable testimony to the substantial truth of some of its most serious allegations.—The belated appearance of the work has been explained. It was written within a few weeks of the commission, and offered to the trade; but the publishers were afraid of it; and the auther laid the manuscript aside as useless. Like many other oft-rejected books, it has proved a profitable venture to the publisher who at last took it in hand.

The English insurance periodicals were rather heavily struck by one victim in the Thirsk railway accident. This was a Mr. J. J. Anderson, upon whose person were found no less than £2,750 worth of insurance journals. They comprised policies for £100, £1000, £1000, £500, and £150. Besides this, the weekly which offers £100 had to meet a second claim. We have heard that surviving passengers in such a case have been known to thrust their papers into the pockets of the killed and wounded. A few more such experiences as that at Thirsk would probably put a check on newspaper insurance.

The Ballarat Courier recently published articles accusing several members of Parliament of immorality, and alleging that the mace stolen from the chamber was now lying at a house of ill-repute. Clarke, the proprietor of the newspaper, was called to the bar of the House, and, after tendering an apology, was admonished by the Speaker.—The story about the mace seems to be well founded. It has not been recovered; and in the inquiry which was held, certain ladies of the demi-monde, who had been shown around the chamber by members, were questioned. It is commonly reported that one of these women carried off the « bauble » under her cloak; but the editor failed to adduce legal proof. The admonitions of Mr Speaker appear to be needed in other quarters.