THK SOUTH WALES STRUGGLE. I rejoice to have to report that this most un necessary and unhappy contest w at an end so tar as the lock-out is concerned, and nearly so as respects the strike. The former was ter minated by the masters inviting the men to return to work at the 15 per cent, reduction, thus brmgiug matters back to the same footing as before the lock-out, except that the engage ments were daily instead of weekly. This last stipulation caused a little demur among the ineu, but ou being assured that another lock-out was not contemplated by it, they resumed work. The men on strike then began to "cave in" by degrees, Monmouth shire taking the lead, and Glamorgan shire gradually following. At length the UoTviais men, at a mass meeting, resolved to^ return to work, and as the Cyfartha, alK i Rhymney men decided to do whatever the Dowlais men did, the strike is, to all intents and purpo.,e.>, at an end. The men are said to have learnt two lessons from the strike, viz., that it is u.-eless to fly in the face of the laws of supply and demand, and that Union leaders are fine promi»ers, but very poor performers. If they bear the»e two lessons in mind, the bitter experience of the past four months Avill not have been gained in vain. LITERARY MEMORANDA, r^T D " r^' ,^ Ivn dd v i whose photographic views of JSevr Zealand scenery are so well known to your readers, has just brought out, in conjunc tion with Dr Yon Hochstetter, a book called " Rotomabana. " It contain 16 photographs by Mr Mundy of the boiling springs, &c, in the central district of the North Island of New Zealand, with descriptive and explanatory letterpress by Dr Yon Hochstetter. The book has been got up in the most luxurious style, and the Illustrated London News pronounces the photographs to be the best collection of the kind it has ever seen. Under these circum stances it i 3 not surprising that the book is published at the " drawing room price" of two guineas. Through the exertions of Cardinal Manning the British Public Record Office now employs an agent iv Rome to collect materials for Eng lish history from the secret archives of the Vatican. 