The Evening Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 564, 31 October 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1871.

" For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance) And the good that we can do.

At the recent meeting of the Agricultural League, we narrowly escaped a Tote of thanks. It was proposed by Mr Crispe, whose kindly feelings we reciprocatej but Mr. Crispe would not have made such a proposal had he not been late in arrival The fact is he travelled outside the programme, to the confusion of the League. Before the meeting, as each member arrived, he was cornered and buttonholed and by unanimous consent it was agreed that the Evening Stab uhould not be mentioned at the meeting. This was well; and we commend the action to the favorable consideration of all those who may chance to come in a similar way beneath our lash. We feel kindly towards the League now. We always did feel kindly towards farmers; but they evidently wanted a little chastisement, for, like the Irishman, they were dragging their coat behind them, to see if any one would trample on it. There is a Bpecies of cant peculiar to Auckland respecting the Press, and it is highly desirable, for the sake both of the Press and the public, that its use should became obsolete. People, no matter how meagre their brains and education, are accustomed to afteot contempt for the Press, as having no opinion and no influence. We have invariably found that those most pronounced in their indifference to the Btrictures of the Press areI.those wl<y most writhe and wriggle in mental agony beneath its notice. And for those affecting indifference arid contempt we know of no application so uniformly effective as plain-speaking.! The Agricultural League has been! very gently and considerately treated by the Auckland Press. But its most glaring absurdities have been pointed out in a spirit of forbearance that wae evidently intended to benefit the organization. Whereupon some of the hot spirit* gave vent to their indig-

nation, and the usual cant about their contempt for newspapers. On Thursday last we accordingly gave them a little fatherly correction, and they have turned and kissed the rod. 8o far now from being displeased with the Press, barring ourselves, it was the unanimous opinion of the meeting on Saturday last", " that thanks were due to the Press for the aid kindly given to the objects of the League." This is as it should be. There is no use in quarrelling with the Press ; that roK is played out. The expression of conj tempt is idle. There are gentlenue| connected with the Press intellectual \f as superior to the farmers as the farmers are to their own cattle. No society hitherto started in Auckland has been so persistently discourteous in its remarks ou the Press as has this Agricultural League ; and none has so winced beneath its vigorous strictures. There must be a multitude of settlers in our rural districts, if. every farmer within a radius of twenty miles of the city has not gratified his curiosity by procuring a copy of our Thursday's issue; and wilh the multitudes .vbo have called and proeuredcopics,wehave been generally obliged to defend the League from the censures which have been freely showered on its conductors. One only was belligerent. A tall " cornstalk," redolent of fern and flax swamps, called at our office, expressing a desire to " trounce" some person. But apparently he has altered his mind.

And now with the Leaguers we would be friends. We do not believe much in the permanence of the insti-^ tution ; it has in it the elements of •inevitable dissolution. The Leaguers do not really know what they wauL It is a " Chamber of Agriculture" they intend, something after the fashion of the Chamber of Commerce, and the model for which they can find in a neighbouring colony. Let them form this, and drop an offensive antagonism in relation to their feJlow-c. bnists, and they may do good. But let them esshew impertinence to the Press as they would the deadly sins.