The Evening Star. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 579, 17 November 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1871.

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

We should really like to write only in praise of the late proceedings of the Agricultural Society. The exhibition has been a success in the highest degree, reflecting credit on tho exhibitors'; and the people of the city showed the most cordial sympathy and interest in the concerns of the settlers by crowding to the Albert Barracks, and with words and manner of approvaldoing everything to encourage the cause of rural -pursuits. Every thing, so far, tended to produce the most cordial and kindly relations between the agricultural and commercial interests; and sincerely sorry are we that the unmannerly conduct of a few of the prominent persons in connection with the affair did, as regards the ilinnpr, oubeecjuoritlj- tliroTT an apple of discord info the midst., That a studied and deliberate instil was given to the •" Commercial Interests" of Auckland is admitted by ail, and we feel that we should be yielding to a false feeling of delicacy did we pass such a thing in stlenco. It was the duty of those in charge of the programme to have seen that not only were the " Commercial Interests" included in the tDasts, but that some gentleman prominently connected with that interest should have been communicated with before hand, so that, as is usual, in a formal and wellprepared speech, the assembled guests might be furnished with a careful resume of facts in connection with the growth and position of commerce in the province. No gentleman indeed could perhaps have been found more suitable for the task than (he gentleman, Captain Paldy, who, on the spur of the moment, responded for the merchants. But such a cavalier way of dealing with the commercial interests in making no previous provision, was very properly resented. We are aware that those in charge of the proceedings were requested to communicate previously with a gentleman connected with commerce, and promised to do so, while he was engaged in elaborate preparation for the duty. But there was nothing more of it, and the gentleman was not even invited. But all t-bis might have been overlooked, as an unintentional oversight, had the tone and language at and previous to the dinner not been studiously effeusive. Strong complaints were made that the commercial gentlemen of Auckland, or " shopkeepers," as these country dons were pleased to call them, had shown no interest in the show, and were not present at the dinner. We really do not wonder if they felt reluctance to mix themselves up with a lot of people, the tone of whose manners had so evidently been given by the genial occupation of bullock punching. But is it true that commerce was unrepresented at the Show ? Wo venture to say that there was scarcely a merchant, banker, or business man of any position in the city but was in the Albert Barracks and took the utmost interest in the show.

For example, we may mention that among those present we noticed the following: Messrs. L. D. Murdoch, E. L. Bucliolz, J. E. Carey, G. Yon cler Hey do (Henderson and Macfarla..e), G-. 8.-.Owjen, Jas Burtt, D. B. Cruickahaiik. A. Gr. Millar, J. Lawford, J. 8. Macfarlane, W. 0. Daldy, T. 11. Irey, L. Nathan, J. Sopppfct, W. Motion, T. and S. Movrin, M. Jones, S. Cochrane, Gr. W". Binney, B. Tonks, J. Roberlon, 0. Thome, Ireland, [saacs, Claik (Clark and Sons), Smith (Thornton, ISmith and Firth), Dargaviile (Must and Co.), McArthur, and nearly all the clergy.

"We have no doubt that tlioy* may not have paid that attention to some of the prominent conductors of the attain which would have been tasteful, and it is invariably tbe way with illbred people to regard themselves as slighted if there is net a fuss made about them. During the progress of the dinner again and again was the sneering remark made, Where is trie commercial interest? . Where are the elite of Auckland"? Really these country bumpkins do not know how to behave themselves when they lind themselves in th< j presence of penilemen ; and mistaking self-assertion for gentle nanly independence, and slovenliness at table for ease of manner, they wert; positively vulgar; and the commercial gentlemen who were present really must have felt the uusuitableness of the companionship. These Hodges from the country, after having been living all their lives on saltjunk and damper, affected the " foine gentleman" in the most ludicrous manner conceivable, and the air with which they pretended to turn lip the nose at the unusual viands before them, and the " haw, haw" style in which they assumed an easy acquaintance with a much better state of things would have been ridiculous, if it had not been disgusting to anyone accustomed to more civilised society. The Chairman, in proposing one of the leading toasts, lighted his pipe, as if to say, " Oh, this is an everyday affair with me ;" and the same bar-parlour, free and easy style, was assumed by all those of the same guild. As for the ability displayed by those who stood forward as the representatives of agricultural intellectuality, the least said on this the bettor. .Suffice to say that we have been assured by not one, but many, that judging from the intelligence displayed by the speakers, and the sympathetic expressions of the auditors, we never spoke a truer word than when we said that there are gentlemen connected with the Press as intellectually superior to some of the farmers as the fanners are to f heir own bullocks. Far bo it from us to say that the persons whose impudence prompts them to put themselves forward as leaders of tho settlors, at all represent the common sense and intelligence of tho settlers. They have each one his axe to grind, and they can only crawl into prominence by clambering up on the farmers' backs, who, good easy souls, proceed on the principle, <; it pleases them and does us no harm." We are confident that the farmers and settlers would not voluntarily endorse the impertinence of which their representatives were guilty, in keepinsJtheir a^nt** u-hoti tho toast'1' Uommercial Interests" was being drunk, and an impertinence which Mr. Every Maclean had the insolence to defend. And we are equally confident that flic settlers would be ashamed to be identified with the vulgar impudence of Mr. John Wallace, of Flat Hush, who, addressing one of our most esteemed and respected citizens, once a member of one of our leading mercantile linns, told him he had no ri d»t to be there, because he was " a Government official," and this in the presence of Dr. Pollen, who should have boon an honored guest. We sincerely rejoice in the fanners' show being held in the city, but really the dinners should bo held elsewhere, at Muddy iCreek or Flat Bush, or some other place remote in the country, where these people of bovine intellect and manners could feed in the way most congenial to their tastes and habits, withoutbeing subject to tho observation of gentlemen.