THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1789, 14 November 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1879.

His Excellency the Govebnob’s speech at the dinner given by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association illustrates pleasingly the effect produced on a stranger by a visit to Christchurch when en fete. “ The crowds of welldressed and obviously well-to-do people who have thronged tho racecourse and

tlio show ground, and whose appearance abundantly testified to the loyal, orderly, contented, and truly British character of the population,” have struck the Governor, as, wo presume, they would do most of the visitors to this city. And notwithstanding the comparative depression of the times, there is no doubt but that the crowds alluded to testify to tho fact that tho people of Canterbury possess a degree of comfortable independance which larger communities may well envy. Recently a French writer, after a visit to England, wrote in effect as follows, to illustrate the impression that the wonderful eights to be seen in the streets of in his mind: —“ I envy tho English,” he says, “ their energy, their organising power, their commercial instincts; but I do not envy them their terrible proletariat.” It is the sight of this proletariat treading so closely on tho heels of wealth and position in England that strikes tho foreigner. It may not be so dangerous as tho Parisian proletariat, or so hopelessly sunk in shame as the crowd of beggars to be found in Naples, Constantinople, and other places, but it obtrudes itself on the eye more than the lower stratum in France, and its contrast with tho surroundings is sharper than in the other cities mentioned. Any man walking through the streets of the great English capital must of necessity be witness to many sights which must grieve him as a philanthropist, and startle him as a political economist. But, as His Excellency in effect remarks, there is no danger of anybody, when viewing our population en masse, experiencing any feeling of disquiet or disgust. On the contrary he must bo struck with the orderly and comfortable-looking crowds that meet him at every turn. There is no indication of abject poverty, and every man apparently is well able to enjoy his holiday and that relaxation which he has earned for himself. Men’s lives in this country are cast in pleasant lines. There may be, and often no doubt is, a feeling of longing after the old country amongst many who have left it. That of course is unavoidable. The Scotchman yearns for his lulls, but a short visit to them, and a diet of oatmeal, would probably soon cure him of tho feeling. The Irishman longs for his cabin and his buttermilk and potatoes in the Emerald Isle, but peat and buttermilk would soon pall if reverted to. The Englismen sighs over the memory of the flowery hedges and the sports which were his joy of yore, but hedges and sport would hardly compensate for short commons and an’empty exchequer. No—taking it all round —it may be said tho vast majority in emigrating to this country have made a change for the better, and the appearance of the crowds that throng the streets on gala days prove it without doubt. And not only on such days is tho material wealth of the country visible. How has tho Governor put it in his speech ? “To see groat cities like Christchurch, and Dunedin, and Wellington, and Auckland, and Invercargill, which have grown up as if ny magic—to see, as I did, mountains of grain stacked and waiting shipment at Oamaru and Timaru, the produce of districts which a few years ago did not grow enough for their own consumption—to see such a pastoral and agricultural show as I inspected to-day, and of which many of the old countries of Europe might well feel proud—too see everywhere vast tracts of country, which twenty-five years ago were unproductive, covered with flocks and herds, and cornfield, and administering to the wants and contributing to the happiness of hundreds of thousands of our race. —I say sights such as these make one feel proud of the genius of our countrymen for colonisation, and confident as to the future of this great country,” If the mass of tho population will but reflect on the true comfort of their position and on the absence of great poverty from their midst we feel sure that much of the grumbling which is often heard would evaporate into unfeeling of thankfulness for tho solid blessingsjwe enjoy. There is another part of his Excellency’s speech which we would wish to revert to, and which was peculiarly appropriate to the occasion on which it was delivered. It was that in which he states that he considers it his duty and pleasure to take a warm interest in societies such as the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and indeed in all social movements having for their object tho advancement of the industrial, educational, and moral interests of the people; and where he says that, in his opinion, a Governor may “ with advantage, and without doing apything inconsistent with the obligations, or derogatory to the dignity of his high office, identify himself warmly with the pleasures and amusements of the people, and by sympathising with them genially and heartily in all the good old English sports and pastimes, do much by his influence and example to ensure their being carried out with moderation and propriety.” There is no doubt but that the force of example in high places may do much good in these directions. It may stimulate many languishing but useful enterprises, and confirm in their career of good, institutions more firmly established. Last, but not least, it may sot an example to those devoted to tho “ good old English sports and pastimes,” of directness of purpose and honest uprightness, which can do no possible harm and may perhaps do much good. The Englishman’s love for the horse is a national characteristic. The racecourse and the hunting field are about the only places where he does not “ take his pleasure sadly.” “ Dark care,” said tho Roman poet, “ sits behind tho horseman.” Had he been an Englishman he would never have written so. An Englishman on horseback leaves care behind him; on a racecourse ho is wrapt up in sport. But unfortunately racing in New Zealand does not bear the good character it might do. Its traits may not be so dark as its enemies love to paint them, but it certainly cannot afford to pay ducks and drakes with its reputation any further, and any efforts on tho part of one high in office to lend his aid towards raising the tone of this national sport cannot bo otherwise than thankfully acknowledged.