The Evening Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 810, 16 November 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1878.

The Agricultural and Pastoral Society of Dunedin persists in playing first fiddle in the initiatory steps for the establishment of a National Agricultural and Pastoral Society. It will be remembered that Oamaru first proposed the scheme, and adopted the usual measures in order to have it carried out. But no sooner had the Dw.iodin Society received a circular t'Vom its unimportant associate of Oam arU) than it had circulars printed in \ a vge numbers and had them freely distributed amongst the various Agricultural and Pastoral Associations of the Middle Island. This was an extraordinary proceeding, and leads us to wonder what could have been the motive which led to its adoption. Perhaps some member of the Dunedin Society who thinks a great deal but is not addicted to incubating his ideas had thought of the same idea years ago ; or the Dunedin Society feared that the status of the Oamaru Society was insufficient to enable it to carry through successfully the scheme which it propounded. If the action of the Dunedin Society bo attributable to the circumstance that Oamaru- had not struck an original idea, but one which had been corroding in the mind of some Dunedinite for years, then we would ask those who are representatives of what they consider to be the larger and more influential institution to behave to its smaller brother as a Newfoundland dog does to a pigmy animal of the same class—with consideration for its weakness. We say that the big Dunedinbullyhasno right to attempt to snatch the sugar stick out of the hands of little Oamaru, because it might have had it first had it only had the smartness to have forestalled Oamaru. Of course, if the idea of Dunedin is to patronise Oamaru, and encourage it in its assiduity in the cause of agriculture by showing that it is not too proud to father its ideas, or to ensure the success of the scheme Oamaru has propounded by thrusting itself foremost in the struggle for its accomplishment in order to save Oamaru the unpleasantness—then wo thank Dunedin. But—we say it with all becoming meekness—we do not want anyone to supersede us. We have an idea that) by the aid of the co-operation we have a right to expect from others, because we would accord it ourselves, we will be able to cany to a successful issue the the grand movement which has for its object the welding together of the agricultural and pastoral interests of the Middle Island. Then there is another point upon which the Dunedin Society has been unnecessarily busy, and that is the order in which the several towns should have the Shows held in them. Dunedin had not the effrontery to suggest that it should have the first Show, and at this we are surprised, because such a suggestion would have formed a very fair sequel to its other ideas with regard to the matter ; but it purposes that while Christchurch should have the first Show, it should have the second, and that Oamaru and Timaru should come up in the rear. No reasons arc adduced for the suggestion of this plan, and we presumo that is because there are no reasons that would redound to the credit of Dunedin to make public. If bricks and mortar and metal entitle Dunedin to be considered the agricultural and pastoral superior of Oamaru, then there is no room for debate. But the history of the Dunedin Society itself is conclusive evidence that its edificial amplitude is no guarantee of agricultural and pastoral prosperity. That Christchurch should have the first show, few, if any, will dispute, the reason for placing her first being the agricultural and pastoral prosperity of her district and the energy of her Association. But why should a few members of the Dunedin Agricultural and Pastoral Society—a Society that has been, and is now, one of the most sickly in the Colony—sit and cut and dry everything for the Conference that is to shortly sit to concoct measures in connection with the matter ? Agriculturally and pastorally, Dunedin is not worthy to be mentioned in the same breath with Oamaru, and as Oamaru was the father of the scheme —if we except the fact that some of the Dunedinites had perhaps thought, or ought to have thought, of it before its introduction by Oamaru —it would be only a graceful act on the part of Dunedin to allow others to fix the order in which the shows shall be held at the various towns. We have every confidence in the wisdom of those who will shortly sit at Oamaru to deliberate over the question, and deem it unnecessary to say more on the subject at present.