ON THE WALLABY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IV, Issue 220, 18 April 1872, Page 7

ON THE WALLABY.

BY P. TEIfAX.

Dunedin is a fine city — at least, its inhabitants say so, and they surely ought to know. It is the commercial capita l , of New Zealand, and its people would like to make it the social and political capital also ; but I am afraid that in this matter their desires will never be gratified. The Northern cities are too jealous of its ascendancy at present, and they will take good care to prevent it acquiring any more influence. Dnnedin merchants are famed above all others in New Zealand for their push and enterprise, and keep in their employ quite an army of commercial travellers, who penetrate everywhere. The hearts of the staid Northern merchants are periodically lacerated by the incursions of these travellers into their preserves. Scorn and contempt are freely meted out to them ; they are pointed out as the result of, a depraved state of trade ; and I believe in the North, school children are taught to regard them as well-dressed burglars, and by them is illustrated the dreadful consequences of playing truant from Sunday SCHOOL But, despite the abuse heaped on them, they do the trade. This is kind and considerate on then* part, for if they permitted the Northern merchauts to do the trade, they (the merchants) would not have time to give expression to their virtuous indignation at bagmen. livery steamer swarms with travellers hailing from Dunedin, and you cannot travel on any road in the colony without falling in with some of the fraternity. Every branch of commerce has its representatives always on the wing, seeking orders'. Sore straits must the travellers be put to occasionally. More than once have 1 seen in country villages, containing about a couple of stores and four or live public houses, from fifteen to twenty travellers at one time, all striv.'fcg to force irade. The philosophy of commercial travelling was explained, to, me, onß winter's eve, in a wayside hostelry. There I' had met in with 'a 4 'C.~T. of my acquaintance. After a friendly whiff, , and a more friendly glass or two, he became confidential. 1 remarked that in my ignorance J did "'riot

see how commercial travelling paid, seeing that if people wanted anything they would order it. "There is the point," said he. "It is not by selling peojjle what they do want that pays ; it is by selling them what they don't want. If country storekeepers were left to their own devices, one half of the present trade would not be done. That half would represent what was actually wanted; the other half is what they don't want, and from this portion of the trade are gathered *he greater portion of the manavelins. Besides," siys the C. T., " the merchants, by sending up travellers, save country storekeepers the necessity of going to Dunedin often. Of course, they manage to pay themselves for their trouble in this respect, and there is always a chance, you see, of making something out of — well, I will say — the want of knowledge of customers." This explanation, perhaps, shows how the dashing traps that fly. through the country are supported. The commercial travellers are, however, " jovial cusses," and their arrival in an up-country town is always gladly welcomed, as they generally manage to relieve the monotou\ of the inhabitants' existence.

Dunedin would be Avell described as a city of agents. Let anyone take a walk along Princes-street say, and look at the inscriptions at the entrances to the various chambers, and he will endorse my assertion. Agency is a peculiar profession. It possesses a great charm for many, and is likewise the dernier resort of the unsuccessful in every walk cf life. One reason why its ranks are always full isthat no diploma, no initiation is lequired. Any man who chooses can dub himself an agent of any description that seems good in his own eyes. How tho agents in Dunedin live is a profound mystery to me. There is a sort of an x\gency King, but even that does not explain satisfactorily how they all subsist.

The Dunedin folks seem to be very religious. There arc a good many churches, and all generally well attended. Public houses are also well patronised. The present holders of hotel licenses seem to have a monopoly of the liquor trade, as the Bench declines to grant any now licen a es. This is one result of defective legislation. There can be no do'ibt thvfc monopoly in hotel tr.ule will operate prejudicially on the public interest. Either "permissive" or free trade would be a vast improvement on the present system. The Dunedin people I found as hospitable as most other people. That is those whom E came in contact with— b»ing hotel-keepers chiefly. It is astonishing how hospitable a Boniface is always, provided that one pays for his board and whiskey. Such, however, is life.

Dunedin boasts of many other noteworthy things, of which I will treat in next issue.