PASTORAL and AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,
President—William Mackenzie, Esq, of Kinlochewe. Vice President—Farquhar M'Crae, Esq, M . D , J.P. Directors—Rev. J. Clow, Captains D. M'Lachlan, G. B. Smythe and B. Baxter; Messrs. S. J. Brown, Alexander Thomson, T h o m a s Arnold, Joseph H a w d o n , R. H . Browne, James Simpson, J. D. Hunter^ F. A. Powlett, AV. Ryrie, J. D. Baillie, C. AVilliams, AV. F. A. Rucker, D. S. Campbell, P. AV. AVelsh,' J. Aitken, G. D. Mercer and P. Snodgrass. Treasurers—The Port Phillip Bank. Secretaries—Messrs. Andrew M . M'Crae and William Kerr. T h e Pastoral and Agricultural Society of Australia Felix, on the principles and yvith the objects of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, was founded in January, 1840. T h e Society's Annual Show of live stock, samples of wool, implements of husbandry, agricultural and horticultural produce, etc, which it is intended to hold on alternate years at Melbourne and Geelong, will be held in Melbourne on thefirstAVednesday in March of this present year; and the annual meeting for the election of President, Vice-Presidents, etc, will be held immediately after the Show. In those times it yvas a cardinal tenet of popular belief that no enterprise could prosper unless set going by a good dinner, a blended baptism of post-prandial grog and oratory, and so to work the "undertakers " went to get up a convivial celebration accordingly. It yvas atfirstintended to hold it at the Lamb Lnn—grandmother of the n o w Scott's Hotel— where there yvas a tolerably large room for the time, but on measurement this yvas pronounced to be not sufficiently commodious, and a recently-erected store of Mr. Rucker's, in Market Street, between Collins and Little Flinders Streets yvasfinallyselected as the feeding-ground. This was thefirstPublic Dinner in the colony, and it came off on the 15th January. Mr. M'Kenzie, the President of the Society, arrayed in the "breekless" costume of a Highlandman, performed the duties of Chairman in a manner highly satisfactory. T h e Rev. James Cloyv, one of the Directors, invoked a blessing. Amongst the best speakers of the jolly evening yvas another clergyman, the Rev. James Forbes, thefirstPresbyterian minister. I believe this to be the only festivity of the kind in the colony yvhere the American plan of yvedding sentiments or prayers to the toasts yvas adopted, and judging from the following samples, the selections were not inappropriate, viz.:— " T h e Queen—Bless her. M a y she ever be proud of Australia Felix, one of the brightest gems in her diadem." " His Excellency Sir George Gipps, Governor-General of Australasia, and m a y the inhabitants of Australia Felix ever find in him a just advocate and protector of their rights." " His Honor C. J. Latrobe, our m u c h and justly respected Lieutenant-Governor, and m a y he long continue to watch over and advocate the interests of this colony." " T h e Advancement of Religion and Education in Australia Felix, and m a y these necessary advantages to the well-being of all civilized society go hand in hand with the advancement of the colony." " Old England, and m a y the Sons of Australia ever be proud of their noble Mother Country." " Erin-Go-Bragh, and good luck to her." " T h e Land o' Cakes, and m a y she long continue to give her hardy and intelligent sons to Australia Felix." " Hoofs, Horns, Wool, and Corn, and m a y G o d speed the Plough." " Mrs. Latrobe and the Ladies—may G o d bless them."
In replying to the compliment to the fair sex, the gallantry of Captain Bacchus found vent in this spontaneous outflows of eloquence:—" Let them talk of their Durham and their Devon bulls as they please, but I yvould rather at any time see a lovely female emigrant landed at Melbourne, than a hundred of thefinestDevon bulls England could produce." There were some minor toasts, without any accompaniments, the most notable being " Breeding in all its Branches," and " T h e Press." Possibly they considered these tyvo yvell able to take care of themselves without any precatory well-wishing. T h e dinner was productive of another American ingredient not calculated u p o n — " b u n k u m ;" for after all their "tall talk" very little grew out of it. T h e Association was born several years too soon, and it was not surprising that the premature bantling should be an abortion. Annual exhibitions yvere promised at Melbourne and Geelong, but the materials did not exist in the Province to produce such unconsidered results.
