AUCKLAND CLIPPINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 3, 7 May 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND CLIPPINGS.

: We have bean requested to publish the following paragraph r—A. number oI leading merchants and other influential gentlemen, acting on behalf of the eitizens of Auckland generally, invited the Hon.. Mt. Vogel to a complimentary banquet to have been given this day in the City Hall, the tiße of which was fiindly offered by the owners for the occasion. It is much to be regretted, however, that the state of Mr. Yogel's health is snob as to preclude his acceptance ef the proffered compliment; We are assured that the proposal to do honor to Mr. Yogel was warmly responded to by gentlemen of all shades of political opinion, who appeared to unite in acknowledge) ent of the great service he has rendered to this colony in the matter of the late postal arrangements with the colony of Victoria. Ihe fol--1 losing is Mr. Vogel's reply to the invitation of the

committee: —"J. M. Dargaville, Esq.—Dear Sir,. —1 am very much gratified at tho compliment the citizens pay me by their invitatiou, which you, oil 1 e'lalf of the committtea, have scut me, I hope you will convey to the citizens and to the committee, and receive yourself,, my thanks and my excuses, for, very much to mv regret, I am compelled, on the ground of ill-health,, to decliueths invitation by which I aaa so much flatttered, and to accept wlnca would give me so much pleasure.—l am, dear sirs,, yours, te.y Julius- Voobl.—Auckland, 4th May, 1872."—F0r the same reason Mr. Vogelis unable to. accede to a request that he should attend a meeting of his constituents during his present stay in Aucl Earnl..—Herald,, 4th May. A Wangarei correspondent of tho i\ r . Z. Herald writes :—" Times are dull, money is scarce—such is the cry in our district. What ia the reason? Is it from want of energy on the part of the settlers? Is it from want of proper roads to bring produce to market? One thing is certain, that in Wanga*ei it is very difficult to obtain a cabbage at any priea." If the last statement iscorrect, it does not say much for the good effect of horticultural shows in the district. A country settlement that cannot or does not grow ample supplies of vegetables for home consumption must be in ar poor way.. For our own part, we cannot understand the condition of residents in the country who cannot supply themselves in everything but clothing and a very few groceries. The produce of a very small farm should do far more than pay the bills o£ a moderately-sized family,, besides affording ample supplies for household use. Where this is .not the case, depend upon it there is something wrong.