DEPARTURE OF SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2417, 21 September 1868, Page 2

DEPARTURE OF SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B.

The following report is taken from the Wellington Independent. We give only the speeches made by Sir George Grey The colonists did not permit Sir George Grey to dtpart for England without a fall and hearty public expression of the esteem in wlvch be was held. 'l'he demonstration at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Tuesday was highly creditable to the community, and must have been specially gratifying to our ex-Governor. Covers were laid for 250 guests, and the whole affair passed off with eclat. The (Hie of colonial society assemWed to " speed the parting guest." The committee, of which Mr Justice Johnston was the chairman, acoom* plished a difficult task at short notice, in a highly creditable manner. Mr Donnecker, the caterer, deserves praise for the excellent provision which lie made on the occasion. The whole affair was a suecen, reflecting credit upon the citizens of Wellington and our fel-low-colonists generally. His Excellency the Governor and Lidy Bowen, Captain Young, A. 13.0., the Lord Bislnp of New Zealand, the Rev. Mr Patcrson, Mr Justice Johnston, the Superintendents of provinces, members of the Ministry and of the General Assembly, and many gentlemen holding high official positions, were present. A largo number of ladies attended the dejeuner, and others of the fair sex occupied seats in the gallery. A band played several selections under the direction of Mr C. Russell, who presided at the pianoforte. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Boweu were received with the customary marks of respect. Sir George Grey entered the Hall shortly after his Excellency the Governor. The chair was occupied by Sir David Munro, the vice-chair by his Honor Mr Justice Johnston, and the side tables were presided over by Donald M'Lean. Esq., Superintendent of the province of Hawke's Bay,and J. Dransfleld, Esq., Chairman of the Wellington Board of Works. Sir George Grey's health having been proposed to Sir D. Munro, and drank with enthusiasm, he responded as follows " La'lies and gentlemen: I cannot in an ordinary manner return thanks to those who have paid me this great honour. I almost fear to trust my feelings or to try to speak to you. Allow me first to thank his Excellency the Governor for the courteous, kind, I may c say, hearty manner in which he has been pleased to speak in my favour. I will also return thanks to your Chairman for the compliment he has paid me; and tell him that I feel grateful indeed to him for the manner in which he has done it. And then I will say to yourselves, that I am not only grateful to

you for the compliment which you on this occasion pay me, but also for the many acts of kindness and friendship and sympathy which I have experienced from you during long and trying years (cheers) acts of kindness repeated almost by suceescessive generations—first by fathers and then by their children, and in some instances I might almost say by the children of those children. (Cheers.) I feel when I reflect on this that Providence has blessed ine beyond almost any other man of the present day, Years ago, when England was in a state of depression, when want and suffering prevailed among the poorer classes, when there were but few openings for the young men of the middle class or the sons of gentry, I determined to devote myself to the duty of finding new homes to which these persons might proceed. (Hear, and cheers.) I believed that in so doing that 1 would be doing my duty to the generation and the age in which I lived, I entered upon that dutv with no further motive than that it was a duty which 1 ought to have performed, with no prospect that it should ever lead to results which the most far-seeingcould not then have anticipated. That I should have seen communiiics rise up in several parts of the world —that I should see thriving populations in places which I myself had discovered—that I should see great wealth, and great prosperity, and great intellect, existing in countries which were a few years since almost wastes—that I should see individuals who had come to the colony without a home and with little prospect in life, now become the possessors of estates, living in competence and ease—that I should know that there are in many lands, thousands of houses which I can enter as a welcome guest (loud and continued cheering) that I should know that over greatjdistriots »f territory in several countries, aot a marriage takes place but I knew the parties or their parents, and e joy the sense of satisfaction which is inspired by the knowledge of the happiness of others—that I should see legislatures as well as communities, snd I may say the governors of provinces—that I should see boys whom I have petted in their youth, grow up to warriors who came forward when required to the service of their country in times of danger, and tlmt I should know that all these men look upon me as their friend. (Loud and long-continued cheers: Sir George Grey was visibly moved by epiotion, and could scarcely proceed without hesitating) One gets overwhelmed when these thoughts burst on the mind. Nay, i know that there is scarcely even a churchyard that I could enter, in which, looking round upon the tomb-stones, I would not see the names of those whom I knew and respected while living, and for whom I could weep as I itood there. I fay tint a man surrounded with such affectionate regard seeing whole generations rising to wealth and opulence ; seeing so many new countries springing up almost tinder his own hand and becoming the germs of important nations. (Cheers.) I say the man who sees and has contributed the least to these results has been blessed beyond almost any other man of his age. (Cheers.) Even as I look aronnd me at this moment I see some approaching the decline of life whom I have known in the vigour of youth, who were my friends then and continue to be so now. (Cheers.) I can see their children fitting here whom I have known in their infancy, snd who now assemble to bid me '• God speed," as I am now once more about to depart from these shores, You may well believe that when I Bee these things mv heart is fill-d with gratitude that I am enabled to indulge in such reflections as such an occasion suggea s. I can say no more to you than that I am grateful to you, and I trust that . hereafter I will be. able to give you proof v how entirely 1 reciproeate the affection that las been so long shewn me. (Cheers.) Sir George Grey proposed "Prosperity to New Zealand" ia the following word* To him there was something almost solemn in the thought of a youthful colony growing up gradually into a great empire, the foundations of which had been laid by its inhabitants by whom he was then surroimdei. When he asked them to drink prosperity to those homes which themselves had made, and won from the wilderness—prosperity to a commerce which they themselves had created —prosperity to the country which they had so prepared as to become the homes of their Children—to the Constitution (Cheers)—tn its Legislature, of which many then present were distinguished members;-there was iomething almost solemn in the thought. In Europe the past belonged to the people; the future belonged to the people in New Zealand. As far as man can make the future, the future iB made by the people of this colony. He felt almost appalled with the immensity of the thought when he considered what had been already achieved, and knew that other generations would look back to the epoch during which they were then living as the most interesting epoch -Of the human race. In asking the company to join him in the toast, he asked'them, as it were, to drink prosperity to the promising child which they had reared. He believed ■the colony was so situated as to be the centre' •of a commerce such as had not been surpassed at the ends of the earth. He believed that •there was not one amongst those assembled who bad been associated with the rise of the colony who would not sacrifice all he posßeßsed to secure the safety or promote the advancement of New Zealand. (Cheers.) Jnst before the company dispersed. Sir George Grey made the following additional remarks Ladies and gentlemen, I have now to wish you farewell, for I am obliged to receive addresses from deputations that are waiting for me outside. Before doing so, permit me to say a few words. I was really 60 overcome by my feelings when I returned thanks for your bavins drunk my health, that I was hardly aware what I omitted to say that I should like to have said. What I now wish to say is that I am succeeded by a gentleman of great ability and great reputation ; and I ask you to give him the same aid—the same assistance that you have given to me; to cheer him along the patli of a most ardnous duty in a most critical time. Rest assured if you do that he will repay you. You will, in doing so, allow me to hope that possibly this further privilege may be given to ins thftt hMG&ftfir whon hs leaves such a board as this I myself may be the chairman of some such meeting as that I gee before me (loud and prolonged cheering), to express gratitude to him for services rendered, and to tell him, without one pang of envy, that I recognise in those services deserts that surpassed mine in the services of this colony and its inhabitants. (Cheers.) As Sir George Grey was about to leave the hall Mr W. B. Rhodes called for nine cheers for the ex-Governor, which were given with great enthusiasm.