The Premier at Christchurch.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2921, 25 August 1879, Page 2

The Premier at Christchurch.

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.

(B¥ TELEGRAPH.)

CBRISTOHURCH Sunday night. Silt George Grey was announced to nieot the electors last night, at seven o'clock, in the Oddfellows' Hall, and fully on hour in advance of tho time tho people commenced to arrive. At seveu o'clock standing room in tho hall was not to bo had, while on the outside of the building the windows wero surrounded" by groups of eager listeners. 'I he appearance of Sir George upon the platform (which was also crowded) .was the signal for loud and prolonged cheering, amidst which the sihilution of hissing was clearly detected. The continued cheering, cbiipled With all the noises incident to n very large gathering, preventedthe Mayor's opening speech from Keiug'hoard distinctly, and then when quietude did appear to be gained, the fainting of a man and the movement of those who wished to afford egress for those who were carryinghini out, renewed tho pci'turbatiou. Fully 0110-half of the' vast audience were unaware of tlie cause of this movement, and concluding, doubtless, that it was an attempt to raise a disturbance, tlicy grew somewhat excited. Suggestions were offered for the adjournment of the assemblage to a larger hall, and nt length the Mayor announced that an adjournment would bo made to tho Drill-shed. Two or three hundred people at onco started thither, but the great bulk of the meeting showed 110 disposition to move, evidently suspicious that the object was merely to get their room and avoid their company. It was then determined to postpone the meeting, and with this object tho curtain was dropped. Seeing however that the audience were desirous of hearing him at once, Sir George Grey had tho curtain raised. He stepped to the front and said: — "Gentlemen : I never ran away in my life, and I am not going:-to do so now." He had got thus far when some hissing became perceptible. The assemblage then began to cheer tor Sir Geo. Grey.and kept it up for some time.ThoPremier resumed his speech, aiul.getting rid of his hoarseness, spoke most effectively. The audience were speedily fired with tlie greatest c]itlmsinsui,aiid at intervals throughout the evening cheered most lustily. Whenever the speaker commenced a sentence w.|th the .yordsj, "Should I be returned," or "If lain elected," he was invariably interrupted by cries and shouts of " You will," " You shall," etc. • At the close of the speech a large num--I_jq- of questions were satisfactorily answered. Dr. Tiirnbull proposed and Mr Higgins (Ashley) seconded a vote of confidence and thanks in the caudidate. The proposition was received with deafening cheers-, aiid on being-put to the nieetjiig was met with another outburst of qliqers.' ' No one voted against it, and it was there, fore declared unanimously carrici}. ' ■ Tho mooting' concluded about '.ialf-past UteUfj •l',"'':'_,,f ';''-':'.m." ,''?,." "•'■' [':.'■'; r :'''-'''_'''"'-'.}