SIR GEORGE GREY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 254, 27 October 1898, Page 6

SIR GEORGE GREY.

A TRIBUTE TO HIS AfEAiOEY

THE STATUE SCHEAIE REVIVED

A STRONG COAiAHTTEE FORAIED

A public meeting was held in the Auckland Alunicipal Buildings on Oct. llth to consider the question of erecting a permanent memorial to the late Sir George Grey. About fifty citizens responded to the Mayor's invitation to be present.

Among those in attendance .vere the Revs. Canon Nelson, "W. J. Williams, Rabbi Goldstein, T. F. Robertson, Dr. Wallis, Dr. King, Hon. J. A. Tole, Alessrs. S. J. Nathan, F. E. Baume, W. J. Speight, P. A. Philips, J. B. Graham, John Mitchell, XV. Bee-.*hq.-n } W. J. Napier, J. Fawcus, J. Regan, A. Sanford, P. R. Dix, John King, R. French, and several ladies. Air P- - . j- •±i-'ips stated that His IWorship the Alayor, Avho Avas to have presided, was not sufficiently .veil to be present that evening, and the meeting Avould therefore have to elect a chairman.

Air F. E. Baume was unanimously ■voted to the chair.

Apologies for non-attendance were received"from the Hon. William Jennings and Afersrs T. XV. Leys and J. M. Shera. A cablegram from AI rJ. H. Witheford, in London, stated that he ■was inviting donations for the statue fund.

Mr Baume said he was not prepared with any lengthy speech. He could not help expressing his regret that more of Auckland's representative citizens had not attended the meeting to shoAV their readiness to assist and contribute towards what must be regarded as an imperative duty, namely, the erection of a permanent memorial to the memory of one who must forever be regarded as the greatest statesman Avho ever A*isited this colony (hear, hear). Sir George Grey Avas not identified solely with one colony, but he had taken a part by no means small in building np the Great British Empire. His virtues as soldier, governor, and statesman had forced admiration from, those who paid any attention to those events which might reasonably be regarded as perhaps the most important in the history of English colonisation (applause). This was neither the time nor the place, however, to eulogise the departed. Their duty was clear and unmistakeable; they would be unAvorthy of the privilege of being New Zealanders Avere they not willing to join in this movement, and place on record in a permanent way their appreciatron of the late statesman. They must show their determination that amongst them would be found some memorial which future generations would look at and say, 'This man, Avho, for the jrreater part of his life, was so identified with New Zealand, has not been ..flowed to depart without having erected to his memory such a testi- :■ inial as reflects lustre upon him and credit upon those who took part in its erection (applause). The chairman then called upon Air P Dix, secretary of the movement Initiated some three years ago for for the erection of a statue to bir George Grey, to report upon the state of the funds still in hand. _ Air Dix said the old executive telt that the movement should start airesh from that evening. The total amount raised three years ago was ,£ISS 3/7, and they had in hand at the present time £120 19/6, the expenses having totalled about £18. This balance had been deposited in the National Bank, and Avas bearing interest. The old executive Avere willing- to hand over the money to Ayhatever committee might be appointed to carry on the work. Air P A. Philips said that perhaps it would not be out of place for him, as a very old resident of Auckland and having known Sir George Grey since half a century ago, to pay a passing tribute to his greatness. Sir George was undoubtedly the greatest benefactor Auckland ever had. His zeal m the establishing of the Free Library was knoAvn to all, and what he had done in the past'to enable this city at no very distant date to become one of the wealthiest in the colonies they Jcnew from experience. Prior to the establishment of the Provincial Councils, Sir George had made ample endoAvmeuts to the city of Auckland, and at the present time there Avere fully 50 acres of property in the city which were in the position of endoAVments, which at no very distant date must yield a very large revenue to the city, and enable it to be what he hoped and expected it yet would be, 'the pride of the colonies? He mentioned these matters because he thought they should know the very great debt of gratitude they owed to this great man, for he was a great man. He need not point out in referring to the Free Library and Art Gallery how Sir George Grey's heart and soul were in these institutions. During the whole time Sir George was in England he was constantly sending out books and curios, and nearly every man brought from him fresh donations to the collection. All his thoug-hts had been in the direction ot benefiting Auckland in particular and New Zealand in general. The speaker added that he had hoped to see aero v. ded meeting that evening, out of respect .tor the memory of so great a man. He concluded by moving that a committee be appointed to carry on the movement. Air W. J. Speight deprecated the general unpreparedness and Avant of method about the present proceedings. Surely they should first pass a resolution marking their appreciation of trie work of Sir George Grey, and then decide what form the memorial should i take, before proceeding to appoint a committee. This course having been decided upon, j Air Speight moved, 'That this meet- j ing, as representing the people ol i Auckland, places upon record its deep and lasting appreciation of the high j character, noble services and personal ! worth of the late Sir George Grey.* i The mover said he gathered from the ; newspapers that it Avas intended to raise a colonial statue to Sir George, and he thought they should make it clear that under no circumstances would Auckland part with its privilege of having a statue of its own in memory of the deceased statesman, who had been to Auckland what a thousand ordinary men could not have been (Applause.) A colonial statue, t_?t° __ p 1 r 1 0baWy Wellington, should not be allowed to take precedence of twt'fisol^ by Aucklanders. He thought there would be no difficulty 'to St". g6ttl?g the money *ecessar> crettt\o P.£ Statue which wou-<l *-<- a Si G_ot hG?ev an Hto the mem°ry °* no stonp +« „ y" Hls memory needed £_s?°^r& mos'? v u-- a

It might be moreover that the younger members of the city did not appreciate the Avork of the man now gone, the mark that he had left upon time. A great man had departed from them, ancl they ought to fittingly recognise the fact that he did belong to them. (Applause.)

Canon Nelson, in seconding the motion, said that Sir George Grey Avas Cosmopolitan in every sense of the word; he Avas a NeAv Zealander; but if they could single out a portion of New Zealand in which his best affections and best hopes 'aa'ere placed, it Avas certainly Auckland (applause). Whatever memorial might be raised to his memory, they had a right to hope and expect that Auckland would not forget the part Sir George played in shaping her destiny. If Aucklanders forgot the benefits he had conferred upon them, they should be wanting in their duty.

Air J. Regan felt disappointed at the scanty attendance, and especially at the fact of the working classes of Auckland being so scantily represented. When they considered lioav Sir George Avorkerl for the masses, it was a reflection upon the Avorking classes of Auckland that they were not vfilling the place to over-floAving that evening. The speaker hoped, however, that the poor attendance would not be in any A\ay an obstacle in the Avay of vigorous efforts to erect a memorial to Sir George Grey (hear, hear).

Air J; Mitchell remarked that the meeting was not a representative one in any sense of the Avord, aid ih^y should one and all feel ashamed of the poor attendance on such an occasion. He expressed regret that the City Council Avere not present in a body, and declared that the Council had been false to their trust in not coming to the meeting and taking a leading part ih the movement. The poor attendance showed a total Avant of the sentiment of gratitude in the community.

Air XV. J. Napier thought some misunderstanding existed about the absence of working men that evening. Alany of the political friends of Sir George Grey thought it would be desirable for them to hold aloof from the meeting, in order to keep the movement as far as possible apart from politics. He did not think there was any apathy among the Avorkingmen ,and was sure that they would freely give according to their means (hear, hear). He thought that for a toAvn Uke Auckland there was a fairly representative attendance. Alany successful movements had been inaugurated by a few men; five men, for instance, had started the great Corn LaAV movement in England. Referring to Sir - George's gifts to the Free Library, Air Napier said he did not think one per cent, of the community realised the treasures they possessed in the Library. He knew personally that Sir George Grey's ambition Avas that Auckland should be a great seat of learning. Under the circumstances it would be shameful if they were to throw upon the colony the onus of providing a memorial. He thought there would be no difficulty in raising £1,500 for a statue.

Air Philips, on behalf of the City Council, pointed out that the Council had forAvarded a sympathetic resolution to the relatives of Sir George Grey. The motion, on being put -to the meeting, was carried by acclamation. The Hon. J. A. Tole hoped that the question of politics aa .mid not be introduced, ancl that there Avould be no element of discord in paying this tribute to Auckland's great benefactor, bir George needed no monument Avhatever; he had built it for himself within those Avails. But it Avas fitting that they should make some little mark of recognition of him whose fame was so high indeed that it should be covered by the heavens alone. (Applause.) He moved, 'That as a fitting memorial of his great services to the colony, and especially of his benefactions to Auckland, a statue of Sir George Grey be erected in Auckland by public subscription.' The Rev. W. J. Williams seconded the motion, and in doing so expressed regret that the attendance was not larger, and that more members of the City Council Avere not present. ... Air Baume said that as a councillor he could say he Avas sure -that the absence of the councillors must be due to a Culmination of business circumstances. Mr Williams: Perhaps they see So much of this room that they have'felt glad to stay aAvay (laughter). The Rev. T. F. Robertson said that some misunderstanding might have occurred, but that should not. make them hopeless. He explained that many members of the Presbyterian clergy were unable to be present on account of a Presbytery meeting. Air Speight: But the City Council are not alf Presbyterian.. (Laughter.) The motion Avas then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. ' On the motion of Air P. A. Philips it Avas decided that the old committee should be re-elected, together Avith a committee from the present meeting, the committee to be constituted as fol-lows-—--The Auckland members of the Legislature, the Alayors and councillors of Auckland, Newton, Parnell, _\eAvmarket, Devonport, and Birkenhead, Alessrs Tole, N. A. Nathan, E. Udy, Theo. Cooper, Graves Aickin, Dr. Laishley, W. S. Wilson, A. G. Horton, D. Gold'ie, F. G. Ewington, J. AL Shera, H. Brett, Thomas Gee, T. White, AI. A. Clark, A. Rosser, AL Davis, -J. Dargaville, W. J. Napier, James Afennlc, James Heron, D. G. AlacDonnell, J. AI. Lennox, G. Gentry, Darby, R. Tudehope, J. Patterson, J. Blades, J. T. Boylan, Dr. Walker, T. Tudehope, J. j Al. ArcLachlan, J. Fawcus, G. Rhodes, jT. Alackv, W. GoldAvater, Dr. • McI Arthur, J. Roycroft, John King, A. ' Sanford, G. FoAvlds, Canon Nelson, Dr. Wallis, F. E. Baume, Dr. Campbell, John Burns, G. AI. Reed, Chairman Northern County Councils, heads Of j religious denominations, Chairman of i Harbour Board, Dr. King, John Alit- ! chell, Rabbi Goldstein, Father Egan, j Rev. J. Parker, Rev. Joseph Clark, Geo. | PoAvley, W. Fricker, Chas. Wright, ' Wm. Leys, A. Bo'ardman, J. Leydon, J. I Mitchell. G. Peacocke. Jackson ' Palmer, F. L. Prime, Father W. Mc- ! Donald, W. Sanford, N. Pollard, Rev. Shirley Baker, R. French. Dickson. J. ; P.. Graham; Alesdamcs Kerr. Daldy, \ Schnackenberg, Alsopp, Aiitchell, C. C. | AlcAlillan, Caradus, Farrell, Collings,

j Hendre, Shera, Lumsden, Johnston, | Twohill, Kirkby and Gibson, with j power to add to their number. A vote of thanks to the chairman I terminated the proceedings.

The first meeting of the Committee j will be held next Alonday evening.