The Chutha Leader THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 1874.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 21, 3 December 1874, Page 4

The Chutha Leader THURS DAY, DEC. 3, 1874.

If we may believe the telegrams from the North, which convey intelligence of Sir George Grey's actions and intentions, our ex-Governor has resolved to emerge from his retirement, and actively to interest himself in the political affairs of the Colony. Having the highest respect for Sir George, and knowing what he has done and suffered for New Zealand, we think it desirable to relate somewhat of his political career, as he has so long retired from public life, and as there are many amongst us to whom he is little known. So early as 1837, Sir George Grey commenced to do his country good service by an exploratory expedition in Western Australia, in company with Lieut. Lushington : at one time winding his way amid a labyrinth of wild rocks, towering in burning nakedness, or peering above the thick forest; at another, swimming across a rushing torrent, amid hostile natives — when he was severely wounded by a spear. Again, in 1889, we find him bent on fresh discoveries, amid almost untold suffering, he and his party sucking the dew from the grass arid from the leaves of trees, when, to save them, he was obliged to precede his party to Perth, which he reached after twenty days of hunger, thirst, heat, and anxiety—^not a soul recognising him, and even his friends starting back from so spectral an apparition* Such exertions were rewarded by his appointment, in 1841. to the Governorship of South Australia, the affairs of which he conducted for four or five years with conspicuous ! ability and zeal — taking a deep interest in the aborigines, locating the immigrants to form settlements in the interior, and redeeming the finances of the Colony. But a Governor was wanted for New Zealand, then in the commencement of her troubles. There was little doubt as to the choice. Sir James Graham spoke of the comparatively unknown Sir George as of one " whose course in " the treatment of the aborigines should " be the example and the model of the *' treatment of the natives of New " Zealand." On the 13th of- June, 1845, Lord Stanley (now Lord Derby) in addressing Sir George Grey, said ; "The urgent necessity which has arisen for invoking your aid in the ** administration of the Government of " New Zealand is the single apology I " have to offer (to a man of your " character it will be an ample apology) '•- for calling on you, without any pre- " vious notice, to incur the sacrifice and " inconvenience of proceeding thither " with the least practicable delay." Nor was this confidence misplaced. The Parliamentary records of the Colony will tell to inquirers how faithfully and earnestly he did his duty — quelling Heke's insurrection in 1846, repelling the Hutt insurgents in the same year, making roads in every direction, and laying the foundations of that Constitution under which we hitherto have prospered. Well might Earl Grey say, in the January of 1847; "Her " Majesty's commands were to assure " you that she was deeply sensible of " the energy with which you have " acted during the military operations, " and Her Majesty views with entire " satisfaction the measures which you <( have adopted." There was, however, another Colony needing an able administrator, and Sir George's services were again called into requisition. In 1853, he retired from the Governorship of Hew Zealand and entered on "that of the Cape of Good Hope. The history of the services he there rendered till June, 1859, are imperishably recorded in the annals of the Cape ; but he could never forget that he was the guardian of a Colony as well as the representative of the Queen. His large and comprehensive services were handsomely acknowledged hy the Government of the day ; but he was recalled, because he acted in a trying position without specific instructions. The wound was not allowed to rankle, for more than 2000 of the chief inhabitants, hastened to express their sympathy with him, and to declare that he had "deservedly "earned for himself a reputation as "imperishable as any of his works, and " a name which will be uttered by the " present and future generations with " feelings of respect and veneration." The year had scarcely closed when the Duke of Newcastlerestored-Sir George to the Government of N the Cape, and to the confidence of Her Majesty's Ministry. But a dark cloud was beginning io enfold New Zealand, and it was thought that he who haddealt so successfully with the natives in former years, should again assume the helm; so in the June of 1861, we find that, wJ»!« most highly complimenting

nu , ■ ■' .. X I,' I 1 " I ■ IH the then Governor. — Colonel Goßri Browne, whose services were required elsewhere, the Duke of Newcastle addressing Sir George Grey, writes, " Government feel there is no servant -- of the Crown on whose resources and ft experience they can so entirely rely "as on your own, for averting, if pos-* "sible, the dangers with which the . " Colonists and the Maoris are alike " threatened. I feel certain," writes the Duke, "you. will not decline ike "opportunity which is offered you of " doing your country important service, ■ , and I have advised Her Majesty to '* appoint you Governor of New Zea- " land." The country was then about to plunge, if it had not even then been plunged, into the horrors of the rebellion. Complications of various kinds arose, and the Colonists were cruelly accused of fostering the rebellion ta serve their own ends — an accusation as groundless as malicious. True to his native instinct of duty to those he go--verned, his despatches to Her Majesty's Ministers assumed a tone that could not be borne, and the noble services of so many years were , repaid by a recall. But if Her Majesty'sMinisters were unmindful of the zeal, ability, and disinterestedness with which they were served the Parliament of New Zealand lost not a moment in their expressions of its sympathy, and a fervent hope was uttered^ not only in Parliament, but by the country generally, that when the passions of the moment have passed away, and when personal feeling and prejudice no longer obscure the distinction between right and wrong, it will be universally admitted that during the* occurrence of circumstances of peculiar complexity and darkest gloom, Sir George Grey performed loyal service 4 to his Sovereign, and devoted himself earnestly to the service of the Colony,* whose affairs he was sent to administer. We feel that we have done Sir George but scant justice, for it is an historic* curiosity to find such a galaxy of eminent statesmen concurring in the valuable results of his various administrations, and using language which' might make any man proud. However, his political career was closed, and he* retired for a short time to England, where, with some earnest associates, he' stemmed the tide which was fast setting in against the Colonial dependencies of Britain, and obliged the Ministry of the day to view them, as they had once been, viewed, as the brightest" jewels of the British Crown. Returning tb New Zealand, it was Sir GeorgeGttEY's privilege to witness, in the seclusion of Eawau, the success of those' salutary lessons which he had taughtthe aborigines, by the use of the Colonial forces and loyal Natives, whicht were so ably continued by the generousforbearance and the kindly treatment ; of the Government which succeeded his.And, Sir Gkorge would have remained' quiet in his silent solitude, had not thefoundations on which he laid the Constitution been threatened with destruction. None can doubt his deep earnestness, his kindly intentions — thought his judgment may be open to criticism. We are not in possession of the grounds which, in his opinion, justified the suspicion that, the Imperial Government were to be urged to pass an Act, un--asked for^ by New Zealand : but we" must confess our regret that he has* thought it right to ignore the existence* of a compact with regard to the Waste Lands of the Crown, which we feel it impossible to conceive he did not know of, and which, if he did, it is now toolate to repudiate,- on the grounds he has* adduced ; for, re-appointed to the governorship of New Zealand in 1861, we' cannot understand how he could be ignorant of the Very important financial arrangements of 1856, which Were embodied in Acts of the General Assembly in 1858. Whether right or wrong in his present actions, we hail Sir George Grey's appearance as we~ Wduld hail one of noble instincts, long and loyal service, large experience, in-~ domitable devotion to his adopted country, and the cause of science and. education. Such men, on whatever" side of politics they array themselves,are a real gain and honor to a country.