PUBLIC RECEPTION OF SIR GEO. GREY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4375, 20 November 1875, Page 3

PUBLIC RECEPTION OF SIR GEO. GREY.

Sia George Grey,- Superintendent of this Province, arrived in Auckland on the 9th November, and was : honoured with a public reception; in acknowledgment of his services during the Session of Assembly. , ■ The first suggestion that a public reception-should be givento the SuperintendenCof Auckland and the member for the City West in the General Assembly,.was suddenly made and eagerly taken up by the whole community. The larger structures et the city buildings were surmounted by the British "ensigns, in red, white, and blue ; the St. George's Cross; occasionally the Royal.standard; while the corners of streets were connected with lines of waving bunting, that had an excellent effect. The less frequented streets upon the rising grounds which flank the main thoroughfare exhibited similar displays in greater or less abundance. There could not be a better ideal of a city in holiday attire than was afforded by Auckland. At 9 o'clock Sir George Grey left the Hawea, which had arrived at Onehunga at 8 o'clock, accompanied by Mr. R..Wood,"Mr. Dignan, Mr. O'Rorke, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Von der Heyde ; and also by Messrs. R. Graham, J. Shera, and G.' M. ..Reed, members of the Reception Committee. There was . a large gathering of the inhabitants of Onehunga at the end of the wharf to receive Sir.George and the other members of the' Assembly, who were greeted with hearty cheers. Mr. O'Rorke, introduced to Sir George Mr. Codlin, Mr. Macintyre, and Mr. Jackson, members of the District Board, who had to present an address on behalf of the inhabitants of the locality. Mr. Jackson read the address, which was as follows :— ro His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., M.H.R., Superintendent of the Province of. Auckland, May it please your Honor,—On behalf of the inhabitants of the Town of Onehunga the District Board proffer yon sincere welsome on landing here upon your return to the province.. of Auckland, of which you are the honoured head. We wail ourselves of this opportunity to tbank you from our beam for the lability,, perseverance, and courage with which you fought for the.rights of the people to be heard by means of a general election before revolutionary changes should .be effected in the Constitution conferred upon this colony by Her Majesty and the Imperial Parliament. We applaud the. courage you displayed in dragging into the light of. day and exposing official abuses and misdeeds. "We console ourselves with the reflection that if it should be the will of the people that the Provincial form of Government should p»ss away, this event will not have been brought about through any want of .zealous effort on the part of your Honor or of those with whom you were politically associated during the late Parliamentary struggle, and we feel assured that the chivalry, honesty, and highmfudedness exhibited by you throughout your career as Superintendent will long bo remembered by the people of this province with gratitude and affection. Onehunga has special reason to thank you for the warm support you afforded our esteemed representative in his advocacy of the interests of this place, more especially in obtaining the reserved lands as endowments for the benefit of the town. It is our earnest prayer that yon may long live amongst the people whose cause you have so faithfully served. J. D. Jackson, Chairman District Board.

Sir George Grey said: Gentlemen, —I will only ask you to return my thanks to the inhabitants of Onehunga for this address. I beg to assure you that, so long as you have such a representative as Mr. O'Rorke, aided by the other gentlemen who assisted me during the late session, the interests of the province and of this town will never be overlooked. Allow me to say that, as having been the person who selected the site for the settlement of Onehunga, I have ever watched its progress. You may rely upon finding a firm aud fast friend in myself, and that all I can do to promote your interests, I will do. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Oodlin then called for three cheers for their member, Mr. O'Rorke, and the call was very heartily responded to. Cheers were also given for Sir George and the other members as they entered the carriages to drive to town. In passing through Onehunga, Sir George was loudly cheered by the groups of people on the footpaths, ladies waved their handkerchiefs, while several old women, who had been resident in Onehunga probably ever since the settlement was formed, waved shawls ala Maori. Newmarket was gay with flags, lines of bunting being stretched across the road, : while mottoes of welcome and commendation were conspicuously displayed. A largo crowd was collected, who cheered lustily as he carriages drove up under the tasteful iumphal arch which had been erected. Mr. Angus, accompanied by the members of the local committee, approached the carriage and read the following address :— Sir George Grey,—Wo have much plei'sure, on boha'.f of the inhabitants of this district, in welcoming you back to Auckland. Wo recognise in you our defender, the foremost in our midst, in fighting for its rights. Our desire is to honor those who thus flght for us. We hope that you will continue to work for us and be the means yet, whatever destinies the next session may bring forth, of securing for Auckland province those privileges and that justice which it is rightly entitled to, and which have been so long withheld. Hoping that Beavcn's best blessing may rest upon you, and that success may crown your efforts, we welcome you back to Auckland. Sir George Grey, in reply, said : Gentlemen, —I thank you very much forthis address. You must recollect that it is to all those representatives who assisted me that I am indebted for anything I have been able to do. You may rely upon it that we will continue our exertions until we obtain for the province of Auckland every right she ought to have and shall possess. I thank you very much for the honour you have done me. Three cheers having been given, the carriages drove on by Kyber Pass Road. When the procession appeared in Symonds. street, there was an evident rush to the windows of the houses, followed by the usual waving of white handkerchiefs. Upon turning into Karangahape Road, the nrebells were set a-ringing. People were proceeding from various directions to the place of reception in Queen-street. The Mayor of Auckland, F. L. Prime, Esq.., awaited the arrival of Sir George Grey upon the platform- The balconies of ithe neighbouring hotels and the windows and roofs of the surrounding houses were filled with spectators of both sexes, and ladies wore not afraid to assemble in considerable number upon the verandahs over the shop-fronts. The moment Sir George Grey came within hearing he was received with loud and prolonged cheering, which never ceased until he had ascended the platform and Mr. Robert Graham commenced (to read the address. As Sir George's carriage approached the platform, the band struck up " See, the Conquering Hero Comes." The rushing of persons to and fro, the orowding of vehicles oil all kinds within a limited space, imparted quite an excitement to the whole scene. The moment Sir George Grey appeared on this platform he was greeted with renewed plaudits and waving of handkerchiefs, which lasted for some minutes. He shook hands with several •old friends and acquaintances, and when these salutations had concluded, Mr. Robert Graham,, chairman of the Reception Committee, read the following address, which was handsomely engrossed : —

To His Honor Sir George Grey, Knight, Commander ■of the most honourable Order of the Bath, Superintendent of the Province of Auckland. The people of Auckland desire to welcome your Honor upon your return to this province, and to express their hearty approbation of the patriotic and unfilndiuig efforts made by yourself and those members of the Assembly representing this province who, under your leadership, successfully maintained the right of the people to deeide on the merits of the changes proposed to be made in the Constitution of New Zealand. They assure your Honor that they hav* watched with the deepest interest the arduous struggle carried on by yourself and the party led by you in theeolonial Assembly, and that they have hailed with theihjghest satisfaction the substantial triumph achieved bjr/ou in the causa of Constitutional freedom and the r&its of the people of this colony. jSigned, bf direction of the Executive Committee, Bobbst Gmmw, ChAirmAXL

V There were repented and Vociferous cheers at the conclusion of the address, and when quietness; had been, somewhat restored, Sir ,6koeoe ; Ghey said: Mr. Graham and gentlemen,—l thank you all moat heartily for the welcome yon have given to myself and to those friends who so nobly aided me in the General Assembly. I have just come from travelling through some of the most beautiful portions of the colony of New Zealand, but I have never seen anything equalling in beauty or fertility what has met my view in the drive I have had from Onehunga into Auckland. (Cheers.) My pleasure in seeing that scene is enhanced by feeling that now, if it is determined to break up' the federation which formerly existed, we have ; remitted into our own hands the power of deciding what our own future shall be. (Applause.) It is the invariable law of empires, that if provinces federate together, and if that federation is destroyed, each province in the community shall determine upon what terms it will re-enter any other federation which may be established. ' The inhabitants of the province of Auckland have now in their own hands the power of deciding the future for themselves, and for the beautiful country which they inhabit. (Cheers.) I can tell you that in coming to a determination as to what your own future shall be, you will find all the wisest and best men of the colony of New Zealand ready to give you a helping hand. (Cheers.) We must all think steadfastly, and deliberate with care, and ultimately come to a determination to which we will resolve to adhere. In coming to that determination, myself and those noble men who have aided me will give you every assistance in our power. The matter now lies in your own hands. Act well and truly, and you will find that we will endeavour to put your future prosperity upon a basis that nothing pan disturb. (Prolonged cheering.) I will not keep you longer upon this holiday. Once again, I thank you for the magnificent reception you have this day given to myself and to my friends. Mr. Graham then called for threo cheers for Sir George Grey, which were given with the utmost stretch of the lungs by every individual present, those who were at the windows, most of whom were ladies, joining in the tribute of applause by waving of handkerchiefs. Some one in the crowd called for cheers for Mr. Swanson, and after these had been given that gentleman spoke a few words. He said he thought the best speech he could make would be the shortest one. He would only say that he thought that great changes such as had been brought forward in the last session of the Assembly should be left for the people to decide upon for themselves, and should not be thrust upon them as had been attempted to be done. (Cheers.) Sir George Grey and the rest of the party then entered their carriages and drove down Queen-street, which presented a busy and enlivening spectacle. The bands played their loudest notes, while from pavements, windows, and balconies came continuous cheering. The driving down Queen-street was done at rather too rapid a pace; so that very iew of those who were present at the platform managed to get to the Provincial Government offices at the top of Shortland-street, where it was arranged that Hiß Honor the Superintendent should be left. After Sir George had entered the building, the crowd remained till he came on to the balcony, where he was received with cheering. Addressing the crowd, he said : I am just going to wish you good-bye —(A Voice: No fear, you are not going yet)—and to thank you for the reception you have given me. I am sure that nothing in the world could gratify thu heart of man more than to travel through Ihe beautiful country I have just passed tlv.-ough, and to be received in such a manner by the people that inhabit it. I can assure yoii I can never forget the sight, nor the kindness I have met with from you all.

Three cheers were then given for Sir George, who proposed three eheera for the Queen; and after these had been given, three for the Reception Committee, who, said Sir George, had organised this magnificent sight. Mr. G. M. Reed called for three cheers for Separation, and the proposal was heartily responded to. Sir George then went into his office, and the crowd gradually dispersed.