RECEPTION OF SIR GEORGE GREY, R.C.B.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5016, 13 December 1877, Page 3

RECEPTION OF SIR GEORGE GREY, R.C.B.

A HEiTisc, convened by circular issued by Mr. J. M. Shera, a;- chairman of a preliminary meeting for the purpose of deciding tin; form of a reception to be given to the I iemier aud the Auckland members who supported liitu in the late session of tho General Assembly was held yestc-day, in the Temperance Hall, Albert-street. On the motion of Mr. \\ .u>r>F.fj. seconded by Mr. P. Dakhv, Mr. J. M. .Slier i was called to the chair. The CiiAUiMAN explained the object of the meeting to those present, and left it to be determined what form the reception should take. Dr. Lf.e said he was instructed by a meeting held on the 10th, to communicate with Sir George Grey as to the probable time of his return to Auckland. He (Dr. Lee) forwarded accordingly tho following telegram :— " To Sir George Grey, 1v.C.8., Premier of the Colony,—l am requested to elicit from you the probable time of your arrival iu Auckland, and at which port, as the people are desirous of giving you a public reception." To this ;ir George Grey had forwarded the following answer : —"I will reply to-morrow or next day." The word "people" was used, as it was deemed more consonant with the general tone of public feeling. A letter was received from Captain Isaacs, to the effect that he would endeavour to have a good muster of the Jsixou Light Horse upon the occasion, if due notice were given of the time of arrival. Mr. Tiioiirsox moved, seconded by Mr. H. Keesino, "That Sir George Grey, aud the members of the House of Representatives who supported him, be publicly welcomed, aud invited to address a meeting, to be buhl in the Theatre Royal or other suit able building." Mr. A. Black thought the readiness of Captaiu Isaacs suggested that a great many of tho other Voluutecrs might be present if a public half-holiday could be obtained. That ought not to he diflicult to obtain. Mr. George Stain ks came forward to move an amendment as follows :—" That it is the opinion of this meeting that it should be adjourned to an evening meeting, to allow a full and fair representation of the people to attend, with a view of eliciting the heart-felt feeling of the wor-'ing-elasses to Sir George Grey for his noble effort in their behalf during the late session of Parliament." He objected to day meetings. lie thought a much larger assemblage could be held at night—lsoo of the working classes at least. He thought the present meeting was a bad representation of the people of Auckland. He did not move the amendment with a hostile object to the meeting. The amendment of Mr. Staixks was put, but no one seemed desirous of seconding it. Mr. T. B. Htll said the object of the meeting could be only obtained by being unanimous.

Dr. Lee said it was necessary for Mr. Hill (to be in order) to second the amendment pro forma. Mr, JltLt, said he did not care to second the amendment. If it was to be a class movement, one section for the working classes and the other for so called gramUes, he would oppose it. He was desirous that the movement should be thoroughly unanimous.

Dr. Lei-: seconded the amendment (pro forma). He said the matter referred to by the mover of the amendment hail been considered by the committee, aud it was found more convenient for the purposes of organisation to hold the meeting at a time when representatives o£ all classes of the people might be present. The amendment was withdrawn. The motion as moved b3' Mr. Thompson and seconded by Mr. Keesing was carried. Mr. Hill objected to the reception being in any public building. He did not know of any building that would be large enough foi the purpose. He knew for a fact that a nnmber of settlers from the out-districts were desirous of being present. Xhe Chairman : But how if the day should be wet'!

Mr. Hill: Some provision should be marie. The Chairman .- That is the difficulty. It was agreed that the decisiou in this particular should rest with the committee. Mr. C. M. Madi<en moved, aud Mr. J. | .Smith seconded, "That a reception and executive committee be appointed to carry out the last resolutioa. : ' It was agreed that the committee consist of the Mayor and Corporation of Auckland, the Mayors of Parnell and Onehunga, the chairmen of suburban Highway Boards, Messrs. Daldy, Boylan, Wilson. Chadwick, Shera, H. iveesiug, E. Isaacs, Black, 'J hompson. Eyre, Herapath, Hamilton, Madden, Hill, Waddel, Masetield, Cosgrave, Mahoney, Williamson, Luckie, K. Graham, D. Goldie, Cob:, Coombes, King, Holdship, Hewin, Quick, Oronther, L. D. Nathan, Captain L'e-s-y, Mason, >Suiitb, C'ousin, Enoka. (a native of TauraDga), with power to add to their number. .Jr. A. Black objected to Mr. Luckie's Dame being ou the list of the committee. Mr. Lu'JKIH wished to withdraw his name. He regretted Mr. Black should carry his antipathy to such length, but ho -could assure that gentleman that he was under a total misapprehension. Mr. Waddel bopped to move an amendment, "That Mr. Luckie be not allowed to withdraw his name from the list of the committee.'' The CiiAiEMAX said the motion of Mr. Black had not been seconded. Mr. Luckie reminded the chairman and the meeting that he had been invited to attend by circular, and had out of courtesy attended. Mr. Henry" Keesi.sti seconded the amendment of Mr. Waddel. He thought it would be au error to exclude any persyn from a committee of the kind, more especially one who would be a useful and valuable supporter for the future. Mr. Luckie thought lac might be permitted to make an explanation with reference to the misapprehension under which Mr. Black seemed to labour. The idea of his being unfriendly to Sir George Grey was sitnplj' absurd. Be tween any two gentlemen there would, on particular points, probably be found minor matters of difference. But these could not be regarded as implying differences upon general grounds. No mail of independent in'ii I would slavishly yield his judgment on all points to another when important public questions presenting many sides offered themselves for di-jcusaion. Ho might be permitted to state that those who had watchcd his career in Auckland as a public writer in the l'ress, for a period of nearly five years, as well as some nine years previously in another province, would testify that ho (Mr. Luckic) had striven in the newspapers and elsewhere to obtain that which has now become part of the law of the land—namely, the " colonialisation" of the land fund, or more properly its appropriation to the service of this colony as a whole. No other public writer in the colony had more persistentl}' written with that object in view than himself, and he had done so when uumbers hero thought the thing hopeless. Such humble service as he had been able to perform in that respect ought not to bo forgotten, and should shield him from personal attack when willing to take, a part in public matters. (Cheers.) Mr. Geokgk Staines thought that Mr. Luckie was in a position to render essential service, and it would be a pity if the meeting t-houlcl 'neglect to avail itself of his set vices.

Enoka (Tauranga) wished to caution the me ting agaiust supposing that Mr. Morris, of Tauranga, was a friend of Sir George Grey. This concluded the business, and subscription lists were opened to curry out the object of the meeting.