SIR GEORGE GREY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8427, 1 December 1890, Page 6

SIR GEORGE GREY.

HIS LIFE AND LABOURS.

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. The following biographical sketch of the salient features of Sir George Grey's life, will bo of interest to our readers at tho present juncture. His life has been a itirring one, and his public career extends over half a century.

Sir George Grey, who has earned distinction alike as an explorer and Governor, is three years tho senior of Prince Bismarck, and the same number of years the junior of Mr. Gladstone. On the 6th of April, 1812, the Anglo-Portuguese army, under the command of Wellington, burst with long repressed fury on the town of Badajoz, tho capital of Estramadura, in Spain, and look it by storm. The bold leader of the third division, Colonel Urey, fell at tho third assault, and a week later, on April 14, his son George was born at Lisbon, in Portugal. Sir George Grey, in a letter from Wellington, dated 1884, to a friend in Auckland, says, in writing on the subject:—" My poor father fell on the night of the assault (the 6th), and I was born on the 14th. My birth was hurried on by his death at Lisbon, where my dear motiher would reside, to be near her husband to nurse him, if ho were wounded. In such sorrow was my entry into life." His father's deserts, his father's renown, naturally opened a military career for his son. Thnl father, at Alexandria, first turned the tide of victory against tho soldiers of tho Republicon his own responsibility leading his regiment in a bayonet charge against the French. It may bo gtated hero that tho Prince Regent wrote a letter of condolenco to Mrs. Grey on tho loss of her husband at Badajoz, and there was subsequently forwarded to the widow the gold medal awarded for his services. That gold nied.d, and the Order of the Medijie, which Colonel Grey received from the Turkish Government, for his services in the Egyptian campaign of 1801, arc in tho Grey collection in the Auckland Free Public Library. Young Grey was placed out at 14 years of age, in Sandhurst, where he soon signalised himself as a clever, daring, generous boy. He enjoyed through tho days of youth the teaching of Dr. Whately, afterwards Archbishop of Dublin. and entered the army at 17, as ensign in H.M.'s S.'ird Regiment, and a successful career at Sandhurst gained him a captaincy in his regiment by the time he was 21. Captain Grey subsequently retired from the service, and in 1537, he turned his attention to exploration, and volunteered to lead an expedition to the north-west coast of Now Holland. Lord Glenelg, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, accepted the offer of Captain Grey and Lieutenant Lushington to examine the western .and north western shores of the Continent, to ascertain whether some great river or water inlet might not be found to open out therea step which the British Government were the more inclined to take from the recommendation of the Royal Geographical Society and the urgent desires and hopes of the colonists of Western Australia. The expedition embarked on January sth, 1837, at Plymouth, in H.M.s. Beagle, Captain Wickhatn, R.>*. They proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope, calling at Tetieriffe and B.ihia en route. At the Cape Captain Grey hired the Lynher, schooner, Captain H. Brown, and started with a party consisting of 12 men, also 31 sheep, 19 goats, and six dogs, reaching the coast of Australia and anchoring in Port George on 2nd December, 1837.

TIIK EXPLORING EXPEDITION". Tho story, of that expedition i? given very graphically in his work entitled, "Journals of Two, Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia during 1837-38-39." This work (2 vols.), beautifully illustrated, is in " the Grey collection." In his preface he states that during his travels in Western Australia 1837-10, "he traversed extensive regions unknown to the European traveller, and probably never before trodden by the foot of civilised man. It is not alone with gratification of enlightened curiosity, that the countries now first brought to notice are likely to be objects of interest. A knowledge of the districts lying between Swan River and Sharks' Bay, cannot but be of importance to future colonists, whilst, the inter-tropical provinces of the north-west, coasts, distinguished as they are by important peculiarities, both of character and position, are equally calculated to draw the attention of the literary and enterprising enquirer." At Port George Captain Grey landed, intending to explore the shore for some distance, and he took with him a few men and some dogs, arrangements being made for the vessel to meet him at the bottom of the bay. But misfortune dogged their steps ; under the burning sun their stock of water failed. The dogs, unable to endure the heat, sickened and died, and the party were unable to go forward, though they bathed in the sea to refresh their parched frames. Captain Grey and a companion, Corporal Coles, started in advance, in hopes of reaching the schooner, but found themselves intercepted by an arm of the sea, 500 yards wide. The lives of all depended on establishing communication with the vessel.

A SWIM FOE LIFE. The river must be crossed, but Coles could not swim. Grey, therefore, stripped, except cap, shoes, and shirt, carrying his pistol over his he%d on entering the stream, to defend himself against the natives who were seen on the cliffs on the further shore, for in the violent tideway the stream washed the cap from his head, so that it dragged round his throat by the chin strap, and nearly throttled him. After a desperate struggle he got across, only, however, to hear a native call from the cliffs, and the answering coo-eo of his fellowblacks. Thus, practically unarmed, there Beemed nothing for it but to run the gauntlet of the savages. Darkness had now come on, and, terribly bruised and exhausted, Grey, on arriving opposite the Lynher, had hardly strength to hail her. But the blacks heard his call, and he now heard their voices around. Grey's position was now serious—unarmed, weak, naked, •and surrounded by hostile blacks. Thoroughly worn out, he crept into a hole in the rocks, flung himself down, and slept for some two hours, when he was roused by someone calling his name. It was the boatmen from the Lynheer, who pulled in, and brought off safely Grey and his party. HOW UK RECEIVED HIS SI'EAR WOUNDS. On December 16 Mr. Lushington sailed away in the Lynher to Timor for ponies, and in the interval Grey made short trips, in order to make observations on the fauna and flora of the country. On January 17, 1838, the Lynher returned with '20 ponies. After some exploration the party, on February 10, gained the elevated plain, having lost seven ponies and injured many others. The natives were often seen, and appeared hostile. It was the duty of a young man whom they had picked up at the Cape to notch the trees along the route as guideposts. Grey noticing that he had left a prominent one unmarked, sent him back to notch it, and not returning, Grey went back to look for him, and found him flying speechless with terror from a native, who, with couched spear, was in hot pursuit, accompanied by numbers of other sable denizens of the woods. Grey fired over the head of the assailant, whose retaliatory spear the next moment whistled by his head ; but whilst tho native was preparing for a second throw he shot him in the arm, which pub him hors de combat. The other natives closing in, Grey retired his men behind some rocks. The spears came whistling round, and their fate seemed inevitable. One, bolder than the rest, placed himself behind a rock, and flung a spear, which carried away a part of the stock of the leader's gun, who then handed Coles his gun to re-load, and taking the rifle from him, stepped out to level his assailant, receiving three spears in the act, which knocked him down and wounded him severely in the hip. The savages yelled with delight. Grey, however, was on his feet again in an instant, and sent a bullet through the savage's back. The affect was electric, and not another spear was hurled or another yell uttered: The little advance party now made for camp, Grey leaning on Coles, but. when trying to

cross a stream within two miles of camp, ho sprained his wounded hip so severely that ho had to lie down, and was unable t<\ rise again. Mr. Walker, the surgeon, and Lieutenant Lushington arrived with assistance, and transported the wounded leador to camp. The wound proved very serious and difficult to heal; in fact, Sir George has suffered periodically from tho effects of the wound ever since; but the work proceeded. On March 4, a river was discovered, which he named the Glenelg, after the Secretary, but with rapids in its channel. On March 31, no pass being discoverable through the "mountains, and provisions running out, the situation had to bo considered. The surgeon also informed Grey that he felt it to be his duty to recommend him to return to the vessel without delay, as in his debilitated condition a single night's exposure might cost him his life. Groy knew this to be true, and on April 4 they faced about for Hanover Bay, where they arrived on the loth, and found both the Lynher and H.M.s. Beagle in waiting. The ponies were turned adrift, and the party embarked for the Mauritius, thus bringing the first expedition to a close. THE SECOND EXPEDITION.

After recruiting at the Mauritius for a year or so, and consulting "Sir William Nicolay, tho Governor, Captain Grey determined to make for Swan River, to consult Sir James Stirling, tho Governor thore, who had boon instructed to afford him every assistance. Accordingly ho embarked his party at Port Louis on August 21, 183S, and arrived at Swan River on September 18. He at first determined upon revisiting tho north-west coast, as the objects of the first expedition had been too inadequately accomplished, a view in which Sir James Stirling concurred. Difficulties, however, intervened, and his plans were changed. He now purchased three whaleboats, and agreed with Captain Long, of tho American whaler Russell, to transfer his party to some point about Shark Bay, on one of tho islands on which ho proposed to land his stores, and to form a basis of operations. His intentions were to first examine Shark Bay, then start in tho direction of North-west Cape, and after recruiting at the depot on return to start southward, and examine the country to Gontheaumo Bay. With these intentions he sailed from Freemantle on February 17, 1830, his party including Dr. Walker, Mr. John Smith, Corporal Coles, and eight others. They reached Bemier Island, tho northernmost of the three in Shark Bay, on February 25, whore the party landed, and the vessel left. Then their troubles began ; water proved short, and one of their boats got wrecked with her stock of provisions. A gale came on, and damaged their boats, Grey and Walker swimming off to bale them out. to prevent them sinking, and the utter destruction of the party. After various adventures, on March 5 they found a river they name thoGascoyne. On one of their shore excursions they saw what they thought an immense lake studded with islands, but Grey, on pushing forward, found that they were being tantalised by a mirage. By the 19th, when off the Gascoyne, they had been reduced to a win eg lawful of water each per day, Bcruier's Island being then 30 miles distant. Bernier's was made at last, when to their horror they found their depot of stores had been well nigh destroyed by the ravages of storms on the coast. The dreadful truth now flashed on their minds. At sunset Grey told the men of his resolution to attempt to reach the Swan River settlement in tho boats, as all further effort was impossible. Ho stood to tho south, and by March 31 Gontheaumo Bay was reached, where the men being worn with toil, want of rest, and wholesome food, Grey decided to land, as tho water was done. Both the boats were wrecked in beaching, owing to the fearful surf, and there was nothing for it but to try and reach Perth by walking a distance of over 300 miles. They had now only 201b of damaged flour and lib of pork per man. The first week's marching passed, and only 70 miles had been accomplished. Not one had more than 6 or 71b of flour left.

MARCH OR DIE ! There was some division in the party as to the best mode of proceeding. Some were for doing it by slow and easy marches. Grey saw that this meant death for all. He therefore resolved to push forward with the more resolute, so as to be able to send back a succour party. He selected Coles and four others, one of whom was Kaiter, a native, to go forward with him, while the rest were to come on under command of Dr. Walker. The rendezvous appointed was a place on the Moore river, 55 miles north of Perth. Grey and his men set resolutely out. On the 11th April the Arrowsmith was crossed and named. On the night of the 15th they lay down, having had no water that day, and on the 16th suffered raging thirst. On the morning of the 17th they sucked the dew from the shrubs as they crawled along, but tho rising sun shut off this supply, and by two p.m. the worn-out men were exhausted and unable to move. Grey and the native started off to look for water, but finding none, the latter tried to induce Grey to abandon the others, pretending that he could not find his way back to them. Grey, angry at his duplicity and treachery, threatened to shoot him unless he guided him back to them, and fearing results, the boy complied. They saw an awful expression of hope deferrred in the countenances of the poor fellows when they returned without water. Grey now called on the men to make a last struggle for life. They followe.l with the wild and haggard looks which showed only too plainly that reason was tottering on her throne. They reeled and staggered after him, but kept the most perfect discipline, to which fact Grey attributes their salvation. The native at length found a hole of moist mud. Each knelL down and sucked up a few mouthfuls of the moist mud, and thanked GodGrey retired a little apart, and returned earnest thanks to his Maker for their deliverance, and tottered off with his gun in search of food. In the morning they started again, as there could be no delay now if they wished to reach Perth alive. A fearful thunderstorm with a deluge of rain came on, and Grey being attacked with rheumatism in hi 3 wounded hip, his extremities became powerless. On April 20 Grey judged they were about 28 miles from Perth, when they came up that day to some natives, who, from their proximity to Perth, Grey judged must have seen whiten before. He signalled to them, and they came in, the first being Imbat, whom Grey had seen before in Perth, and they hospitably furnished the party with bark baskets of frogs, roasted zamia nuts, and freshwater tortoises. On the 21st Grey, in his anxiety to send back relief to Walker's party, outstripped the others, and reached Perth, having traversed in less than ten days, including detours in search of water, considerably more than 300 miles, averaging each day from 32 to 35 miles. No one could recognise him, and so greatly had his sufferings changed him he was taken by a lady who knew him well for a crazy Malay. Mr. Roe (the SurveyorGeneral) went back with a relief party, and fell in with Walker's party. Mr. Fred Smith, a young man of extraordinary promise, succumbed, and he was buried by tho relief party in a sandhill. Soended the second expedition. Captain Grey's accounts of his trials are amongst the most romantic in the annals of Australian exploration, and reveal his character for courage, perseverance, and his capacity of endurance under privations. The results of these exploring expeditions, under the leadership of Captain Grey, were important in a scientific point of view. Subsequent discovery has shown that his observations were accurate in detail. The leader bore every hardship which had to bo endured, and did not hesitate to risk his own life on many occasions in order to secure the safety of all his followers. No such tales of horror had to bo told about the expeditions under Captain Grey as we have lately been shocked with in reading about the Stanley expedition. From Perth Captain Grey went to King George's Sound as Governor Resident, and returned to England in 1840, arriving there in September.

APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF SOOTH AUSTRALIA.

His published account of his expeditions in North - Western and Western Australia showed singular powers of observation, and laid down sound principles of conduct in the treatment and civilisation of aboriginal races, and of organisation. It contained abundant evidence of his foresight, courage, and intellectual culture, and attracted the attention of the Colonial Office, who rewarded the author ah the close of 1840, at the early age of 2S, with the Governorship of South Australia. Captain Grey left England for his now

Governorship in December. South Australia was in exceptional difficulties from various causes, when on May 15, 1841, the Governor, Colonel Gawler, was startled by a young man walking into his office off the ship by which ho had just come from London, and handing the Colonel his discharge, and a notice that its bearer was his successor. The newcomer had been ordered to perform a mosb unpleasant duty, and ho did it unflinchingly. The public Treasury was empty, and salaries of the civil servants unpaid, Ho at onco decreased expenditure by onehalf, and in two years to one-sixth, though later, to relieve workmen on tho verge of starvation, he borrowed £3000 from New South Wales, to be applied to public purposes. The Adelaide Register, referring to his policy in its account of "The South Australian Jubilee," says: "Tho now policy gave the people the alternative of going out into tho country or of starving. Hitherto nine-tenths of the population had centred in Adelaide, some 14,000 people with only 2500 acres of land in cultivation. Governor Grey drove them out to till tho soil, and to rely upon their own resources : and in doing so he laid fcho foundations of many happy homes, tenanted to-day by prosperous people within 25 miles of Adelaide. At the end of 1842, one-third of the private houses in Adelaide were empty, and 23 of the 67 public-houses were shut up. Then began the achievement of a triumph of providence and of industry." During his administration there for a little more than four years, ho gave proof of j remarkable ability and judgment. j

GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND. In 1845 the Northern war, known as Hone Heke's insurrection, broke out, and the Home Govornment being alarmed at tho state of Now Zealand in consequenco of the native troubles which had arisen, decided to send Captain Grey (with whose capable rule the Colonial Offico was satisfied) from South Australia to relieve Captain Fitzroy as Govornor. They sent Colonel Robe via Suez, where one of the East India Company's vessols mot him, to carry despatches to Captain Grey, at Adelaide. Colonel Robe came on in her to South Australia, relieved Captain Grey, tho vessel arriving j in Auckland towards tho closo of 1845. j Tho leaders of both great political parties in England at tho time joined in his praise, and in declaring his special fitness to deal with the crisis which had arisen I in New Zealand. In a private letter J dated Downing-street, January 30, 1846, | Mr. Gladstone, who had succeeded | Lord Stanley, Secretary of Stato for , tho Colonies, writes to Governor Grey, j He states that he thinks it his duty, after ; his recent accession to an office in such ! close relation to tho Governor's, to report j personally his assurances of confidence and i support in the difficult position in which ho ! is placed, and the very arduous task before •

him of construction and of reconstruction. Mr. Gladstone assures tho Governor that ho may anticipate in the discreet discharge of his duty a candid and favourable judgment from Parliament, and from the nation, and the letter concludes with an expression of hearty wishes for his welfare and success. We shall see further on in the narrative another letter from Mr. Gladstone to Sir George Grey of a somewhat different character.

Captain Grey, on his arrival at Auckland, found himself launched on a sea of troubles. There was no money, a large sum was afloat in debentures, and the natives were disaffected everywhere. They were seriously alarmed that their lands were to be taken from them, and this apprehension had been strengthened by what had been stated in the discussions in the House of Commons on the New Zealand Company. In addition, Hone Heke and Kawiti were in arms at the Bay of Islands, and were Hushed with the confidence of victory. Captain Grey borrowed a sum of money from the military ch,est to help him, and he dealt with the debenture question. He then left for the scene of operations at the Bay, where he directed a plan of operations to bo carried on. He then returned to Auckland, where ho met his Council, and passed several important ordinances. He again proceeded to the Bay of Islands, to direct the operations on Ruapekapeka pa. Everything was done with vigour and skill. Colonel Despard in his official report to the Governor after the capture of the pa, said : " Your Excellency has been an eyewitness to all our operations, and I may say, actually engaged in the assault."

Early in 1846 Ruapekapeka pa had fallen, Heke's power was broken, and the war ended. Matters were, however, still disturbed in the South owing to tho lawless conduct of Ruaparaha (the perpetrator of the VVairau massacre) and Rangihaeata. The Governor lost no time. On .July 23 of that year he landed before daylight at Porirua with a force of 130 men, at Rauparaha's pa and took him away prisoner in a war-ship. Peace was soon afterwards restored, and remained unbroken until 1860. For these services Captain Grey was in 1848 knighted, and received from Oxford University the honorary degree of D.C.L. at the instance, it is said, of tho late Prince Consort. It is as Sir George Grey from thence that he became known to tho colonists and all the world, for his reputation became world-wide.

His career in New Zealand may be separated into three distinct parts. From 1845 to 1852, when he was Governor of a Crown colony, practically autocratic ; from 1861 to 1868 Governor under widely different conditions of responsible government, which substantially transferred power from his own hands to those of his constitutional Ministers ; from 1874 to 1890, as a leading member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, and himself Premier for two years from 1877 to 1879, under two successive Governors. Having suppressed the native insurrection Governor Grey scrupulously observed the good faith of the Crown as pledged to the native race in the Treaty of Waitangi. By the force and other good qualities of his character, and his knowledge of the Maori

language and customs, he acquired a personal influence over the natives which no other single person has ever exercised, and showed a genuine interest in their welfare and civilisation, which was evinced by his legislation and administration-, being specially directed to matters affecting their real good. At his instance the Crown's right of pre-emption was resumed ; laws passed prohibiting the sale of drink and arms to the natives ; and a simple form of native judicial administration established, by appointing Resident Magistrates with extensive powers, under special laws in native districts; ho subsidised native schools, provided savings' banks, established hospitals and other charitable institutions with valuable endowments in land; and gave special encouragement and aid to the materia] improvement .of the natives, and to their advancement in civilisation.

During the whole of his first term of Governorship in Now Zealand Governor Grey gave much attention to the Maori language, and the traditions, songs, and chants of the people, and he became quite proficient. He devoted himself .o making a collection of their poetry, and this has been the standard book since. In tho preface he explains that he soon found that he was in perpetual danger of making errors if ho remained ill ignorance of the traditions and customs, and even tho supersti- • tions of a pcoplo who wore greatly directed j by these things in any course of action ! which thoy took. Thero was then no j Native Land Court, and it was absolutely ! essential that tho Governor should be ' acquainted with the whole of their social polity in connection with their tribal ownership, To Sir George Grey belongs the credit of having preserved the literature and traditions of an interesting race. He has done more for philology than many men who have devoted themselves to the science for a whole lifetime. At the Cape he did a similar work in connection with the languages of South Africa, bub of that I we are not so competent to speak. The j philological collection in the Auckland Free j Library is absolutely unrivalled in books, i pamphlets, and manuscripts, in Maori and j in all tongues of the Pacific archipelagoes. j In 1847 Earl Groy, then Secretary of I State for the Colonies, sent out a Royal I Charter making certain changes in the con- | stitution of the colony ; but Sir George i Grey, as tho dispatch and charter would j have set New Zealand in a blaze j from north to south, quietly set them | both aside, and soon reassured the : native mind as to tho understanding i in regard to tho Treaty of Waitangi, with ! respect to the nativo ownership of tho waste lands. A few years later on (1852) another Constitution for Now Zealand was manufactured, and this time it was framed, with a ' few alterations, on a plan proposed by Sir George Grey. This Constitution was based on tho broadest popular principles, consis- I tent with the status of a British colony.

Sir George Grey lefb the colony at the end of December, 1853, before the Constit came into full force, previously proclaiming his land regulations, proceeding to England on leave of absence, word having reached him of the severe illness of his mother, who, it is stated, died as he landed on the shores of England.

The position of Governor Grey during the greater part of the time of his first administration in New Zealand can scarcely now be appreciated. Large land purchases had been made, or were pretended to have been made, by Sydney firms, or by agents of Sydney speculators ; and, indeed, claims were made which aggregated the entire area of the North Island. Governor Grey resisted the great bulk of these. If they had been allowed, and if they had been attempted to be enforced, they would have led to a conflict with the natives over the whole of New Zealand; and also they would have prevented anything being done in the way of making reserves, and really providing for the future of a nation. But a considerable portion of the community in Auckland were connected with these Sydney speculators; and tor years they pursued Governor Grey with unceasing rancour and venom. At no period of his career did he more conspicuously exhibit his courage and fortitude, his devotion to duty under many temptation!! to swerve, and the true prescience and forethought of a great statesman.

Sir George succeeded for a very small sum of money in buying the rights of the natives to the Middle Island, after allowing to them ample reserves. This judicious step opened up the Island for European settlement; and the New Zealand Company, in whom at that time the colonisation of the waste lands of the Crown in the southern half of the North Island, and in the whole of the South Island, was vested, availed itself of the opportunity by arranging for the foundation of the settlements of Otago and Canterbury. The eight years of Sir George Grey's first administration in Now Zealand, as Governor, says Mr. Gisborne, in his " New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen," " Was characterised by a cessation of native disturbance, the restoration of finance, the revival of colonisation, the growth of prosperity, and the establishment of free political institutions." In 1853 occurred what is known as "The Invasion of the Ngatipoa," and bub for the firmness of Governor Grey on that occasion, the peace of the colony would have been broken. A native was taken into custody in Auckland for debt, a scuffle ensued, and a chief who interfered was knocked down by a native policeman and lodged in gaol, but liberated in an hour or two. The incensed chief went down the coast and raised his tribe, to whom he stated that he had been struck by a slave, a Maori policeman, and imprisoned. In three days, 300 armed natives, in eight war canoes, landed in Mechanics' Bay, in the early morning, and demanded that the native policeman be handed over to them. The 58th were turned out, and threw up intrenchments on Constitution Hill, the JFencibles marched in from the Pensioner Settlements, H.M.s. Fly, Captain Oliver, gob lier guns trained on the bay, and those of Fort Brito*

mart were also brought to bear in the same direction, while the Governor, by interpreter, gave the raiders two hours' notice to leave the Bay, or fire would be opened on them. The Maoris were in a trap, and there was nothing for them to do save to drag their heavy war canoes over the beach to low water mark, and that afternoon saw them sailing back again down the Waitemata. Two days afterwards several chiefs from the Ngatipaoa laid at Governor Grey's feet meres and spears, emblems of submission. The meres are to be seen in the Art Gallery, in the Grey Collection, Free Public Library. The native policeman was not punished, and the Maoris were told that if they had a grievance they must present themsolvos to get redress in the attitude of peace, and not as an armed mob.

During his first administration Governor Grey formed a friendship with three noted men which lasted while they lived, and who exorcised considerable influence in moulding and shaping tho history of the colony—Bishop Selwyn, Sir Win. Martin (the first Chief Justice), and the Hon. Wm. Swainson (the first Attorney-General). Ib may be said that Sir George Grey, who, on his arrival found the colony in a state of depression and war, left it at the close of his first administration enjoying peace and prosperity. Governor Grey did not preside over tho early destinies of Now Zealand as a colony, but he had much to do with tho framing of the Constitution of tho Anglican Church. This Bishop Selwyn used always cordially to acknowledge. It was greatly owing to Sir George Grey that the Anglican Church in New Zealand received a democratic constitution, which has stood tho test, and which, in some of its features, has been imitated in the parent church.

HIS ADMINISTRATION AT THE CAPE. lii 1855 Sir George Grey was appoinfcod Governor of the Cape and High Commissioner of Kaffraria, the British Government having a high opinion of his diplomatic capacity for dealing with tribal savages, and ruling mixed communities. General Sir George Cathcart, who fell at Inkermann, had a fow years previously done much to break the Kaffirs' power, but there were an intermittent series of alarms and attacks, and Sir George was sent to make an end of these. Shortly afterwards the Kaffii s, under a craze of fanaticism and the predictions of a prophetess, leagued together to invade the colony at various points simultaneously. After vainly reasoning with the chiefs, Sir George by a clever coup succeeded in capturing all tho principal chiefs and broke tho back of the confederacy. As tho Kaffirs had at the bidding of the prophetess destroyed their supplies so as to obtain the spoils from the English, they began to starve, and 50,000 perished. Then tho Governor humanely rescued the romnant, distributing 34,000

among the colonists for a term of years on wages, and settling the balance in settlements in British Kaffraria. Flo won also the esteem of all classes of colonists—those of Dutch as well as those of British descent. In 1857 the Indian mutiny broke out, and at the time Sir George received the earnest letters of Lord Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay, to assist in the defence of India, a part of Lord Elgin's army going to Canton to punish the Chinese, called in at the Cape en route. Sir George Grey, on his own authority, diverted their destination to Calcutta, and in two days despatched with them a part of the Artillery at the Cape, full horsed, and transmitted from the Cape treasury £60,000. From time to time thereafter he despatched reinforcements, horses, stores, and forage, without waiting for orders from the Imperial Government, the result being that the troops which enabled Lord Elphinstone to hold the mutineers in check at Bombay, and Sir Colin Campbell to relieve Lucknow on the 17th November, 1557, were largely drawn from the forces thus sent to India from the Cape. Another work was the settling of the German Legion, disbanded after the Crimean War, in South Africa. In 1858 Sir George Grey was recalled (to the regrob, it was understood, of the Queen and the Prince Consort) the reason being that ho had proposed the federation of the South African States, under a somewhat similar constitution to that given to New Zealand. This gave great ofTenco to the party in power in England, and for this matter, together with his quarrel with the Downing-street authorities and War Office over the German immigration, and his policy in British Kuffraria, the homo Government decided on the above step. The day .came when the Imperial Government desired a South African Confederation, and bitterly regretted that the original proposal had not been carried out, for in 1875 they sent out Mr. Fronde to attempt its accomplishment. When the steamer which took Sir George Grey home arrived in England, he learned from a Times reporter who boarded the vessel that thero had been a change of Ministry ; that twelve days after his recall he had been reinstated, and a steamer despatched to stop him from coming home. Sir George Grey accordingly returned to the Cape, and remained for the rest of his term. Being a man of most varied acquirements and excellent judgment, he had formed in the course of his life a valuable collection of rare books, and MSS., old editions, etc. Of these, on his departure, he made a present to the colony, and they form the principal part of the Capetown Public Library, a memorial of himself, and a gift which will ensure the lasting gratitude of the South African people. The Cape colonists marked their appreciation of the noble gift by pla,cing Sir George's statue in the gardens under the Library windows. Daring his stay at the Cape, Sir George formed a lasting friendship with the famous missionaries Robert Moffat and David Livingstone, and ho took a lively interest in Livingstone's explorations. HIS SECOND GOVERNORSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND. From the Cape the Home authorities transferred Sir George to iSew Zealand, for

the second time, as Governor, to deal with the native troubles there, war having broken out at Taranaki under the Governorship of Sir Thomas Gore Browne, over the purchase,, of the Waitara block, though the supremacy of British law and the sovereignty of British rule really lay at the back of it. Shortly after Sir George's arrival lie purchased (November 25, 1862) the island of Kawau, with which his name will ever be associated, and where he made his beautiful island home, with its treasures of nature and art, the wonder of every visitor. After vainly trying to convert the armed truce into a solid peace, Sir George Grey had to adopt more vigorous measures with regard to the King movement, which had practically become an imperium in imperio. ' Reinforcements were obtained from Australia, Great Britain, and India, until 10,000 men were at his disposal, and the Waikato campaign of 1563 undertaken, the war ultimately extending again to Taranaki and the West Coast. The successful issue of the campaigns, and the political complications which arose in connection with them, are matters of history. One episode in connection with the West Coast campaign is worthy of mention, namely, the capture of the Weraroa Pa by Sir George Grey, after General Cameron, in May, 1865, had abandoned the idea of besieging it, declaring it would require 2000 men alone for its reduction. The Wanganui settlers, who were unable to occupy their farms through the murderous roicls of the rebels, organised to co-operate with the colonial forces and the friendly natives to take the pa. In June the colonial forces, after sundry abortive negotiations for the surrender of the pa, sat down before it in strength ; but the garrison, hearing of the rising on the East Coast and the investment of I'ipiriki, gave up all idea of surrendering, and ordered Major Rookes and Captain Maedonnell out of tho pa. Sir George Grey at this period made his appearance in camp, from Wellington, and, carrying his life in his hand, rode up to within a few feet of the centre pa, that occupiod by Whenuakura fanatics, and endeavoured to induce them to sursurrender. This they refused to do, but manned their rifle-pits and presented their muskets. With 150 Hauhau fanatics howling defiance at him, Sir George stool his ground until a chief came out, and placing his mat before Sir George for protection, advised him to go away, which he did at a walk and without hurry. On his return to camp lie planned the operations which two days after led to the fall of the Weraroa pa, without the loss of a single man, the fortress being masked by a slender force, while the main body, by making a detour, secured the ground which commanded the fortifications and rendered them untenable. One result of the quarrels between conflicting authorities—the Colonial Government and the Imperial Officers commanding—was that the Home authorities ordered the Imperial forces to return home, the colonists being left to defend themselves. Early in 1868 Sir George Grey was succeeded by Sir George Bowen as Governor, the former returning to England [tartly to vindicate his administration. Whether General Cameron, who returned to England two or three years before Sir George Grey, had carried his quarrel with his old opponent to the mother country, or whether it was because the Colonial Office desired more malleable Governors, is a moot point; Sir George was not ottered another appointment, but on attaining his sixtieth year he got tho usual retiring pension. On retiring from his second Governorship Sir George had been rather cavalierly dealt with, being simply curtly informed by the Duke of Buckingham, Secretary of State for the Colonies, that tho name of his successor would be forwarded to him. On his arrival in England the Duke saw him and apologised for the act, writing also a kindly note. Earl Granville subsequently held out hopes of another official appointment, but these were never realised, it is conjectured, through some trouble which arose out of one of the Earl's despatches. Tho fact is that " the great Proconsul" during his whole official career made matters very lively for the successive Secretaries of State for the Colonies in Downing - street, and was simply a " terror" to the Under-Secre-taries.

SXK GEORGE GREY STANDS FOR THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. When Sir George got to England he found the Manchester school of politicians in the ascendant, and the " Economists," who favoured the dismemberment of the Empire. Conservatives and Liberals alike were imbued with this spirit. The Conservatives, through Disraeli, handsomely offered him a seat in Parliament—the selection of one of five county seats, unhampered by party conditionsbut he declined, as the leaders would give him no pledge on the subject of the colonies and colonisation, and to his dismay he found the Liberals were equally retrogressive. To counteract this feeling lie succeeded in enlisting the advice and sympathy of men like the Marquis of Salisbury, J. A. Froude, Thomas Carlyle, Lord Russell, and Lord Carnarvon. Ho went about to the great cities and delivered public addresses, and drawing up a petition which prayed the Queen to incorporate into her titles the Colonial Empire, he obtained to it thousands of signatures. The object was to incorporate the colonies, and one result of that movement has been a growing feeling in favour of binding the colonies closer to the mother country, and which will yet find its fuller realisation in Imperial and colonial federation. At the general elections of ISGS, the friends of Sir George Grey endeavoured to arrange for his entry into English public life by securing him a county seat in the Liberal interest, but the attempt was unsuccessful. In 1870, owing to the unsatisfactory attitude of both Conservatives and Liberals on the great questions of the colonies and emigration, Sir George 3rey determined to enter Parliament on an independent platform, and thero arouse public opinion on these great topics. Ho stood, therefore, for Newark, nfc a bye election, bub was opposed by both parties. The Liberals put up Sir Henry Storks, as the Government desired his election so that he might act as mentor to Mr. Card well, Minister for War. The Premier, Mr. Gladstono, would not go down to can vass himself, but he sent down Mr. Stanhope, and transmitted to Sir GeoigeGrey a letter relating to the Newark contest, which will be read with interest even at this time of day, in view of all the parties concerned in the correspondence. It. is as follows : —

11, Carlton House Terrace, S.W., March 29, 1870. Dear sir,—l have received a telegram, which I understand to be yours, respecting the Newark election, to which 1 think it safer.to reply by letter. I annex a copy of the telegram. I should be most happy to afford reparation in any ease where there was matter of just complaint, but I am aware of no such matter in the present instance. If Mr. Stanhope has gone down to advise Sir Henry Storks in matters pertaining to the Newark election, and has conlined himself to that private and personal duty, I am at a loss to know how you can deem yourself injured thereby. Your general title to solicit the suffrages of a constituency, I do not for a moment question, and 1 think it -an honour that you should in any manner give your adhesion to the existing Government, but., as I understand the present case, a gentleman who was until a few days ago serving under, and I hope will be soon, a member of that Government, was already a candidate for Newark, when you appeared there. Truth compels me to add that the return of Sir Henry Storks is of great consequence to the efficient prosecution of the reforming measures now in progress in the administration of the army. It has been with his efficient aid that Mr. Curd well has been enabled since he took office in December, 18GS, to reduce the army estimates by about two millions, while he has strengthened rather than weakened the defences of the country. The adequate representation in the House of Commons of a department engaged upon a work such as this is a matter of much public importance. In reply then to the telegram you compel me to say, first, that I earnestly desire the return of Sir Henry Storks; secondly, that I hope Newark, in which I feel a natural and lively interest, will not be added to the list of places in which the Liberal party have caused discredit, by divisions too often referable to local or personal caases, and injurious to the public object, for the sake of which it exists. I send a copy of this letter to Sir Henry Storks, with liberty to make use of it.l nave the honour to be, dear sir, faithfully yours, W. E. Gladstone.

The above letter was penned by Mr. Gladstone, owing to Sir George Grey having two or three days previously issued the following manifesto

To the independent electors of the borough of Newark : Gentlemen,—l offer myself a? a candidate for the honour of being your representative in Parliament. I appear before you not as the nominee of any section or party, but as au independent Liberal candi-

date. I promise to support not merely a Liberal Government, but Liberalism in its truest, widest, and noblest sense.. I desire to obtain the distinction which you can confer, from a wish to serve my country, by promoting measures calculated to foster and advance the morality, welfare, and commerce of this vast empire. As one to whom Her Majesty has repeatedly confided the important task of governing great dependencies, I take a dee]) interest in Imperial questions. lam opposed to the views of those who advocate the severance of the colonies from Great Britain, believing that they add to her strength, wealth, an cl glory. In accordance with these opinions, I have striven to initiate a policy of emigration, by which, if conducted under proper conditions, our colonies would be regarded as the natural outlet for our excessive population, and instead of being looked upon as places of exile would be considered—what in truth they are—a home and heritage for the people of England. . Equitable _ measures can also be adopted for reclaiming the waste lands of this country, thus establishing throughout the empire the great remedial principle of "waste labour to waste lands." do strongly do I feel upon the question of the introduction of the ballot, that I should strive to prevent at.y further postponement of its adoption. lam in favour of a system of free education for the people, so devised as assuredly to reach every home in the country. I may point to many public efforts which I have made to promote the welfare of the working men of Great Britain as a proof that their interests will never be neglected by me. Should I have the good fortune to be chosen as your representative, I shall always remember that it is my duty, irrespective of class or party, to labour for the good of the borough of Newark, and of each of its inhabitants.—l have the honour to be, gentlemen, your faithful servant, G. Grey. Saracen's Head, Newark, March 25, 1870. « The upshot of the dispute was that the Liberal party withdrew Sir Henry Storks, and Sir George Grey, Mr. Bristow (solicitor), another Liberal, and a Conservative, went to the poll. It was agreed between Sir George and Mr. Bristow to compare notes on the afternoon of the day of polling (it was open voting then), and whichever Liberal candidate had the best chance of success should go on, the other retiring and giving the aid of his voters to the man in the running. Under that arrangement Sir George retired, and by the aid of his promised supporters Mr. Bristow was returned, defeating the Conservative.

SIB GEO ROE fill BY AS SUPERINTENDENT, PREMIER, AND M.H.R.

In 1872 Sir George returned again to New Zealand after his retirement from the Imperial service, as his restless mind and resistless energy would not permit him to enjoy his well-deserved leisure ; and in 1875 lie was whirled into the maelstrom of colonial politics by being elected Superindent of tho Province of Auckland, and Member of the House of Representatives for Auckland City West. On the Abolition of the Provinces Act, which was carried notwithstanding his strenuous opposition, coming into force in October, IS7G, his term of ollico as Superintendent; ceased, and ho became the recognised head of a Parliamentary Opposition in the General Assembly as member for the Thames Goldfields. In 1877 he defeated the Atkinson Government, and came into power and held otlice as Premier for two years—his programme being aland tax, a "free breakfast table," and reduction of customs' duties—when being in turn defeated he appealed to the country. The general election proved adverse to his administration, and Sir Georgo was succeeded in power by Sir John Hall. In 1882 he was elected for Auckland City East, which he represented continuously till the city electorates were merged into one. Sir George Grey has not held office since 1870, although on more than one occasion he has been asked to undertake the formation of a Ministry. It is not necessary to particularise his political career in the House. His position in the Assembly has been in many respects unique. As an orator he has towered head and shoulders above all his contemporaries, and no member has been listened to with greater respect than the representative of Auckland City East, even by those who most widely differed from him in political opinions. He has generally played a "lone hand," allying himself with no side of the House, but ready to record a voto for the Opposition on a question of turning a Government out. The isolated position which he has held in Parliament has been useful to the public, as he has been the watchdog " Teur-'em," and every Government has dreaded his scathing criticism.

HIS »OMESTIO LIFE AT KAWAU. As already stated, in 1862 Sir George Grey purchased the beautiful island of Kawau, and built there a mansion, where he placed his literary and art treasures, and stocked the island with the rarest birds, animals, plants, and trees obtainable. Kawau became a veritable Paradise, where the most distinguished travellers were received by him. On the Christmas and other holidays the island was thrown open to the Auckland public, who were hospitably entertained by Sir George, and shown over the grand library (for he had gathered a second even more rare and curious than that which lie gave to the Cape colonists), and his gallery of paintings by the old masters. Sir George is an extensively read man, and an entertaining and agreeable conversationalist, as many of the visitors to Kawau can testify. In that sylvan retreat he devoted a good deal of his time to literary and scientific pursuits, and kept up a regular correspondence with some of the most famous statesmen, litterateurs, and scientists of the day. He is abstemious in his habits, and simple in his tastes, but passionately fond of art, literature, and science. Mr. W. L. Rees says, in his appendix to his novel, " Sir Gilbert Leigh" :" Those who have been privileged to see Sir George Grey in his lonely island home in Kawau, who have listened to the ' old man eloquent,' and scon clasped around his neck in fond embrace, the white arms of a little laughing child (his niece's daughter), her silken curls mingling with the scanty locks of the sage and statesman, and heard his voice and the child's join in merry laughter, will not soon forget him."

Mr. J. A. Froude thus describes his visit to Kawau, 1885 :—

It was five in the evening before our steamer turned her head at last towards the harbour at Kawau, and we saw the white front of Sir George's house, at the bottom of a deeply-wooded inlet, the hills rising behind it, the soft still sea, and the tiny islands on its skirts, like patches of forest lefi behind when the water bad cut them off from the land, as beautiful a picture as eye could rest on. At the end of Sir George's pier, we found our host himself. From Ohinemutu and its tourists, wo had passed into an atmosphere of intellect, culture, science, and the mellow experience of statesmanship, a change not the less singular from the place in which we found ourselves. Two or three superior looking men. Sir George's lieges, took possession of our luggage. He, after welcoming us to his dominions, led us over his residence and through the gardens in the sinking twilight, and perhaps found on innocent pleasure in our astonishment. Everything which we saw was his own creation, conceived by himself, and executed under his own eye by his own feudatories. _ Passing through the hall we entered a spacious and fine drawing-room, panelled and vaulted with kauri pine. At one end stood Sir George's desk, with a large Bible 011 it, from which he read daily prayers to his household. _ Like Charles Gordon, he is oldfashioned in these matters, and though he knows all that is going on in the worldcriticism, philosophy, modern science, and the rest of it— believes in the way of his fathers. Some good oil pictures hung on the walls, excellent old engravings, witli Maori axes, Cadre shields and assegais, all prettily arranged. Bookcases and cabinets with locked doors contained the more precious curiosities. Oil the table lay Quarterlies, Edinburghs, magazines, weeklies —the floating literature of London only a month or two behindhand. Every important movement in domestics, foreign or colonial politics, could be studied as exhaustively at Kawau as in the reading-room at the Athenaeum. The furniture of this country mansion was plain and solid, most of it made by Sir George's own workmen, kauri being the chief material. Gardens and grounds were a study for a botanist, fruit trees, flowering trees, forest trees, all growing together, with rare plants and shrubs collected miscellaneously or forwarded by correspondents. Each thing was planted where it would grow best, without care for symmetry or order, and every step was a surprise. He planted every tree that he knew of in any part of the world which had a chance of growing there. Among the orange groves the choicest hothouse flowers blossomed ceaselessly having been once introduced. The slopes and ridges were clothed thickly with sheltering conifers of many kinds, which in '20 years had reached their full stature. Low down on the shores, the graceful pohutukawa was left undisturbed. Into the interior of this little kingdom lie had brought elk, red deer, fallow deer, and wallabi. At the back of the house were substantial cottages for Sir George's " liauds"—a very superior kind of "lianas"

indeed, as^{ oun( w hen I knew thennThert Sir George eg amidst his intellectuiircasurr.s, in the -jdst of dependants whlook on him more & a aCr than a maste hit house always , jen to men of scien fc , strangers who .ve a better purpose lai curiosity in seek,„ his acqua \ n tance Ii the evening he shd? ecl mo l me 0 f j,i 3 , c 8il• e « Literary asures were proc ?e; chiefly I suppose compliment tq i><, for he had all sorts. There were ol< Himinated missals, an 0\ French MS thj 14th century which ha« cl ed to pj/ipp, le Bel, and afterwards tog u |[ y . o j c 7i ntt lives, a black-letter Latin ;j e 0 f" tle < St. Bridget, of whom I hav. nevcr ie , hut as strange a lady as her - rs h n . sake Besides these was a precious jy. 0 f I f our Gospels, which had conic from lount Atiios; important English his~ r i c USS. never printed, by Cromwell, l. m - Johii Milton, of the time of the Com ac , jaltli ; modern translations of the 8ib1.,. All these he had himself collected, a> e had agents; all about the world lookii it for him. In a cabinet were Maori -pons, axes, meres, etc., of greenstone, are as they were precious. They had 1 heirlooms in the families of great chi >f.- rl had each killed no one could say how n warriors in battle. They were nevev pa with in life, and had been bequeathed their various owners to Sir George, as tl at her of the Maori race. My acquaints with Sir George in London had been men uporfici&l. I found him more changed tl [ had expected. Fourteen years had aged ; his hair was white; his step, which been elastic and firm, was now feeble ; t niter rim of the iris of his violet c had lost its colour, but the fire v still burning at the bottom of them. . voice was as clear as ever, his interest teen, his mind and memory as quick and t ;ious as in his brightest days, and in wha said there was the calmness of a man n nger harassed by personal cares and ambiti conscious of having made a full use of tl Lenities which had been allotted him in own time, and contented to be for the turn mainly a looker-on I In 1883 Sir Georsre Grey, owing! the infirmities of age, sold Kawau Airs, Thompson, of Victoria, and came ■ ti Auckland (to be within easy reach o edi cal attendance), where he has ever e| re sided with Mr. .Seymour George and lily at Parnell, near Point Resolution gentleman being married to his niect SIR GEORGE GREY'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRaiN"

On April 14, 1886. it was detcrmiiiby the citizens of Auckland to preseilSu' George Grey with a public address Alia occasion of his attaining his 7-lth bir&y. A crowded public meeting was held Ilia Opera House, Mayor Waddell pres|g, at which were present representaticof all creeds and shades of political oprin. An address was presented to Sir Georfcy tho Maoris, signed by chiefs at Oki, Wellington, Waitara, Bay of Islands, iikato, and elsewhere, and congratulily speeches were made by Rongowhi Areketera, Te Puni (of Ngatiraukawa)i<l Mohi Horiwhenua (of Ngatipaoa), ai a chief of the Arawa tribe. The IV ri address referred to Sir George "as Jo director of this canoe—that is of New , i.. Land —in the days when, the sea wassmofc, and in the stormy times also ; hence e look upon you as our only surviving: pat of both races." The citizens also present a beautiful illuminated address, recount!; his public services, having: appended nea 13,000 signatures, giving the year wl each signatory arrived in the colony, so tl the document (which Sir George sub quently presented to the Auckland Fi Library) will have great historical value the ears to come. Mr. Reader Wood, referring to the number of signatut attached, said they were only exceeded 1 those to addresses to Mr. Gladston

Sir George Grey made an eloquent aid touching reply, and his emotion shovfcd how cordially he appreciated the friendy demonstrations of his fellow-citizens. Bir.hday odes were recited and sung in his honour. The Artillery Baud played tins " Kawau March," and at the close of tins proceedings he was escorted by the band to the Northern Club, the while playing "Auld Ljing Syne," and, on leaving, "Home, Sweet Home/' while Sii George stood on the steps uncovered, and finally, wished all "Goodnight." Birth day addresses were also presented to Sr George by the Liberal Association and ly the Auckland Rechabites. Each successive birthday since, the aged Knight his received from all quarters and on all hatds sheaves of telegrams and letters—on his last (the 7Sth) receiving' a graceful note from His Excellency the Governor, Earl Onslow. The deep-seated and widespread popularity with whfch Sir George Grey has been invested by the people is wholly unique in the histo-y of public men in the colony. Over the hearts of the people of Auckland he has exercised a spell, which neither time, nor the defection of party, nor the efforts of opponents, seem capable of assailing.

THE GREY COLLECTION*. In 1886 Sir George Grey took steps towards carrying into practical effect an idea which bad long been in his mind of presenting his valuable library and art treasures to the city of Auckland—one infinitely more valuaable that that which he had already presented to the Cape colonists. As soon as the citizens had erected the present Auckland Free Public Library and Art Gallery, and thus provided a worthy home for his magnificent gift, Sir George sent the library and works of art up to Auckland, where on the opening of the institution in 18S7, they were duly installed as " the Grey collection." Sir George is an experienced linguist, and well acquainted with the Maori language, and most of the South Sea Island dialects. He prepared vocabularies of some of these. His works on "Polynesian Mythology and Maori Legends" (dedicated to Mr. Froude), and " Songs and Laments of the New Zealanders," indicate great research and scholarship. The Grey collection in the Free Public Library contains about 10,000 volumes and pamphlets. Among these are s.'i manuscripts in Greek, Latin, Coptic, and Arabic, dating from the tenth century ; 24 fifteenth century editions, and 60 volumes of the sixteenth century; about 7000 autograph letters; 200 manuscript documents (especially valuable, as some of them cannot be duplicated); 300 maps, charts, and plans, relating to early surveys of lands and harbours of the colony ; nearly 400 addresses received by Sir George in his public career, in Australia, Africa, and New Zealand ; and about 300 arrows, rare and beautiful, gathered in all lands, including those of Maori origin. The autograph letters (unpublished) principally relate to the history of the present century, and are from Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Lady Franklin, Florence Nightingale, Drs. Moffat and Livingstone, General Cathcarb, Captains Speke and C. Sturt, Bishops Whateley, Crowther, Colenso, and Selwyn. The collection is specially rich in philological and theological sections, the latter alone claiming 160 languages. Since this presentation Sir George Grey enriched and enlarged his collection by further gifts through purchase, and then started a Students' Library (which he ultimately contemplates making up to 1000 volumes), and the nucleus of which he has formed by a gift of 50 volumes, principally mathematical works. Over £100,000 has been spent on the Art Galleries of Sydney, Melbourne, and South Australia, but the Auckland collections have not entailed the expenditure of one farthing of public moneys. The magnificent donations of Sir George Grey (and the late Mr. J. T. Mackelvie) contain valuable examples of no less than nine classical schools of painting, the Florentine, Venetian, Milanese, Roman, Flemish, Dutch, Spanish, French, and early Gorman, and British schools. Among Sir George Grey's collection (some 50 pictures) are works of Raffaelle, Cuyp, Velasquez, Murillo, Guercino, Chalon, Macrino d'Alba, Lanino, Poussin, Lancret, Faed, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir David Wilkie, Blake, etc. These noble gifts to the people of Auckland have fitly closed a lengthy public career, given, too, during life, so that the donor has the pleasure of seeing the people, and visitors to our city from all parts of the world appreciating and enjoying the literary and art treasures ho has placed at their disposal.

RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC LIFE. As already published, Sir George Grey, owing to his delicate state of health, has, on the advice of his medical adviser," decided to retire from the contest for Auckland City at the present general election, and practically ftom the turmoil and worry of public life, this being deemed essential to his restoration to health. However tho public may regret his decision, and the cause thereof, and his absence from the councils of the colony, all must admit thai) the record of public services extending over half a century, such as that now given, entitles him to claim that his declining days, be they many or few, shall be epent in dignified and leisured repose.