SIR GEORGE GREY MEMORIAL COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10968, 24 January 1899, Page 6

SIR GEORGE GREY MEMORIAL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Sir Geo. Grey Memorial Committee was held last night in the Municipal Buildings. Mr. W. J. Speight presided. Mr. D. Guldie (Mayor of Auckland! wrote accepting the honorary office of chairman of the committee and executive. Letters were read from several of the gentlemen who were asked to speak on the Sir Geo. Grey Memorial Day (February 18). The following have consented to speak : — Bishop Lenihan, Rev. H. R. Dewsbury, Mr. Geo. Aldridge. Mr. Jas. McGowan, M.H.R., Mr. F. J. Moss, Mr. \V. J. Napier, and Mr. J. M. Shera. Bislwp Cowie and Sir G. M. O'Rorke expressed regret that they could not be present as they had to attend a meeting of the University Senate at Christchurch, on February 22. The Hon. 1". Thompson, Dr. Campbell, Rev. Gen. Mac Murray, and Rabbi Goldstein also wrote regretting their inaoility to be present. On the motion of Mr. R. Farrell it was agreed to specially request Sir G. M. O'Rorke and Bishop Cowie to endeavour to be present. A letter was read from Mr. J. E. Taylor, Mangere, stating that he would be pleased to organise the public school children for the memorial day. A letter was read from Mr. W. Marrinen, steward of the Karangali'ake branch of the Miners' Union, enclosing a subscription of £1 12s 6d for the memorial. A subscription of £5 was intimated from Mr Win. Fraser, Manning-street, and a subscription list was returned by Mr. Jas. O'Brien, of the New Zealand Natives' Association, with £3 10s. The Chairman intimated that he had received £5 from Mr, Dennis Sicilian, who was living at Surprise Island. He thought this an exceedingly creditable subscription from a working man. A subcommittee was instructed to interview the Exhibition Executive with the view of having a Sir Geo. Grey Memorial Day, at the' Exhibition, in the event of the Exhibition being open after February 18. The. idea of this demonstration is that the Sir Geo. Grey Memorial Committee should arrange the Exhibition entertainment!, for one day, the proceeds to go to the memorial fund, less a sumMor expenses, as may be arranged with the Exhibition Executive. The hon. secretary (Mr. W. T. Jennings) reported that since last meeting a subscription box had been placed at the door of the Auckland Exuibition. He had also seen Mr. Rawhiti, the Maori king's private secretary, who stated that the matter of subscriptions to the memorial would be discussed at a meeting of the King Country Maoris on an early date, and that the Maoris were entering heartily into the matter. Mr. Jennings, Mr. Farrell, and Mr. Speight were appointed to meet the Cricket Association, with the view of securing the Domain Cricket Ground for the memorial day, a difficulty having arisen in connection with the granting of the ground by the City Council. A committee was instructed to arrange for a concert on the evening of February 20. ''Mr. Jennings suggested that a military display might ha made in connection with the Saturday afternoon demonstration in the Domain, and it was decided that Colonel Banks beMppreached with the view of securing the Services of the volunteers and the permanent forces on the day in question. [by TELEGUAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Dunedij,-, Monday. A meeting of citizens to consider the question of the establishment of a memorial to Sir Geo. Grey, resolved, on the formation of a committee to raise funds for the commemoration in Otago of the services of the deceased statesman, the form of the commemoration to be decided at a future meeting.