SIR GEORGE GREY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1157, 4 May 1894, Page 35

SIR GEORGE GREY.

London, April 25. Sir George Grey has been appointed a member of the Privy Council. The Premier last week received a telegram from His Excellency the Governor informing him that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to mark her recognition of Sir George Grey’s services by directing that he shall be made a Privy Councillor. The Premier, on behalf of tho people of Now Zealand, sent Sir George a message of congratulation. All New Zealand will be glad to learn that the veteran statesman lias been appointed a member of the Privy Council. What the duties of the office are, we need not enquire too closely. Generally they are defined by the oath taken by the Councillors as follows: “To the best of their discretion duly and impartially to advise the Sovereign; to keep secret the Sovereign’s counsel; to avoid corruption; to strengthen the Sovereign’s Council in all that by them is thought good for the Sovereign and his land j to withstand those who attempt the . contrary, and to do all that a Councillor ought to do to his Sovereign Lord.” In times of great emergency when Parliament is not sitting these powers may mean something great, and for such occasions there is ; special provision. But the real power of the Privy Council is in the hands of the Ministers of the Crown, who advise the Sovereign politically, and of tho Committees of the Council, viz., the Board of Trade, the Judicial Committee (the highest Court of the Empire), and the Committee on Education. But the appointment is a r great honour, one of the greatest in the gift of the Sovereign, as was made apparent when Mr. Dailey, of Sydney, was appointed, in consequence of his action with regard to the Soudan, contingent. The members, we may add, are entitled to the designation “Right honourable,” and to take precedence next after Knights of the Garter. As a colonial Governor Sir George Grey has been, ex officio , more than once a member of the Privy Council. His permanent appointment is some atonement for the scurvy manner in which he was twice treated as a colonial Governor. It is a rehabilitation very gratifying to him, to his friends, and to the colonies which havo steadily honoured him for many decades. It is also an indication of the more enlightened views entertained at headquarters of colonial importance. Privy Councillors are nominated by the Sovereign without any patent or grant, and upon taking the oath of office are at once qualified members. It is only on rare occasions that tho whole body of members assembles, one of those instances being at the demise of tho Crown, when it is the duty of the Privy Council to meet and proclaim the new Sovereign. For the ordinary business of tho Council only those who are summoned attend, and tho number thus called upon is usually very small, and generally consists of the members of the party in power. From Our Special Correspondent. London, March 24. So (after many false alarms) Sir George Grey is really on his way home at last. Nothing short of a cablegram in the infallible Times and the Agent-General’s confirmation thereof would have made me believe it. Well, the news has fluttered a good deal Sir Westby Perceval bestirred himself at once to remind the Marquis of Ripon, the Colonial Office

pormanont heads, the Lord Mayor, the Agonts-General for the Capo and for South Australia, the Colonial and Imperial Institutes and all others whom it may eoucern of this Grand Old Man of tho South’s Imperial services. Already Lord Stamford and many Anglo-New Zealanders have been to Westminster Chambers to discuss what can bo dono to mark Sir George’s advent fittingly and to give him a suitable and yet (remembering his age) not overpowering welcome. Tho Lord Mayor entertains the Agents-General and tho leading Colonial Indians in London at the Mansion House on April 23rd, and it is hoped, should Sir George havo arrived and bo strong enough, ho will bo one of tho guests of the evening on that occasion. Had Sir George come over ten years ago the Labour Party would no doubt have fussed over him and been glad to get him to go “on the stump” in their interest. Whether, however, their gratitude for past favours will survivo the discovery that present ones are out of the question remains to bo seen. It is whispered that tho purpose of Sir George’s visit is to become reconciled to Lady Grey, and that very august personages have interested themselves in healing the long-standing differences of the old couple.