SIR GEORGE GREY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 11

SIR GEORGE GREY.

From Oar Special Correspondent."

LoNDONy January 4. In spite of the severe weather Sir George* Grey continues in excellent health and spirits, and seems to be quite contented with his cosy, warm quarters in * Park Place. When there were 12 degrees of frost at the beginning of the week,' the hardy old veteran kept to his apartments, which are warmed- up day and night to a temperature of over 60 degrees by the hot air process. He seldom stirs abroad, and then only in a closed cab, but he receives a good many visitors, and keeps his private secretary, Miss AshtOn, pretty fully occupied for several hours daily with his correspondence. THE LETTEB FBOM MALIETOA. The other day Sir George received a visit from his nephew, Mr Campbell, a. brother of Mr Robert Campbell, formerly of Dunedin. Mr Campbell came to England, via America, and. made some stay in Samoa en route, where he was entrusted by Malietoa with an important communication to Sir George Grey. Th* letter prays Sir George, as a proved friend and protector of the Samoans to use his influence with the Imperial Government in orders to- bring about certain reforms in the existing triple control and administration by Great ! Britain, the United States and Germany. Sir George informed me that he does not at present see his way to do much to ameliorate the condition of, the natives. His principal . aim and desire . have been to keep Samoa and other important parts of the South Pacific free from the grinding and wasteful militarism of the old world. So far as Samoa is concerned, this object has been secured by the triple control, and especially through the pacific policy of England and America. He would be glad to eliminate Germany from the convention, because of its leanings to a military and bureaucratic form of colonisation, but as affairs stand at present he Vioes not see how that is possible. Oh the other hand, he believes a solution of the problem will be practicable in the near future, seeing that the expansion of German interests in the islands, which at one time threatened to become preponderant, has not of late years maintained the normal rate of increase. Moreover, he thinks a plan might be devised of amicably extinguishing the German interests. With regard to the other partner in the administration of Samoa—the United States—he is in favour of its retention, as it must make for peace and the mutual welfare of the Anglo-Saxon nd the native races..