SIR GEORGE GREY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1212, 24 May 1895, Page 18

SIR GEORGE GREY.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, March 29. I have done with making' definite announcements concerning* Sir George Grey s prospective arrangements. It is too risky altogether. One of these days the old gentleman will return to New Zealand, and I incline to think it may he soon. I he talk is that he will accompany the Treasurer and Mrs Ward. He told Mr Kennaway last week that his niece was to married in June or July, and that he intended to be back at Auckland by then, hater, however, it £ transpired that one of the old gentleman’s English nieces likewise contemplates matrimony, and that sue also wants Sir George to shed the light of his countenance upon the ceremony. -r~ is young 1 lady being, so to speak, on the spot will, I fancy, carry the day. Sir George was much delighted to see Mr and Mrs Ward, and called on them at the Hotel Windsor last Friday He has persuaded them to take a suite of rooms at 7 Park place pvo teni., and evidently looks forward to seeing a good deal of your Treasurer. Mr Talbot Bains, of the Leeds Mercury, very kindly sends me some notes of Sir George's visit to Leeds from the Leeds ■ point s of view. He says Sir George was met on arrival by Colonel Hardmg (commanding First West York Artillery Volunteers), at whose house he stayed. Colonel Harding is head of T. L. Harding and Sons, card clothing manufacturers, and has been

! president of the Chamber of Commerce. ! His residence, the Abbey House, Kirkstall, | is the old gatehouse of Kirkstall Abbey, ; which was enlarged by the last Abbot,, and | added to at subsequent dates. A consider- : able portion dates from the 12th century. I The interior contains endless beautiful j pictures, curios, and objects of art which • greatly interested Sir George, i The gathering which assembled to greet j the veteran colonial statesman was repre- ; sentative of all classes, and listened atj tentively to his long address. Sir George did not seem tired afterwards, and spent half an hour chatting to Dr Talbot, the Yicar of Leeds, and other notabilities. Even on tlieir return to Abbey House he did not retire at once, but sat up till midnight conversing with his host. In particular he spoke with great pride of New Zealand, pointing out its advantages to young and enterprising folk over the Old Country. On the following morning Sir George returned to London by an early train, declining an invitation to inspect the public buildings of Leeds. April 5.

Sir George Grey’s invincible dislike to making plans of any sort is, I fancy, something of a trial to his relations. His brother-in-law for example has pressed him many times to go to Ilurstmonceux, and Sir George has three-parts pledged himself to a visit. But when the time comes the old gentleman doesn’t feel inclined to quit Park Place. The truth is of course the G.O.M. of the South has reached an age when moving anywhere seems a serious undertaking. As he says himself, “If I went to Ilurstmonceux I expect I should stay there for the rest of my life. You see it is my native place, and they wnuld like me to make it my home.” On the other hand Sir George’s thoughts turn constantly to the marriage of Miss George to Mr Colbeck. “ She was,” he said to me, “ always my favourite niece, and I should much have liked to be at the wedding.” Mr and Mrs Ward are under the impression Sir George will return to New Zealand with them, but I recommended your Treasurer not to count too confidently on the contingency.

Despite a biting east wind Sir George Grey yesterday attended the funeral of his old friend Sir Chaides Mills, who went out with him to the Cape in the same ship many years ago. Sir George also expressed great regret he had not received proper notice of Lord Alcester’s funeral, as he should have liked to attend with his friend Sir Westby Perceval on behalf of New Zealand.