SIR GEORGE GREY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1449, 30 August 1879, Page 10

SIR GEORGE GREY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(Peb Pbess Association Spkciali Wire.) Christchurch, August 2-tth. Sir George Grey's meeting last night was fearfully rowdy. Tho people began to come before 6 o'clock — the hour appr>int<d f r fc'ie mfeiing being 7,— and the Odd-Fellows' Hall was jambed to suffocation. So den^e was the crowd that they hung on the windows outside and stood on any le^ge of the walls that afforded a foothold. The platform was crowded also. There was tremendous cheering when Sir George appeared, and al c o some determined hissing, which was kept up well throughout the meeting. The nci-e w*s so great that it was some time before Sir George could commence, and then the ciush in the hall made the audience restless, and a continual din prevented even those on the platform hearing the sneaker distinctly. After this had gone on for some time, a man fainted, and had to be carried out of a door next to the platform. Those in the way jumped on to the platform, and in a moment the whole crowd, who knew nothing of tbe cause of this pt« Cieding, purged forward to the platform, and all was c.» fusion. It looked for the moment as if it was an organised attempt to break up the meeting, but it was quite accidental. Various plans were suggested, and the Mayor at length called ont that the meeting would adjourn to the Drillshed, as it was evident tbe ball could sot hold the people. On this several hundreds went off to the Drill-Bhed, but the rest showed no inclination to move, and it was proposed to adjourn the meeting. The curtain was dropped, but Sir George refused te give ud, and finding that the vast majority of tbe auditnee insisted on remaining to hear him, the curtain was again raised. v .Sir George Grey, stepping to the front, | said : "Gentlemen, I nev=r ran away in my I life, and I am not going to do io now." At I this there was an immense shout, and it was ''quite evident that those who had attempted

to drown his vuice befnre had been overwhelmed by the majority of the men in the hall. The .•■C9ne on ttie platform waen the curtain was li f .fid was one of worsa confusion than, in the hill. A knot had gathered round Sir George, and over the remainder of the stage were a mass of people standing on the chairs and piled together in the most promiscuous fashion ; and bo they remained to the end of the mestiog. Sir George immediately went on with hia speech, and fired by the lit lo BC?nn, spoke sploudidly. At tho beginning hu had been hoawe and unable to make himself heard very well even when ttaera was a lull in the row, but; now ho spoke clearly and well. There were one or two bursts of interruption, s Jine enthusiastic admirers every now and then calling for thrae cheera for him, which were always given : and whenever he had occasion to xay "If 1 am elected," there were uproarious shouts of "You will," "You shall," &3. At the end of his spefch there was a 1' ng string of questions, nearly all written bef jrehaad and handed to the Mayor to read. Dr Tuknbulili then proposed, and Mr HiGgiss. of Ashley, seconded a vote of coufileuce and thinks ; but when the doctor got; as far a.% the confidence, the rest of the motion aud the name of the seconder were lost in the cheers. In five minutes the Mayor was able to put the question, and wts met wita another tremendous uproar of «'ieer.-», throagh which could be heard the hiding that had been kept up very determinedly from beginning to end by the small band of the Premier's opponents in the room. The Atayor then called for the voices against it, but as no oiip cou'd be found with the courage to call " No," the motion, much to the amusoment of Sir George's supporteis, bad to be dec'ared unauim maly carlied, though the hissing was itnmedutely heard again. It was about 20 minutes t j 11 when the meeting ended.