SIR GEORGE GREY.

West Coast Times, Issue 944, 1 October 1868, Page 3 (Supplement)

SIR GEORGE GREY.

At the farewell dinner given to Sir George Grey at Wellington on the occasion of his departure for England by the Mataura, on the Bth September, the chair was occupied by Sir David Munro. the Speaker of the House of Representatives. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen, Mr Justice Johnston, and nearly the whole of the members of the two Houses of Parliament were present.

The Chairman in proposing Sir George Grey's health said tie regretted that the state of Dr Featherston's health prevented his presiding on that occasion, as had been desired by the committee, and continued : I feel that the Superintendent of Wellington would, much more eloquently and effectively than I could do, utter the feeLngs of all present, in saying to Sir George Grey the words of kind farewell which it is now my duty to address to him on your behalf. Those Avords, however, I have to say, aud I ask your indulgence in performing the task. We have met to do honour to one who, for a period not far short of a quarter of a century, has had the principal direction of the affairs of this colony in his hands, and under whose guidance the colony has become what it is now. Sir George Grey is now about to leave us for a time, but we could not allow him to leave till we had said a few parting words to him. If I am asked the cause of the present demonstration, I say that there are more causes than one for it. In the first place there is the sentiment of loyalty, which is nowhere stronger than in this remote portion of the empire. Though distant, we have not allowed our position to lessen our feelings of attachment to the old mothercountry, or those feelings of public spirit, truth, and humanity, which are the real basis of all self-constitutional liberty, and without which the most cunningly-devised political fabric is worth no more than the parchment on which the words are written. This feeling of loyalty and attachment to our native land and our Soveregn, is one of the causes of our meeting to-day ; but there is another — the universal desire to express our gratitude to Sir George Grey for the great services which he has rendered to us and to our adopted country — and I should ill express the feelings of those in whose name I speak, did I not say that their feeling towards Sir George Grey is not alone of a public kind — it is almost of a domestic character. We regret to bid him farewell as our Governor, but there is a deeper feeling, for we regret to pait with one who, I may say, is our fellowcolonist. If a lifetime spent in the colony can make a man a colonist, then I claim Sir George Grey as our fellow-colonist, He has always identified himself with the colony and its interests ; he has acquired property amongst us ; he has done all he can to develope our resources; he has studied the language, habits, and traditions of the natives, and recorded his observations for the benefit of the scientific world. He has mixed kindly and familiarly with the colonists, has sympathized with ail their undertakings, and, although we honor him as a British Governor, we feel him to be one of ourselves, and I am sure he will allow me, on your behalf, to claim him as our fellow-colonist. TLoud cheers.) I will venture to anticipate the future a little, and to say that although no longer amongst us, I am sure Sir George Grey will show that he has not forgotten New Zealand, and that although even if serving the Crown in other parts of the world, he will always be willing to assist in developing the resources of this colouy, or to defend it and its colonists if assailed by the shafts of calumny. (Sir David Munro then proceeded to give a brief but interesting sketch of Sir George Grey's servic sbefic-e coining to New Zealand, and during his residence here.) lie then went on t<> say j — It now only remains forme to convey to you, Sir George Grey, the earnest wishes of the people of this colony for your future happiness, and to wish you on their behalf a grateful and respectful farewell. (Loud cheers.) Sir George Grey, who appeared much affected, and was loudly cheered, said : Mr Chairman, Vice-Chairman, ladies aud gentlemen — I can scarcely venture to say much to you now, for I am almost afraid to trust my feelings in expressing my thanks for the very kind manner in which my health has been proposed. The very kind terms in which his Excellency referred to me, and the kind and hearty manner in which you have all received the toast, I can assure you that I am not only grateful for what has been said and done to-day, but I am also deeply grateful for the many acts of kindness and of charity which I have experienced from you and your fellow-colo-nists — acts which have been repeated unceasingly ; in the first instance, I may say, by the fathers of those Around me ; since then, by their children ; and in many instances by their childrens' children. I feel that in some respects Providence has placed me in a more fortunate position than that of almost any other man of the present time. Years ago, when England was suffering from great and serious depression, when the poor were scarcely able to live, and the richer classes were seriously embarrassed by the many claims upon them, when there were few fields open for immigration, I determined to devote myself to the duty of finding new homes for those who were unable to exist in their old ones, and entered on this duty with no further prospects in this ' s arch than that of doiujr what I believed to be my duty. My labours have, however, led to results which I at the time little anticipated. I have seen great communities grow up and colonies propel with a thriving population in places which I myself discovered. I have seen great and thriving towns arise in places which were barren wastes when I first found them. Great and prosperous communities have grown up under my eye, and it is now a comfort to recollect, that in more than one country there are thousands of houses in which I would be a welcome guest. There is a great territory in which my name is remembered at every marriage feast and every social gathering. In this colony many of tho r e I knew as youths, have grown up to take a prominent part in the government of the colony, even to be governors of provinces. Boys whom I used .to pet have grown up to be warriors, and have bravely distinguished themselves in defence of their country. It is no slight privilege to kno w that those men look up to me as a friend aud assistant. My feelings " almost overcome me when I look around and reflect on those subject*), but I do feel grateful to those who have assisted me in pUmtiug

the germs of what will hereafter be a powerful nation. My strong sympathies will ever be with them, and I also feel grateful to that Providence which has enabled me to take the part I have done, for I feel that there are few men who have been so blessed in this way as I have been. I look around me and see many men now in the decline of life whom I knew and worked with in the vigor of their youth They were my friends then and they are my friends now. Their children, also, I see around me, and my heart is full of gratitude when I reflect upon all these things. I dare not say more now, for my heart is too full, but I trust that hereafter I may be permitted by Providence to give new proofs that I do earnestly and sincerely feel a deep regard and affection for the colony and its settlers, and that I am grateful for the kindness which has always been shown to me here. (Loud cheers).

After a pause, Sir George Grey rose and begged to propose the toast of " Prosperity to New Zealand." He said, there is something almost solemn when I look around and see who it is that I unite to drink this toast. I ask the youth of the colony to drink' to its prosperity, and it will be for them to work out that prosperity. I ask those to drink to the prosperity of the colony — those who themselves have to carve out houses in the wilderness, and in this their adopted country to create homes for their children. I ask those to join me who have aided in forwarding Constitutional Government, and many whose position in the Legislature gives them the task of carrying out that Constitution, and moulding it to the wants of the country. I feel almost appalled at the immensity of the prospect which is opened up by these reflections. As much as we can create anything, we have created our homes in this colony, and generations will look back to this time, and to what we have done, as one of the most interesting epochs in the history of the human race, as being the one in which was founded a country destined to become, not without justice, one of the greatest in the world. I ask you to drink to the prosperity of a promising child which may be deemed our own, and which we all hope to see surpass any other land on the face of the earth. It belongs in part to yourselves to promote that prosperity, and I am sure that none of you will hesitate at any personal sacrifices necessary to do so.

The toast was duly honoured, and acknowledged by the Hon. E. W. Stafford in an able speech.