SIR GEORGE GREY'S VISIT.

West Coast Times, Issue 2773, 20 February 1878, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY'S VISIT.

(To the Editor.)

Sib,— l think, ia your article of yesterday, commenting on the visit of the Premier and his Ministers, you have taken a sensible view of the question. It is right, as you say, to give a hearty welcome to Sir George and his party. This will be done m.o3t certainly, as Hokitika was never yet behind hand in paying honor to whom it is due. But it would be a mistake to give the great New Zealand democrat such an ovation as would lead him to believe that we follow and worship him in all his acts, words, and deeds. Recent events in the Colony of Victoria have thrown a kind of obscuration over the eyes of those Liberals in this part of the world, who recognise the Berry of New Zealand in Sir George Grey. The fact is, that a pure democracy is a dream, the full realization of which is scarcely to be hoped for or sighed for, so long as human nature is as it is. It is a theory beautiful to contemplate, but in practice it can scarcely be said to answer, or to have given any sort of satisfaction in those countries in which it has had a fair trial, Equality, fraternity, the widest and wildest liberty, are splendid visions, and if every man could have a farm, a vote, and a rifle-so much the better. Hut it has ao happened— and so it will happen while tho world lasts— that the attempt to make one man universally !lS £ 001 * as anotuer h as invariably ended by bringing back things to

the starting point, namely, by leaving one man better ttian another. And the effort to accomplish, in practice, the brotherhood of men has failed as decidedly, by establishing a fraternity, resulting in revolution and enmity and the bitterest of strife. Although Sir George Grey may not be received by the people of Hokitika with flags, banners, triumphal arches, and fulsome addresses, he will no doubt meet with a cordial welcome on his arrival amongst us. He comes here to make himself acquainted with the wants of Westland, and these should be brought under his notice in a busine*-- ike way. The public bodies should conui with him, but every little grievance nted not be represented, nor should any undue attempt be made to obtain impossible promises for favors which can never .ci! y' o ranted. The Borougli Council wil 1 have something no doubt to say to tlit Premier. If Sir George could give that body a wrinkle, showing how they could raise a loan under present circumstnu us, his ideas would certainly be most favorably entertained. The County Council might present Sir George with a white elephant, namely, the Christchurch road, and it the Premier would uudertake its future maintenance, the Council would probably thank him. A number of other matters might be mentioned, but the Government will most probably tell us, that the expenditure of money is involved in the whole of them, and that the filthy lucre cannot be obtained until the state of Europe is more composed, and the unspeakable Turk has been finally disposed of. We must, therefore, hope that the aspect of the Continent will shortly undergo a change, and that its present gloomy appearance may clear away. We, in Westland, want bridges built at Kanieri and Kumara ; we want our hospital question placed on some sort of basis ,• we require the track from j Paringa to the Ilaast to be opened up ; we wish to send our white elephants to Wellington ; we want in fact, a score of things. But this war and these rumors of war, we will be told by Sir George, are serious matters, and until affair? are quiet we must be contented with promises, and let our wants, like the fulfilment of the promises, lie in abeyance. I am, &c, Citizen, Hokitika, February 19.