PRESENTATION OF ADDRESSES TO SIR GEORGE GREY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 26 November 1867, Page 4

PRESENTATION OF ADDRESSES TO SIR GEORGE GREY.

A VERY interesting ceremony took place in front of G-overnment House on Saturday last, when a number of valedictory addresses were presented to his Excellency Sir G-corgo Grey, X.C.8., on behalf of tho public meeting lately held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, and various publio bodiesThe deputations having assembled by about three o'clock, his Excelloncy, attired in the undress uniform of a colonial G-ovemor, came oufc of Government; House, and was greeted with three hearty cheers. PUBLIC ADDRESS. Dr Featherston (who was accompanied by Mr Rhodes, the mover of tho address), then presented j the address passed afc the public meeting, which ran as follows : — To bis Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor and Commander-in-chief of the colony of New Zealand. May ifc please your Excellency, The inhabitants of the province of Wellington, in public meeting assembled, desire to address your Excellency on your departure from New Zealand, after having twice administered the Government of the colony during very critical periods of its history. Unexpectedly called from tbe Government, of South Australia in 1845, fo assume fchafc of New Zealand, afc a period whon war threatened seriously fco endanger fcho etabiliby of some of the | settlements, you were able on your return to England in 1853 to leavo the colony in a state of great prosperity and peace. Again, unexpectedly called from the Government of fche Cape of Good Hope in 1861 to rea***iume thafc of New Zealand at; a time when insurrection bad once more widely spread amongst the native population, compelling the settlers of whole districts fco abandon thoir homes and cultivations, you are aboufc fco return to England after a period of quietude which wo earnestly trust, may, by a wise administ ration of the Government of the colony in the future eventuate in peace being established on a permanent basis. It is a matter of deep regret to us, tbat while on your first return homo you nor. only carried with you Ihe good opinion of the colonists, but had received especial marks of her Majesty's approval, you have now incurred what, we feel Bure is bufc her Majesty's temporary dißpleanure — through your advocacy of certain great constitutional principles, evoked Ly tho correspondence between your Excellency and the Imperial Government, and whioh apply not only to this, but to all other dependencies of the British Empire. We believe that whatever position your Excellency may bo called upon to fill, the great constitutional principles enunciated by your Excellency will find in you an earnest and able advocate. The interest which you have always evinced in the prosperity of this province and its institutions, renders it doubly gratifying to be able to avail ourselves of tbe opportunity of wishing your Excellency a prosperous voyage, praying that happiness may attend you in whatever path Providence shall see fit to direct your future. REPLY. Your Honor and gentlemen — I receivo with feelings of gratitude your address upon the occasion of my relinquishment for fche second time of the government of New Zealand. Eurly associations muet ever render dear to me the interests of the province of Wellington, and the welfare of its inhabitants. Conjointly with themselves I, nearly two and twenty years ago, encountered the difficulties of consolidating fche settlement of a province, in a country bufc little known, almost without roads, and occupied by a warlike and then comparatively numerous population. The efforts made to encounter such formidable difficulties wero successful, and secured tbe firm establishment of fche now prosperous province of Wellington. Naturally, in after years, my thoughts will often turn to those who have been my fellow laborers for to long a time, and in such stirring events. I am very sensible of the value of tho aid I have so often received from your honor and othor inhabitants of this provinco during my recent administration of the affairs of New Zealand, frequently at moments when difficulties of no ordinary kind required to be met by the greatest promptitude and courage. I will nofc dwell on the aid tbat has thus been given me ,- I will only express my grateful thanks for it, and will leave to the future historian of Now Zealand the task of recording in fitting terms tbo services and sacrifices of its inhabitants, during the civil war which for so long a time prevailed. I thank you for your wishes for ray future happiness; nothing will more contribute to thai than my having the pleasure of knowing that you are yourselves in the enjoyment of thafc prosperity and contentment with which I earnestly pray you may long bo blessed. ADDRESS FROM THE FREEMASONS. May ifc please your Excellency, — We, the officers and brethren of the New Zea land Pacific and Waterloo Lodges of Freo and Accepted Masons, beg permission to express fche uumingled regret with which wo have heard that your Excellency ia aboufc fco retire from tinGovernment; of this colony. Feeling, as we cannot but do, »i depp and lively interest in everything that concerns the wellbeing of this province and colony, we have gladly availed ourselves of other opportunities to express our sense of fche manner in which you have discharged the high functions with which you have been entrusted, and have justified the confidence which her M inVsfcv has so long reposed in you. At present, therefore, we confine ourselves fco a cordial acknowledgment of thoso friendly and charitable acts, which aro and ought to be fche true signs and effects* of Masonic brotherhood. We have seen fchafc you have ever risen superior to the distinction of caste or crc.°d, and thtfc the humblest in fche community have most fully shared your sympathy. We hope and do nofc doubt that you havo found charity fcwice blcsfc, blessing bim who gires and him who receives. We fervently pray fchafc the Great Architect, of the Universe may continue to pour upon you all the bles-ings of His grace, enabling you still to show that you possess a munificent hand, and a large and liberal heart. In prospect; of bidding you farewell, we assure your Excellency that your name will be loner held in affection and grateful remembrance ; and while we earnestly hopo that; tbe shadow which has fallen upon you so undeservedly may speedily pass away, we also trusfc that greater honors may await; you in tho future than even those which you have won by your conduct in fche pasfc. Signed by the W.M.s and officers of the Pacific and Waterloo Lodges. REPLY. Gentlemen — I cannot receive the address you have presented to mo wifchoufc feeling deeply moved at aome of the sentiments you havo expressed. You say thafc fcho humblest in this community have fully shared my sympathy ; in truth, in the early days of this settlement rich and poor depended very much on one another ; tliey had to fight; side by side, to work side by side, and then, amongst the poor as well as the rich, I found those upon whom, in every danger and difficulty, I could depend, and who showed themselves true friends in the hour of need ; and such they have remained to me over since, and I have striven to remain bo to them, and it is with sorrow I am about fco bo parted from them. I would only say in conclusion, that 1 thank you heartily for your good wishes for my future happiness. I earnestly hope you may yourselves be successful in all your undertakings, and I beg you to ■remember you will still find in me one at all times desirous fco promote your interests wherever I ■may be. ADDRESS FROM THE CLERGY. May it please your Excellency — We, the Ministers of different Christian •Churches wifchin fche city of Wellington, unitedly

c desire to address your Excellency on tho presont occasion, who, we* understand, are nbout to retire from the Government of I his colony. When it was publicly made known some time ago that your Esc diency's administration of fchegoverniuentof New Zealand was soon to terminate, we shared in the common regret which then was and still is felfc afc tho prospect of that event throughout the colony, and deeply sympathised with your Excollency in the pain which your removal, however it may have boen brought about, may have given you. Still ifc must bo a satisfaction to your Excollency to feel assured that your government, of this rising country in circumstances of no ordinary difficulty has' been wise, disinterested, and successful ; that you aro leaving ib at a time when peace is making daily progress, and the unhappy war which has prevailed in past years seems fco be almost wholly ended, and that your Excellency's conduct; as Governor of New Zealand has secured fche approval of all classes in the colony. Further, we beg to express our high esteem for. your Excellency's person— our best wishes for your happiness in this changing world, and also in eternity, and our earnest hope that Divine Providence will guido and prosper your Excellency in whatever sphere of duty your Excelloncy may be yet appointed fco occupy, or station to adorn. We remain your Excellency's obedient servants, .Toiin Moir, Free Church of Scotland. Jas. Muir, Church of Scotland. W. Kirk, Wesleyan Church. C. Waters, Primitive Methodist Church. W. Fell, Congregational Church. John Hall, Free Church of Scot-land. I REPLY. I Reverend Gentlemen, — Ifc is a great satisfaction to me, upon my removal from the government of this country, to receive tho address which you have presented to mo. I have for years wutched with interest your eflbrfs to promote the religious welfare of fche inhabitants of iho city of Wellington ; and although I am now to be separated from you, I shall continue to feel a great concern for the welfare ol those amongst whom you labor, and shall ever hope that success may reward your exertions. I thank you sincerely for your expressions ol regret at my departure, and for your good wi-dies Cor my future welfare. It is with sorrow that i find myself abruptly torn from this colony ; but 1 feel that ifc was well that I should have been able lo show that everything should be risked in defence of what is right and true, und your kind words will support me in sustaining the mistaken displeasure with which nn nciions bave been regarded by the home authorities. ADDRESS PEOM THE ODD FELLOWS. May ifc please Your Excellency, — , We, fche undersigned, District Officers, on be- , half of the officers and brethren of the lndepen- | dent Order of Odd Fellows, Manchester Unify, beg most respectfully to address you on your departure from New Zealand. Although members of a non-political Society we may be permitted to observe that on both tinoccasions on which you were called by betMajesty to administer the Government, of New Zealand, the colony was in a state of war and confusion ; but from the wise, prudent, ond energetic measures udopfced by you, peace and prosperity have been the results of your able and impartial administration ; and you now leave our shores with little or no probability of the colony being ever again plunged into war by tbe rebellion of its aboriginal inhabitants. While we deeply regret the circumstances which appear to have led to your removal from the Government of these islands, we feel that it must be no small gratification to yourself fco know that you carry with you tbe sincere and hearty good wishes — nofc only of the Odd Fellows, but, we doubt not, of the inhabitants of the whole colony of New Zealand — for your future happiness and prosperity. i'rom your long residence amongst us we have bad many opportunities of witnessing your generosity and kindliness of disposition toWafcTs all -.-lasses of her Majesty's subjects, which havo won for you their highest esteem and regard. In conclusion, we beg to assure you that, in whatever part of the world you may be situated, your honored name will ever have a prominent place in our remembrance. ' John Smith, jun., G-.M. Robt. Edwards, D.G-.M. Edwin Bannister, C.S. reply. Gentlemen, — I feel much obliged to you for tbis address. Ifc is most gratifying to me to hear that; I possess the esteem and regard of so many ofthe inhabitants of the city of Wellington. I can suy with confidence that I have for years labored to tho besfc of my ability to promote your happiness, welfare and prosperity, and thafc I have done this not more from a sense of duty, than from a sincero attachment for those amongst whom I have lived so long, and whose early difficulties and adversities I shared. Ifc is very painful to part from those so well known to me, that old and young alike seem to be valued acquaintances, but the recollection of the good wishes you bave expressed for my future happiness, shall bo always remembered by me. and I hope yet, thafc in after years 1 may be able in some way to show my regard for fcho inhabitants of this place, and my p-afcitude for the many acts of kindness I have received from them, ADDRESS FROJI THE RECHABITES. May it please your Excellency — In venturing to address your Excellency, in prospect of your departure from New Zealand, we, llie Officers and Brethren of the Hope ol Wellington Tent of the Independent Order ol Kechiiliites, take the opportunity to express fche feelings of profound regret with which we have heard that, ynu are about to quit the Government of a colony for whose welfare you have labored s ) long, so earnestly, and so successfully. We are constrained fco acknowledge that our regret is deepened, while our gratitude to you is made fche more ardont by tin* consciousness that your Excellency has been recalled, because you have co boldly and so generously defended the settlers of this colony from the groundle.-s asper>ions that had been casfc upon them. In this instance, even if ifc stood alone, your Excellency has shown a high-minded devotion to the duties of your office, and a disregard for all merely personal cottsideriitioi"B, that must cause your name to bo long cherished by the inhabitants of New Zealand. While we join with our fellow-settlers in the testimony which all must bear to tho courtesy, affability, and kindness, that have marked all your career, we feel ourselves especially called upon to thank your Excellency for the cheerful self-denial with which you determined for a period to practice total abstinence, that so you might exert a beneficial influence on afc least one man of rank and mark among the native race. We could naturally wish fchat your Excellency's example in this particular wore universally followed, but wo gratefully accept and acknowledge the proof that you then gave fchafc total abstinence from intoxicating liquors would be at least one means of saving the nafcive race from degradation, or even from possible extinction. May your Excellency's voyage from these slioreu be plea.sa.iit;, anel a.ll your fixture prosperous. May all tbe honors that courage, zeal, and talents can acquire, and temperance retain, bo yours wherever and in whatever sphere the Great Disposer of all events may bo pleased to cast your lot in fche time to come. William Joiinson. P.C.R. Miciaiaii Read, P.C.R. Francis Fraser, P.C.R. William Lawes, OR. ( William Isaac, D.R. Alfred Levy, Secretary. reply. Gentlemen, — I thank you heartily for fcho address you have presented to me. ' I can assure you that, tbe promotion of tho happiness and welfare of tho inhabitants of New Zealand, of all races, has been for years ono of the chief objects for which I havo lived, and, in common with yoursolves, I have labored to my

utmost to prevent the spread of a desire for the use of intoxicating liquors, a taste which if it once unfortunately becomes widely spread amongf-fc fcho native race must, I fear, ensure their ultimate destruction. I feel very grateful to you for the sentiments you bave expressed on this subject, and I earnestly hope fchafc you will resolutely persevere in tbo ends you have proposed to yourselves in connection wish it. Whilst you do fchis, you will find in me a warm and zealous supporter, whereover I may he. I shall long remember fcho kind wishes you .havo expressed for my welfare, and I shall always hear with gladness of fche prosperity* and progress of Wellington, hoping that some of ifcs people will nofc forget; ono who has shared wifch them their early trials and later successes. ADDRESS FROM THE FORESTERS. May it please your Excellency — We fche undersigned, on behalf of tho Ancient Order of Foresters, of Wellington, meeting under the title of Court, Sir George Grey, No 3118, and Court; Robin Hood, No. 4428, cannot; let fchis opportunity pass without tendering to you our sincere regret thafc you should have been culled from the Governorship of Niw Zenland at a time when your efforts for tho peace of the colony seem to be completely crowned with success. i Knowing tho interest which you have always taken in all institutions connected with fche alleviation of sickness and distress, and the sincerity and earnestness of your desire for tbe best welfare, uf the colony, Aye beg to assure you that our best wishes follow you in your retirement from the trials of Governorship of fchis colony, and wish you every happiness in your future career, and a prosperous voyage to the mother country. W. Chaiuvick, CR. James H. Hutchens, CR. ! W. M'Leod, S.C.R. I F. Read, S.O K. W. tiIiNNOTT, Secretary. Mortun Quin, Secre iary, reply. Gentlemen — I beg you to necept my grateful thanks for your expressions of sincere regret that I should have been recalled from the government of Kew Zealand at. a time when the efforts of all those interested in the re-estubli-diment of peace, appeared to have been crowned with success. You do me justice in slating how deep an interest 1 have always f'eJfc in all attempts w ich had for their object, fche alleviation of the sorrows or distresses of others. 1 have therefore always witnessi d with pleasure tlie formation of societies such a3 I hut to which you belong; unci I trust, jou mny ever be successful in the attainment of those ends which your society has in view. 1 thank you for your good wirhes for my future welfare and prosperity ; I, on my part, earnestly hope that Providence will continue to bless, as heretofore, this province and its inhabitants, who have undoubtedly enjoyed a large measure of prosperity and success. ADDRESS FROM THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY AND LAITY. The following address was presented privately to his Excellency, just previous to Ihe foregoing ceremony, by the Catholic Bishop of Wellington, on behalf of Ihe Roman Catholic Clergy and Laity. A reply had not been received up to five o'clock yesterday afternoon May if; please your Excellency — Ifc was with great regret we, llie Bishop, Clergy, and Laity of tho Catholic Church, heard of your approaching departure for England. We look back over fche two distinct; periods of your government in this colony, and recull with the most sincere gratitude the cordial support which your Excellency bus ut all times afforded our missions nnd people. Extant, fco this clay are tho evidences of your foresight and Avisdom in making provision for fche education of the Catholic Natives of fchis country, and perhaps in the wholo colony. There is no institute of more importance nnd utility than fcho Providence established by you in ibis town. The support you have so cordially afforded in all religious and charitable undertakings to our clergy and people has been but the fit exponent of the largeness of your heart and liberality of your nature, which, state-manlike, show only in all things the greatest good of the greatest num ber. This is why you noAv curry Avifch you the heartfelt affection of the people— the personal esteem of so many, and the unalterable respect of ull. Reading the future by the light of the past, Aye foresee a brilliant, career in store for you, and only regret; that tho light of your wisdom musfc be lost to fchis land, whoro it has so long radiated from shore to shore. Conscious of the feebleness of language to express our thoughts, avo humbly pray that the blessing of God may for over descend upon your bead, and that, tho fuvors of our Sovereign may yet, be showered on you according to the meusuri of fche benefits Avhich have accrued to this country from your rule.