The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, FEB. 22, 1878

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 189, 22 February 1878, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, FEB. 22, 1878

On Monday evening- last, ISir George Grey iind party left Wellington for tbe west cohsg of the Middle Islands After visiting' the cliicf towns there tbey intend to proceed fo tbe Jackson's J^iy settlement and the sounds and on to fhe Bluff. They will then tmvel overlaud to Dnnedin. It thus appears that tbe Premier, the Hon. Mr Macandrew, and others, will shortly pass through Balclutha, and it is for the inhabitants to decide as to the nature of the reception they are to accord them. Whenever the Premier has travelled through the Colony during; the past few weeks he has met with the most enthusiastic and demonstrative welcomes from: all classes of both the native and European races. His journeys have been " Royal Progresses" indeed ; not. from the splendour of his pagentry or the greatness of his retinue; but on account of his bold, upright and conscientious advocacy of equal rights and equal responsibilities for all, and the loyality that has been manifested towards himspH and the cause he has espoused. The present extraordinary- "popularity of the Premier has not been "arranged" or "got up" by selfish parasites as we believe was formerly done in the case of another celebrated individual, but is the spontaneous response of the hearts and heads of the people to the principles be enunciates. The present enthusiasm is an evidence that . the great body of the New Zealand people have awakened to a sense of their political power ; they realise the fact ' that in the present premier they have a champion worthy of their esteem and confidence, and that by uniting in their support of bim they can be masters of the situation. Such as we interpret it is the meaning of the enthusiasm which is everywhere manifested at the present time, and such we believe to be the feeling generally entertained throughout the Clutha district. It is fitting, therefore, that the opportunity that will shortly occur should be taken advantage of by the citizens of Balclutha to express their feelings towards Sir George Grey, as well as their sentiments regarding the public policy of which he is the exponent. We presume that he will arrive here from Clinton during the afternoon and proceed to Dunedin by the evening train. If so there, will be not more than an hour to do vvhatever may be agreed to. The 1 country settlers being at present engaged with harvest,, cannot be expected to attend, arid although we ha ye no wish to dictate, w-e think the proceedings might be.confined to, an address by the Borough Council, and -'a 'speech in reply' by the Premier.:- ;Such an address he isVfully entitled to, arid we believe he would corclially accept and regard it 'ak'aAcpn- ' siderate desire oW the part of the citizens

not to insist upon any great exertion upon his part in the course of the longjourney from invercarg-ill to Dunedin. He is already well aware of the. loyalty of tlie people here towards his Government, and he has already experienced their hospitality and been assured of their hearty {rood feeling towards himself personally. Any great displuy on the present occasion would, therefore, be unnecessary and inopportune. As the ministerial party may he expected here early next week we shall be g-lad to hear of the Council taking- some action in the matter.