SIR GEORGE GREY AT AUCKLAND.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3085, 17 May 1881, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY AT AUCKLAND.

(BT TELEGRAPH.)

Auckland, May 17.

Sir George Grey addressed a large meeting here last night. He defended his constant reiteration of certain points as necessary to attain the desired end, and he avowed his intention to continue until that end had been attained. He complained that New Zealand had been robbed of the best constitution that had been possessed by any colony, and ia exchange had been given the worst possessed by any colony enjoying representative government. He then dwelt at length on the various points contained in his Thames speech. He had a plan ready to remedy some evils; he would federate the Empire, and instead of the colonies being dumb dogs he would give them a voice in the Imperial Parliament, not by one or two members, but by getting colonial legislatures to consider subjects of Imperial interest, and the Governments resolutions on them, which would be read and carry weight in the British Parliament. He intended, if the opportunity offered, to bring on a motion on the subject next session. He strongly opposed Chinese immigration, and urged that steps should be taken to ensure that the young Princes should visit Auckland, so that the native chiefs might have an opportunity of seeing the Queen's grandsons and the future King. A vote of thanks for bis statesmanlike speech, and of confidence in him as a leader of the people, was carried by acclamation.