SIR GEORGE GREY'S LECTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 3960, 3 November 1875, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY'S LECTURE.

At the Temperance Hall last evening Sir Geo.ge Grey delivered a lecture on " The Early History of the Colonie?, including New Zealand," in aid of the building fund of All Saints' Church. Sir J. L. C. Richardson occupied the chair, and on the platform were Ale-srs Sheehan, M.Hli, Bunny, M.H.R., Wales, M.H.U., G. Turnbull, E. B. Cargill, A. C. Strode, H. S. Chapman, J Smith, the Rev. It. L. Stanford, Dr Koseby, and Bishop i\evi!l. The hall was crowded in every part. The Chairman introduced the lecturer with a few appropriate remarks, saying this would bo the first lecture -ir George ever delivered. Sir George Grey, who was rec ived with long-continued cheering, said many of his hearers, judging from the comfortable manner in which immigrants were brought to our shores, and how soon they settled down, wouhi think the founding of a Colony a very easy task ; but, on the contrary, it was a very diihcult and very arduous one. He believed the great exodus from the British nation during the past forty years was one of the most remarkable things that had happened in tho history of the human race, and one that would have most beneficial results to mankind. Tlk deshc for immigration had been kindled by the narratives of tho great navigators and exploiers, such as Capt. Cook, Capt. Flinders, Commodore Owen, and others. Their glowing accounts of new countries discovered fell upon tho eai s of the nation at a very opportune moment, namely at a time when population pressed so much upon all sources of ordinary employment that the youth of the country could find no opening for their energies. Tinardent young men looked upon Australia as offering a great field for their efforts, and that < ontinent was accordingly selected by a large minder of men chosenfor their health, good character, and special fitness for the work of colonisation. There were difficulties, however, to be surmounted, for the want of information as to Australia was very great, and tho few settlements that did then exist there were convict colonies. Among the most daring and enterprising of the t arly explorers were Captain Sturt, Sir Thomas Mitchell, and Sir James Stirling. Naturally following tho settlement of Australia, came that of New Zealand, in which the late Mr Gibbon Wakefield took an important part, and under his auspices ehe speaker came out from England. The men wiio were the leaders of this settlement were men of remarkable capacity and goodness, au 1 the population origin diy sent was distinguished for its good conduct, so that all were fitted to encounter the difficulties before them and the disasters they had to meet. Alter a hard struggle with the Natives, Auckland was firmly settled. Wellington, with similar difficulties, followed ; Nelson next. In cousequeuce of the warlike spirit and continued aggressor, of the Natives, every settler had to undertake military service, and ona of that number (Mr A. C Strode) was on the platform beside him, A small settlement was next made at Tarauaki, and then it was determiued to foivn those ot Ooago and Canterbury. Captain Cargill was the leader of the settlement of Otago, and he (Sir George Grey) almost believed that no wiser ot more sagacious man ever lived. He was accompanied by others of great ability and experience, and so long as this country lasted there would be families tracing up with pride their origin from the founders of the settlement. If the people of this Province, with the mtural blessings afforded them, remained firm to the principles they followed, an exemplified by their lunatio asylums, hospital, . nd school*, it s-emed impossihle to tell to what stage the community would attain. New Zealand had a position in the Paoifio Ocean ! where it was impossible that she could be troubled with foreign enemies, she hat l excellent harbors, au enormous seaboiid, great fisheries, every facility for shipbuilding, every mineral product in great, j abundance, and eoal—perhaps of greater value than all the rest. They had also laws, which, I although they had their imperfections, were still the best on the face of the earth. Tkey i must not, however, forget in their ambition to | push forward that it would be a great thing to j federate the whole Anglo-Saxon speaking race iuto one gieat community— war amongst thtmj selves would beoome almost an impossibility, | and mankind generally would reach a state ol i prosperity and happiness hitherto unknown > upon the earth. Let them take heart from | past experience, avoid the evils of older

i Bociei.ies, aud do their utmost to carry the \ happiness and prosperity of New Zealand be * yi>nd their preßont pitch aud complete the task jg on which the first settlers entered.—(Loud and | ; rolougcd chters.) j Bishop jS t svill proposed a vote of thanks to 5 the lecturer, which wus heartily carried, and a - vote of thanks to the chairman, moved by Mr i H. S. Chapman, conoluded the proceedings.