SIR GEORGE GREY AT THE THAMES.

Evening Star, Issue 4286, 21 November 1876, Page 4

SIR GEORGE GREY AT THE THAMES.

[By Telegraph.]

Sir George Grey's meeting on Saturday night was attended by one of the largest assemblages ever got together at the Thames. '1 he chair was taken by Dr. Kilgour. Sir George, although evidently laboring under the disadvantage of a severe cold, spoke for an hour and a half, the following being the principal of the subjects touched upon by him. He condemned the system of leasing enormous tracts of land as sheep luns. He believed it was in their power to get these leases broken up. To his consternation he found there was a conspiracy between the Government and the runholders to prevent this breaking up, by which the runholders would secure occupatio i until 1894. It was incredible that any Government could introduce such a measure at the end of the session. It should have been before the country before the session commenced—in fact, before the last general election. He and his friends had told the Government they would "oppose them, and hard words were used. He observed that when the vote was taken a number of members went with him and his friends into the lobby, but the Government said if the vote was earned against them they would leave office, and then some of those who went into the lobby with him and his friends went into the Government lobby. He was certain these members voted against their consciences, but they were in that difficulty, though not being runholders themselves they were returned by runholders' interest, and could not turn out a <iover|iment by which the runholders' interest was upheld. Until this question was decided there would be a great difficulty in turning out the Government, for until 1894 Ministers will not hesitate to support the runholders' interest. Kegarding Separation, he said they all knew he had tried to get Separation—that was financial separation of the two islands, with a Federal Government at Wellington to legalise or deal with Customs Post office, and such like. He believed that such would be for their interests and the interests of the Colony, with the seat of Government for the .North Island at Auckland. They would have no chance of their grievances being redressed from Wellington. They were being governed by Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, and Marlborough. Then there was another point he had in view—the reformation.of the Upper House. He did not see why men should be elevated to the Upper House at the will of Ministers. There are seven members of that House resident in Wellington ; but had they (the Thames people) one member ? No, although they were the largest constituency in the Colony. He had a great regard for the members of the Upper House who had done service on several occasions, but they should not be subject to the Ministry, if Separation were obtained, he believed one House would be sufficient, or if a second House were required, let it be ele ;tive. If possible he should again meet his constituents, and confer with them on other topics, one being the nomination of Governor. Sir Gecrge was frequently applauded, and.at the conclusion of his address received enthusiastic applause. A resolution expressive of confidence in, and cordial approval of his action in the late session of Parliament, was passed, an amendment, thanking him, but disapproving of his action re Abolition, being rejected.