SIR GEORGE GREY AT AKAROA.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1251, 22 March 1878, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY AT AKAROA.

Sir George Grey, accompanied by Mr Montgomery, the Hon. Mr Fisher, and Mr Mitchell, arrived at Akaroa in the Hinemoa on Wednesday. The day was observed as a half-holiday, and upon the arrival of the Hinemoa towns{>eople and settlers generally mustered in arge numbers. On Sir George Grey being recognised on board the steamer three cheers were given. After the party landed Mr Montgomery introduced Mr H. G. Watkins, the Mayor of Akaroa, and Mr E. C. Latter, chairman of the County Council, and other official personages. The following address was then read by Mr McGregor, the town clerk : To the Honorable Sir George Grey, K.C.8., Premier of New Zealand. Wc, the Mayer, Council, and Burgesses of the Borough of Akaroa, welcome you once again to Akiroa, not only as the first minister of the colony in which we have the happiness to live, but as a statesman whose administrative abilities, in ruling many dependencies of the British Grown, have been the means of laying the foundation of their present prosperity, and as an author, whose ex :ur.-ions into the fields of Native aad Polynesian lore, have been recognised as the work of a scholar. The spot is within view where the British standard first floated in the breeze of the Middle Island over forty years asm, and the story of the colonization of New Zealand since that day, has been one of ! teady progress, much of which is attributable to your high rapacity for governing, and your method of dealing with the Native rice. Owing to our Peninsular position we have, to a great extent, been shut off from the rest of the colony, and have not participated in the advantages of those public works which have done so much to develope the resources of the country. During the session of 18 6 a Bill was passed through both Houses of the Assembly having for its object the reclamai ion of 40,000 acres of land from the waters of Lake Ellesmere, and with the proceeds of the sale of the land so reclaimed construct a railway to connect this harbor with the trunk lines of the Middle Island. Possessing one of the finest natural harbors in New Zealand, we may confidently expect that the Government, instead of encouraging experimental harbors, will turn their attention to those for which nature has already done so much. The report of the Trust will be laid before the next session of Parliament, and the Government asked to further promote the work. By a sisting in carrying out the scheme the Government will only be aiding in what is really a colonial undertaking, by opening the fertile plains of Canterbury to the markets of the world. We hail as an irportant step in this direction the erection of a lighthouse on the Peninsula. Our more local requirements in the matter of new public buildings postal arrangements, &c., have already been represented to your Government, and we feel satisfied that tho-e rerresentations will receive that attention to which along with the rest of the colony, we-nre entitled. In the g-eat questions that are likely to agitate Parliament during its coming session those addressing you take a warm inter st. We believe that the representation of the people is the bulwark against a limit' d class exercising political power; at the same time we wish to see property fairly taxed and fairly represented The tone of political parties in a state always influences the character of a people, and we arc sure no effort will be wanting on your part to elevate the tone of Parliament and thus raise the moral and intellectual condition of the masses. We recognise in your recent advent to power that a blow has b' ea struck at the sy?tem of government by families, so repugnant to our free institutions, and which can only lead to the degradation of the people. We t;u-t you will long be spared in health and vigor to take that leading part in directing the destinies of our adopted land and in asserting to increase the knowledge and happiness of our free race, which is the highest print ge of a statesman and the most precious part of the wealth of nations. Kenny Green Watkins, Mayor. A. James McGregor, Town Clerk. Akarca. 20th March, 1818. The Premier replied, expressing his satisfaction that the inhabitants of (he Peninsula showed that they felt the importance of the questions involved in the policy of the present Government. After a low further remarks, Sir George visted the Government school, accompanied by Mr Meech, the chairman of committee, and expressed himself delighted to see (Lose who were to be the founders of New Zealand of the future. Sir George afterwards addressed a large meeting of the principal residents of the Peninsula, in the grounds of Wagstaff’s Hotel. The speech consisted to a great extent of what he has said in Christchurch and elsewhere. During its delivery ho was warmly applauded, and at the conclusion the following resolution, moved by Mr Wacckerle, seconded by the Rev. W. Aylmer, was unanimously carried with cheers : — (< That this r_eeting accords a cordi d vote of thanks to Sir George Grey as the Premier of the colony for his visit and address, and reposes entire confidence in himself and Government.” Before the motion was put, Mr Montgomery, who was vociferously called for, said ho would not inflict a long speech upon the meeting, having perhaps exhausted their patience a couple of months ago. [No.] He had then given expression to what he believed should be the policy of New Zealand with regard to many important matters. He had not changed his views since, and it was not, of course, necessary to reiterate them. But he wished to support this vote of thanks and confidence in Sir G. Grey for visiting this part of Canterbury, and for the very excellent address which he had delivered —an address which would, no doubt, have been more exhaustive if he had visited them earlier in the day. They must, however, bear in mind that Sir George had been somewhat overtaxed by the number of addresses he had lately had to deliver. What he (the speaker) wished to say to them was that there had been a cry sent forth over the land —a cry that Sir George Grey was in favour of class legislation. That cry had been raised to alarm the timid. He (Mr Montgomery) said that as a supporter of the Government he had eeeu no

- evidence whatever of class legislation in their measures. He also said that, although he was a supporter of the Government, yet if in the exercise of his private judgment, and in doing his duty as their representative, he found that the Ministry made a single step in the direction of class legislation—of putting one class above another, whether the poor above the rich, or the rich above the poor —they would have no more uncompromising opponent than himself. Ho wished to state this, because when once such a cry was raised in a country, it did great injury to a very holy cause. The cause of the freedom of the people was holy, and a cause which every one of them, rich or poor, young or old, should strenously advocate. [Cheers.] He wished also to say that a great change had been initiated. The time had been when rich men, no doubt very respectable men, considered that the Government of the country should be confined to a tew ruling families. Sir G. Grey and those acting with him declared that every man who had independence of character, ability, and honesty of purpose, and who was ready to take part in the affairs of the country, should, if he enjoyed the confidence of his fellowcitizens, rise to any position without being barred by any social distinctions. Nathrally those men who had enjoyed those advantages to which he (the speaker) had referred, who had been in the Government, or who had had the ear of the Government, and who had exercised great influence over legislation by their social position—naturally those men cried out when Sir G. Grey and those who were supporting him touched the privileges which they had hitherto enjoyed. But he asked them (his hearers) not to heed the cry. Let them look to the measures which Sir G. Grey was proposing, and when the Bills embodying them were put into legal form, if they were not measures for the good of the country, if they were class measures, if they were measures calculated to raise the poor above the rich, or the rich above the poor, then let them and all the people of New Zealand raise their voices against them. The time for class legislation had gone by. Before them they had a great fact. Ho repeated it —a great fact. They were rapidly severing themselves into two parties, that of conservatism and that of liberalism. The former desired to see laws maintained which were eminently satisfactory to a few. The liberal party wished to see justice done to the whole people of Now Zealand. He (the speaker) belonged to the liberal party, and he would endeavour to do what little his ability would allow him to do in furthering the objects of that party. If, when he met them again, he had failed in the trust they reposed in him, if he had not proved true to his colours, they should tell him of it. He hoped the people of New Zealand would henceforth carefully scan the acts of their public men, that they would regard those men only as worthy of trust who remained steadfast to their principles, no matter at what personal sacrifice to themselves ; that they would not desert those principles for place or power, but adhere to them because the principles themselves were good. Feeling that the members of the present Government were men of zeal, of great ability, of thorough honesty of purpose, he trusted that the meeting would give the proposed vote of thanks, and express their confidence in the Government. Str George was then interviewed on matters of local interest by the Natives of Wainui and the Kaik, the Native Assessor and Mr George Robinson being the principal speakers. He was subsequently entertained at dinner at Wagstalt’s Hotel. The table was very tastefully decorated, and the arrangements were very creditable to the caterer. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. The only toasts proposed were those of Her Majesty and the guest of the evening, who suitably replied. A tea meeting being in progress at the Town Hall in connection with the Presbyterian Church, the Premier and Mr Montgomery, at the invitation of the entertainment committee, visited the meeting, and Sir George, at the request of the chairman, the Rev. W. Douglas, made an address contrasting the Akaroa of to-day with that of thirtyfive years ago, when he first knew the settlement. He dilated on the immense progress that the colony had made socially, intellectually, and commercially, within the period referred to. At 11.30 p.m. the Ministerial party embarked on board the Hinemoa for Wellington.