The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1867. FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 301, 20 December 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1867. FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR.

A public meeting was held yesterday evening at the Provincial Hall, which had been convened by his Honor the Superintendent, in compliance with the terms of a requisition signed by Sir David Monro and others, for the purpose of agreeing to a farewell address to be presented to his Excellency Sir George Grey, on his approaching departure from the colony. His Honor took the chair at half-past 7 o'clock, and the Hon. Sir David Monro then moved the adoption of the following address (which had been prepared by himself and some of the gentlemen who had taken an active part in getting up the meeting), in an able and eloquent speech iu which, after referring to the groundless calumnies which had been so sedulously disseminated at home to the disparagement of the colonists, suggested that a glance at the late disclosures at Sheffield on the conduct of some portionsof English society, which he characterised as worse than the worst acts of William Thompsou, might have resulted in greater charity. He then reviewed at considerable length the various political chauges through which the colony . had passed, and especially the many and various services rendered to it by Sir •George Grey, alluding especially to the sacrifice he had made in coming here from the far higher office of Governor of the •Cape, where he was universally beloved and receiving a larger salary, and making some strong and feeling remarks on the insulting manner in which the termination of his career as Governor of New Zealand had been notified to him by the Home authorities: — May it please your Excellency — On the occasion of your approaching retirement from the government of New Zealand, we, the people of Nelson, in public meeting assembled, desire to bid your Excellency farewell, and tender you the expression of our cordial thanks for the devotion to the. best interests of the colony which you have always manifested. For a period of •many years, under very varied and trying circumstances, you have conducted its affairs with an amount of discretion ani ability that will ever inseparably and honorably connect your name with the early history of New Zealand. In the memories of the people of Nelson your presence is associated with an earnest desire to promote their public interests, arid with kindness, courtesy, and consideration shown to everyone with whom you came in contact. We see with regret that services such as yours, so long and faithfully rendered, have not met with that recognition from the authorities in England which we believe they have fairly merited, and we feel-it therefore the more incumbent upon us publicly to record the testimony of bur esteem and respect. Although your oflicial connection with the colony is now about to close, we feel sure that we shall always find in .you, a3 heretofore, an earnest and active friend 5 ; and-.we believe that we may always rely upon your continuing to defend us from unfounded and unworthy accusations, from whatever quarter they proceed. In repelling certain monstrous .calumnies levelled not only against the colonists; but- also against the Representative of the Crown; your Excellency would appear to have 4 r * w ? down upon yourself the displeasure :• of- M^sti?rs-in England. We deeply regret that :Buch^should , be.the case, .hut we. trust that time, 7.may vindicate' the ; : truth; and .we venture to hopeT tJiat.^pur Excellency may 'find some consolation p\

- in the gratitude of the people for whom you have labored so long and earnestly, and in the sincere wishes which, in common we believe with the rest of the colony, we now offer for your health and happiness. The Provincial Solicitor having seconded the resolution, the adoption of the address was put to the meet'ng and carried unanimously, and his Honor the Superintendent was authorised to sign it on behalf of the meetiug, and transmit it to his Excellency at Auckland.