SIR GEORGE GREY'S ISLAND HOME.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 179, 20 July 1876, Page 4

SIR GEORGE GREY'S ISLAND HOME.

The following is taken from a letter to the Brisbane Courier, by its Auckland correspondent: — -" Opposite to the Waiwera hot springs, about seven miles away, in the middle of the Hanraki Gulf, is Kiwau, Sir George Grey's ialund. It contains about 10,000 acres, of which 2,000 are in the numerous bays iudenting it, leaving about 2000 acres of hilly laud and valleys. Sir George bou»ht it of <he copper company formed in England mauy years ago, and the remains of whose smelting works are still to be Been in one of the baye. The copper was too poor to be profitably worked, and nothing has been done with it for many years past. The island abounds in beautiful scenery. Sir George has built a very nice house, and surrounded it with rare plants from all parts of the world. The Jand is being gradually laid down in grass. It has been customary for many years for pleasure parties to visit Kawau. A steamer goes loaded with people — generally from 150 to 200 — and Sir George has always thrown open house and grounds, orchard and field, without restraint. Visitors waoder through the rooms admiring Uih pictures on the walls, and the rare black-letter books on the shelvea. The manuscripts are kept under lock and key. Among them is the origiaul treaty between Cromwell aud ihe Hanaeatic towns to support Protestantism in Europe. The treaty is ia Milton's handwriting, and sealed and signed by each of the ambassadors. Gne of the signatories for Cromwell is the husband of Alice Lisle. The Cromwell correspondence is volurai nous, and much prized by Sir George.

There are many of the Protector's letters, and many more of the drafts of despatches submitted to him by his Secretary, Thurloe, with Cromwell's alterations thereon. Thus in one case the Swedish ambassador is told by Thurloe that his Majesty'a conduct is ' barely civil.' Old Noll has dasheJ his pen through the words, and written in a bold band 'hardly borne.' Another despatch from Sir Philip Meadows — if I remember rightly — conveys to Cromwell in the most artful way the surprise of his Majesty of Sweden that he did not protect himself from attempts at assassination by the sacredness that would surround him as as a king; and so on, through a collection which those privileged to see are never tired of perusing. Sir George Grey has been a great collector all his life, and his collection has been enriched by the bequests of bankers to whom he was related, and whose tastes were in the same direction. He has been offered considerable sums for many of the papers by the British Museum, but has always declined to part with them. Two large volumes of the Bible in Latin, gold bound and clasped, and in antique boxes of book shape, are much sought by visitors. It is the Bible in use before the translation into English, and similar to those from which the first translation by Wycliffa was made. A copy sold recently in England for £600, I am tolJ, and the book is very rare."