DINNER TO SIR GEORGE GREY AT NELSON. [From the "Nelson Examiner," March 1.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 528, 7 May 1851, Page 3

DINNER TO SIR GEORGE GREY AT NELSON. [From the "Nelson Examiner," March I.]

A Public Dinner was given to his Excellency the Governor -in - Chief on Monday last. It took place as a mark of welcome and eiteem to Sir George Grey personally, and of respect to the representative of her Majesty ; and as the dinner was not in the light of a party demonstration, it was attended by a large number of the settlers of all shade* of political opinion. The room not being capable of affording accommodation for more than 150, the tickets were limited to that number, and were all disposed of before the dinner took place, the settlers generally being: glad of an opportunity which, without compromising political feelings, enabled them to join in a personal compliment to Sir George Grey. The chair was occupied by Francii Jollie, Esq. On his right hand sat the Governor, the Hon. A. Tollemache, the llev. Mr. Butt, rtc. ; on his left the Superintendent, the Hon. C. A. Dillon, Rev. S. Ironside, Mr. Wodehouse, &c. The two vice chairs were efficiently filled by Mr. Pearce and Mr. Snow. [After the usual toasts the Chairman, in a long speech, for which we cannot afford space, proposed the health of the distinguished guest of the evenHis Excellency the Governor, on rising to return thanks, was received with loud cheers. He begged to express his very sincere acknowledgement! to the Chairman, and to all present, for the manner in they had drunk his health, and to say how much he rejoiced at being surrounded by so many of the settlers of Nelson that night. It was indeed a gratification to him as a private and as a public man, to meet with such a reception at their hands. The poiition of a public man was often msch misunderstood in the world : he was expected at all times and under all circumstances to keep an even temper and a ~ coot judgment, and to have no imperfections of any kind. Rarely was allowance made for private misfortune, for domestic sorrows, for difficulties and obstacles, for a hundred things which try men most, and make their tasks most difficult and irksome. (Cheen.) Especially was a public man, in the position of a Governor of such a colony at this, exposed to misunderstanding. They had here two races, knovrn to each other for but a few yean, and having often opposite, or apparently opposite interest! ; the welfare of each had to be considered, and many a measure which seems easy enough in one part of the country, might be full of danger in another. He might truly say that it was only those who had had experience of the same life, who could fully comprehend its duties or its trials. And when a Governor, as he often must, came short of his own intentions and desires, and fell into any error or snare, how seldom was due allowance made, how rarely was it remembered that even with the best wishes there was an impossibility to be always right. (Cheers.) The Chairman had said he (Sir G. Grey) had been well supported at home. Truly, he had been nobly supported by Britain, and no one but himself could pos»ibly know the full extent of that support. Bat he had also been nobly supported by the settleri of the country. More e«pecially the NeUon settlers had on several occasions given him large assistance and encouragetneut, and their testimonial! of good will and esteem had done very much in helping him in his duty ; and while, as he said, few could know the extent of responsibility and anxiety that necessarily accompanied that duty, so on the other hand few could appreciate the thorough pleasure that such an occasion as the present gave him, or feel how much it repaid and rewarded him. (Cheers.) But he must take care not to be spoiled by the piaise and kindness he received in Nelson, any more than swayed by the odium and discouragement which he had met, or was still to encounter eliewhere. And indeed the support he received was not merely from meetings like the present ; there were many other sources from which he had derived a steady and increasing eucouragenoent ever since his administration commenced. Ihe piorreer clearing the forest and opening new country— the ploughman at work in his field— the wife and mother nurturing her family— the schoolmaster extending knowledge to the children growing up fast around him —the native who was weaned from barbarism to civilization—the missionary and teacher— all these and many more were his fellow workmen, and in their toils became his most efficient helpers. [Loud cheen.] Especially the missionary aided him, who taught the heathen a new faith, and converted lawless savage! into good subjects of England : subjects who had even suffered themselves to be led in war against their own rebellious countrymen in arms against the| Queen. The officers who bad worked with him he had also received the utmost support from : those military and naval officers especially, who had served here during his Government, had been selected with peculiar care, and had throughout done him the greatest service : he could not let mch an opportunity pass without repeating the praise they deserved, and the obligations he was under to them. [Cheers.] He was happy to look back upon the past, feeling that in the retrospect he could not regret the course he had pursued. What was commenced in trouble was continued in prosperity and now bore its fruit in the universal improvement of the colony, and in the contentment of the great body of the settlers ; anil be looked bock with pleaiure

and gratitude and pride to his having been permitted to share in bo great a vrork as the colonisation of New Zealand, especially when, as at each succeeding visit to Nelson, he had found the energy and enterprise of the colonists among 1 whom he had been sent had secured such happy results. [Cheers.] He should have regretted very much that the New Zealand Company had so long delayed giving titles to their purchasers, and had ceased without fulfilling a duty so indiapensible to the advancement and prosperity of the letfcleinent, but that even in that circumstance he could find the source of future gratification ; for the duty had now devolved upon him to issue immediately, as he had determined upon doing, Crown grants, which by settling finally all questions of title, and the other long-pending questions arising out of them, would perhaps more than anything else produce confidence and general contentment. [Loud cheers.] He rejoiced that it had fallen to him, some years ago, to purchase and thiow open to the enterprise of the settlers the fine districts at the Wairau, and be was ready to use every exertion for the acquisition of other district, such for instance as the one lately much spoken about on the Pelorus river, through which the proposed new line of road to the Wairau would be carried; and he would direct generally hi* earnest attention to the improvement of the roads in other parts of the settlement. (Cheers.) The Chairman had spoken of the report of his probable departure fiom New Zealand. They must remember that his term of service had nearly expired, and that in the ordmaiy rotation of luch appointments they must loon expect bim to be relieved j but he was unable to say what were or might be the intentions of her Majesty' Government towards himself nor what was the piobable time he might still be Among them. Still he could at least say, in asking them to accept his renewed thanks for the manner in which they had received him, that wherever he was, be should alwayi feel the most lively interest in the welfare of this place and the happiness of the inhabitants : and b<3 begged to be allowed before he sat down, to propose a toast which expressed his most sincere and earnest wish, namely, " Prosperity to the settlement of Nelson," (His Excellency resumed bis seat amidst loud and continued cheering.)