The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30,1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5258, 30 January 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30,1878.

By the Standard. we are furnished with a tolerably full report of Sir George Grey’s address to the people of Wairarapa. At the conclusion of the speech : the good 1 people of Grey town must have been lost ' in wonderment that Sir George had come so far to say so little. When he, visited Napier the first thing. He. had to 'tell its inhabitants was that it was a great many years since he had inspected the natural advantages of tho place and foretold its future greatness. He had precisely the same story to tell at the Wairarapa. He always takes immense credit for his foresight. In fact, he draws upon his memory to impress people with the idea that somehow or other his prophecies had much to do with the progress of their respective districts. “From the moment that he arrived at Wellington he saw that the prosperity of the whole of this part of Now Zealand depended upon two great roads being pierced or carried through the great mountain chains which separated it from the' interior. He found it situated in a fork of two mountain ranges, with the Hutt River running down between them, and he felt certain that until the range on each side was penetrated the inhabitants of Wellington could never attain to any degree of wealth or prosperity. With that view two great roads were constructed through these two great mountain ranges. One coming out near Waikanae on the West Coast, and the other coming through the valley of the Hutt across the mountain range into the valley of the Wairarapa. He satisfied himself by a personal visit made at that time that there was that degree of communication between ’Welliiigtonand theWairarapaYalley which he had so earnestly desired to see.” We are desirous of giving the former Governor full credit for everything that lie has done ; but surely the meanest intellect would have been able to see clearly that the entire prosperity of this part of the colony—city and country—depended upon connecting tho interior with the natural outlet. Whoever had been entrusted with the Government of New Zealand, one of tho first works which would have been undertaken in the interests of colonisation was the construction of a road over the Riinutaka, to connect the rich plains of tho Wairarapa with Port Nicholson. The first settlers of this part never for a moment imagined that whale oil should continue to be the chief article of export. The road constructed in the early days cleared tho way for the sheepfanner, and for years he remained in ; almost undisturbed possession of one of the finest districts in the colony. But a.far higher work lay before the men who came after Sir George Grey, anti that was the opening up of the country for profitable settlement by the agriculturist. The Public Works and Immigration policy has accomplished more, during the past six years, in the great work of colonisation in the Wairarapa, than all the acts of all the Governors, including tho Great Proconsul himself, who ruled in New Zealand before Sir Julius Vogel brought down his famous proposals. It is true that the iron horse has not yet debouched on the plains of the Wairarapa ; but the people are flourishing because of the stimulus given to industry by the knowledge that the day is close at hand when they will bo placed in communication by tail with tho port of Wellington. Sir George has never a word to say in praise of the good works of his political , opponents, but the settlers of .the Wairarapa will contrast the backward condition; of the district some seven or eight years ago with tho present state of allairs, and will bear in iriind that the Premier has had nothing but hard words for tho men who initiated ajid carried out that policy which has conferred such vast benefits upon tho Wairarapa and the colony generally. After describing the dangers and hardships tho early colonists; had to contend with, and ,the -help a section of the Arawalia.tribe had given in making the road across the Rimutaka, tho Premier-went on to say:— “ They had 'done well in converting wkat .was formerly a waste into a, thriving town • but what were they to do for the futuio:? They must rcinoulbcr that their duties' we.o not ended. , Although tho .young man had now no country to, iconquor although-they were now placed in a position of safety, 1 aiid had homes made for them, they had something to do; they had a nation to build up—(cheers)—they had a great career before them, and the question was, would they show themselves worthy of the task to which Providence had called them? Would they

build up a great, freehand flourishing community—would they think something of the future, or would the simple desire of, acquiring, wealth for themselves bo all that* they cared about 1 ” There is certainly no fault to find with the : sentiments Sir George Grey here gives utterance to, and we sincerely -trust the. young men of the Wairarapa will develop all the good qualities ’to ' which Sir George alluded. However, it is somewhat hard to understand why he keeps harping oh such threadbare -subjects. The people of this colony are on as high a level as those of any other country, and there is no especial, reason why they should constantly be reminded of the duties they owe to each other and to the State. It is the duty of the statesmen to devise practical measures of legislation ; —not to be continually pestering people with stale truisms and moral philosophy lectures. Sir George 'endeavored to explain the true meaning of the famous “poisoning” letter which he addressed'to the Wairarapa Standard. Most people after reading the explanation will be as much in the dark as ever. In reference to that letter he said (we quote from the local paper) “He brought the matter forward in order to show that all recommendations made by a Governor paid by colonists, and sent Horae to the Secretary of State, should bo made public. He said the system of secret advice to the authorities at Home was extremely, objectionable. The whole thing presented to his mind such a shocking picture of what might take place, that he determined in the most forcible manner to bring the subject under public notice. It was all very well to say that ha was afraid of being poisoned himself. Those who knew him, were aware that a , feeling, of that kind was not one of his characteristics. Even if he feared such a thing he would still go straight on with his duties, undeterred by such apprehension. He had determined to bring forward what he considered to be a gross instanoe of secret advice being tendered by people in power. He wished the subject as a whole to be considered,’and he thought that by bringing forward a striking instance of .the kind heshould direct public attention to it.” The, most flagrant instance of secret advice that was ever tendered by any man in power in this colony was when Sir George Grey urged upon the Governor to veto the Land Bill after it had been passed; by! both iHouses of Parliament! The Premier brings forward the bugbear bf the leases to the ■ Canterbury ruaholders as a, justification of his, extraordinary conduct. ’ If ;the Bill was so iniquitous,why did his Government take charge of it and carry it ’throhtrh both Houses?