THE PREMIER’S VISIT TO THE WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5260, 1 February 1878, Page 3

THE PREMIER’S VISIT TO THE WAIRARAPA.

Sir George Gr«y, accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Sheehan amlMr. Mitchell (private secretary) left the Wellington station by sped -1 train on January 24th, at half-past 9 o'clock, for Kaitoke, en route for Grey town and other centres of population in the Wairarapa Histrict. The following address to the Premier has been in circulation in the locality for some weeks p r .st;— To the Hon. Sir George Grey, M.H.R., Premier of New Zealand,—Sir, —W e, the undersigned, recently heard with more than ordinary gratification that it was your intention, in company with the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, to visit this district. When we remember the success which formerly attended your successive administrations of the affairs of New Zealand —-the abilities you displayed in rescuing the colony from a state of danger and disaster —the system of political equality you recognised in the Constitution you drafted for it —the warm interest you took in the Small Farm Settlements of the Wairarapa—-and the wise laws and provisions you made to insure their good government and prosperity—we, who are mainly the settlers of a township which bears your honored name, cannot refrain from availing ourselves of the opportunity which your arrival in the district has afforded us, to give you a hearty welcome to assure you of the high esteem in which you are held in this community—and to express the well-grounded hope that a like success will attend your Premiership of the colony which has previously attended your administration of the affairs of South Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. We recognise in you not only the able and experienced statesman, but the warm friend of the industrious orders, and the determined opponent of all class privileges, laws, and institutions. Being assured that the well-known friendly feeling which prevails towards you iu this district amongst all those acquainted with the happy results of your first administration 1 of the affairs of this colony will be taken advantage of for the purpose of divesting this public demonstration of any political significance, we feel that it is desirable that we should avail ourselves of this opportunity of giving public expression to the hope that your policy with regard to the readjustment of the representation and of taxation, with regard to the electoral franchise,.and the system of plural voting, and with regard to the administration and settlement of the public lands, will meet with the support of the House of Keprerentatives, and that you will live in the enjoyment of good health to witness the triumph of your patriotic, zealous, and disinterested efforts to place the freedom, well-being, and happiness of the people of both races upon secure foundations, by means of such political, educational and social institutions, and arrangements, as will insure equal justice, equal laws, and equal privileges to all classes of her Majesty’s subjects resident in New Zealand. We cannot conclude this address without congratulating the colony on your fortunate re-appearance in the political arena, at a time when the country was being demoralised by a long course of otficial extravagance, and fictitious prosperity, primarily induced by a lavish expenditure of borrowed money ; at *a time when it required no ordinary statesman to rescue it from the difficulties and disasters into which it was blindly beingplunged; and at a time when by cunning tampering with the organic laws, and the iniquitous disposal o 2 the. public lands, it was'sought to lay the foundation of a landed but spurious aristocracy, and wealthy privileged orders in New Zealand. We heartily thank you, Sir George Grey, for having at such a : time patriotically and heroically forsaken your well-earned retirement to take the lead in a struggle which can confer no advantages upon yourself; and for these and other reasons we once more cordially welcome you and the Hon. Mr. Sheehan to Greytown.