SIR GEORGE GREY TO ADDEESS THE PEOPLE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2158, 3 December 1875, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY TO ADDEESS THE PEOPLE.

A deputation consisting of Dr Kilgour, Messrs Heron, Carpenter, Cowell, Lawlor, Bagnall, Alley and Gudgeon, waited on His Honor after the withdrawal of the J former deputation, to request him t© address the people of the district during his stay at Grahamstown.

Dr Kilgour said. that they had called to »cc whether it would be Sir George Grey's pleasure to address the people, and if so, what place and time would be most convenient for him to do so.

Sir George Grey said that he would have liked very much to have been able to get away to-morrow, He believed from what he had seen that everything of importance could be settled here in that time, and he had a good deal of business elsewhere. Among other things he thought he saw his way to the formation of a railway from the Thames to the Waikato which would open up the country and benefit the district greatly ; and as this ought to be done at once, it seemed to him to be a pity to waste time in talking when so much was required to be done. If they wanted any other information than what he had given to the people of Auckland in his speech there, which they could read in the newspapers, he would have much pleasure in giving it to them, and could tell it to a deputation in ten minutes. Dr Kilgour said it would be a great pleasure to them to hear him speak his views, but they were not so exacting as to demand it of him if he had other and better work to do; neither after what he had said, and the excuse he made would the people consider themselves slighted if he was unable to accede to their request. Sir George Grey said he could come down at any time from Auckland for such a purpose as addressing the people, but at present there was no necessity to speak to the Thames people. He was among the first of the northern members who had addressed their constituents 5 and all the other Superintendents of Provinces had sent out printed documents. If the people at the Thames said they wanted him to speak as Superintendent he would consider it his duty to do so at any inconvenience. Mr Carpenter said that he was quite sure that all would be glad to hear him, and if he could not address them now perhaps he would do so as soon as he was ■ able.

Sir George Grey said that he had found that what there was to be done here was very easily settled. He had received very full reports on the different subjects and had made arrangements for their being done aa far as the funds allowed it. He was very anxious to commence at once in consequence of affairs here suffering, as he understood, from a period of depression. As regarded the Waikato railway he might say that if the Government had no funds to warrant the undertaking, that the same thing might be done here as was done in other colonies, and that was for the Government to promise to introduce a Bill next session, Jguaranteeing a dividend of six per cent.- to a company, in which case he thought they might get a company Jo undertake the work at once. This, he believed, would give a great impetus to affairs at the Thames and Waikato. The experiment had already been made by him at the Cape, with the result that Government had nothing whatever to pay. He had thought a great deal about the matter last night, and the plan seemed feasible. Mr Carpenter said the only difficulty was the native question. ...,-.. Sir George Grey said he would undertake to settle that. , '

Mr Alley said there was no Native difficulty whatever. Wot only would the Natives consent to the line of railway, but they would also give the land for it. Sir G. Grey said—He did not see any difficulty at all. Even if the Government had to pay one or one-and-a-half per cent, for a short time, it was nothing at all compared with the advantages the railway would give to the district. There were numbers of English companies who would form the line, even if there were not Colonials to do it. As regarded his addressing the district, looking at the work in hand it really was for the people of the Thames to decide it.

DrJlilgour said they could not decide it. Speaking for himself, he believed the people wanted to hear him; but —also speaking for himself —he believed they would he satisfied'with what he had said, especially if he promised to address them as soon as convenient.

Sir George Grey said he thought he could do everything without going to Ohinemuri, and therefore should be able to go to Auckland to-morrow and set things going. It was then suggested that Sir George should address the people in the afternoon before the departure of the steamer for Auckland.

Sir George Grey said he was quite willing to do so provided it was understood that he only did so as Superintendent and not with a view to electioneering business. It was then decided that the deputation should decide on the most fitting time and place for the address, consistent with Sir George's leaving the Thames by the Manaia.

The deputation then thanked Sir George and withdrew.