SIT GStilY'g GIB*?.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 102, 26 August 1882, Page 371

SIR GEORGE GREY'S GIFT.

Sir O-corge (iltct's munificent donation of his rare liter;",ry treasures arid his Tuatchless-nianu-seripts k> tiie people of Auckland will. do more to p.3i'j.>o';ualo bis rjtiUK?, <uid to endear him to present and fultip'o general.] ons, than even his, enormous polifcieai services and . patriotic sacrifices for the public weal. By that spontaneous ".act. he has shown a degree of generosity and nobility of mind which tower above the petty calumnies and carpings of his selfish and narrow-minded 'political opponents : — ' " We know him now, all narrow jealousies , Are stilled ;. we see him as he moves ' ■, How modest, kindly, all-accomplished, wise, With what sublime repression of himself; And in what limits and how tenderly. Not swaying to this faction, or to that, Not making his high place the lawless perch Of winged ambitious, nor a vantage ground JTor pleasure, but through all that tralcfc of years ■ . Wearing- the white flower of a blameless life Before a thousand peering littlenesses."

But there is a good story in connection with this library, which serves to strikingly illustrate the gulf which separates Sir G-eorge G-rey from some of his political enemies. When the.Property I Tax Bill was under consideration in the Housej Mr G-eorge McLean, the member for Waikouati, made the discovery that no provision was inserted for taxing private libraries, pictures, manuscripts, and works of art. He at once began lobbying,, and having succeeded in amending the Bill, went in search of Sir G-eorge G-rey, whom he met in the lobbies. " Ah," he said in broad Scotch,. and in tones of vulgar exultation, " We'll get at fchae picture and books o' youi'a noo, doun at the Kawau." Sir G-eorge treated the remark with silent contempt, but in his first disgust at . the petty malevolence of his opponents, and the prospect of some vulgar tax-cpllector being sent down to rummage over and appraise his rare literary treasures and priceless manuscripts, he thought of shipping them to England. Fortunately, his love for Auckland prevailed over every other feeling, or the brutal coarseness of a vulgar parvenu would have inflicted an irreparable loss on this city. Was it.not the spouse of this same person who rushed down from the Ladies' G-allery immediately after the defeat of the G-rey G-overn-ment, and falling into the arms of her lord, exclaimed, " We've euchred him again, G-eordie ?"