Tribute to Sir George Grey.

A meeting in Auckland would not be, I believe, en regle in which a reference was not made to one who had earned so large a share of popularity in this locality—Sir George Grey. (Cheers) Sir George Grey, as you all, I think, are pretty well aware, is not a supporter of mine, although he did afford a considerable amount of support to the Government upon some questions. I wish to say this, that notwithstanding that Sir George Grey attacked me very bitterly on several occasions during the session, I uniformly refrained from retaliating in any way, and I will till you the reasons which actuated me, At the time when I left New Zealand to assume the office of Agent-General, I was not on friendly terms with Sir George Grey. Some very bitter correspondence had pissed between us; but when Sir George Grey became Premier, and he might have reasonably resented the communications which had passed between us previously; I met from him a very Urge amount of consideration and generosity. In fact, I play say that while Sir George Grey was Premier he treated me with more consideration as Agent-General than many on whom I Had much larger claims. (Cheers.) And when on occasions I recollected this, it became impossible for me to resent the attacks Which on several occasions Sir George Grey thought it his duty to make, and for the rest I may say this, that, though I am not in accord with Sir George Grey generally. I agree with him upon many subjects. And, in any case, it is idle to deny this, that there is no member in the House who has so largo an amount of personal influence. (Cheers.)