Zealand, I was once more especially sent here; and that it is again my happiness, upon being removed, by your Grace's advice, from this Government, to leave New Zealand in a state of tranquillity and returning prosperity; and that I humbly represent to Her Majesty that I desire to claim no merit for these circumstances, but rather to attribute them to the blessing of Divine Providence, and to the abilities and exertions of Her Majesty's subjects who have advised me and aided me in my duties; and further, that I humbly trust that the almost unanimous voice of Her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand, amongst whom I have laboured In Her Majesty's service, will satisfy Her Majesty that I have done my utmost to promote the welfare and happiness of the inhabitants of this part of Her Majesty's possessions." Sir George Bowen assumed office as Governor on Feb. 5th, 1868, and at the end of the year Sir George Grey left New Zealand to put himself right at the Colonial Office in respect of the Weare charges. Lord Granville, however, who had become Colonial Secretary, refused to reopen the subject, and he was retired on a pension in 1872. In the interim Sir George Grey delivered addresses at the leading centres of population in the United Kingdom, in opposition to the policy then advocated by several prominent statesmen of getting rid of the colonies, and became a candidate for West Worcestershire and Newark, retiring in each case before the poll. Having returned to New Zealand, and taken up his residence in the island of Kawau, Sir George, in 1875, was elected member of the House of Representatives for Auckland City West, and also in the same year superintendent of the Province of Auckland. At this time he came forward as an ardent upholder of provincialism when the Houses had decided to abolish the provinces. He also brought forward a Manhood Suffrage Bill and a Triennial Parliaments Bill, both of which were rejected. In Oct. 1877 the Atkinson Ministry was defeated, and on the 13th Sir George Grey formed a cabinet, thus ruling as Premier a country which, ten years before, he had ruled as Governor. The beginning of the ministry's term of office was marked by a dispute with the Governor (Lord Normanby) on a question of privilege. On July 29th, 1879, on a motion by Sir W. Fox, the Government was defeated, and after the election which followed was again put in a minority, on a motion by Mr. (afterwards Sir) John Hall. Sir George Grey, who resigned office in Oct 1879, sat in Parliament continuously up to the election in Nov. 1890, when he did not offer himself. The degree of D.C.L. was conferred upon him by the University of Oxford in 1854, and he was created K.C.B. in 1848. He married, in 1889, Harriet, daughter of the late Admiral Sir R. W. Spencer, K.H., formerly Government Resident of Albany, West Australia. Sir George Grey has lately given his valuable library as a free gift to the town of Auckland. He was one of the three delegates of New Zealand to the Federation Convention held in Sydney in March 1891, having been in the meantime re-elected to the House of Representatives for Newton. At the Convention he stood almost alone in his advocacy of the "one man one vote" principle as the condition precedent of federation. He also argued in favour of the Governor-in-Chief of the projected commonwealth being chosen by popular election. After the sittings of the Convention closed Sir George Grey revisited South Australia, where the fiftieth anniversary of his assumption of the government of that colony was celebrated with extraordinary demonstrations of regard and respect. At all the leading centres in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales Sir George addressed gatherings in favour of the "one man one vote" principle, gaining an overwhelming preponderance of popular support. His Life by Mr. W. L. Rees, M.H.R., has lately been published by Messrs. Hutchinson, London; and Mr. Brett, Auckland.
Griffith, Charles James, M.A., was the fifth son of Richard Griffith, of Millicent, Kildare, Ireland (sometime member for the borough of Askeaton in the Irish Parliament), by his second wife, Mary, daughter of Right Hon. Walter Hussey Burgh, Lord Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer; and was half-brother of Sir Richard John Griffith, Bart., the author of the famous "valuation" of Ireland. He was educated at Dublin University, and was called to the Irish bar. He emigrated to Victoria in 1840, and was appointed, by Governor Latrobe, chairman
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