Page:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.djvu/214

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DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALASIAN BIOGRAPHY.
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where he graduated. In 1833 he was called to the Irish bar, and practised in Dublin. In 1854 he emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand, but soon took up his residence in Christchurch, where he was shortly afterwards appointed Provincial Solicitor for the Canterbury province. In Dec. 1854 he was appointed Acting Judge of the Southern Districts, including Wellington, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, and Otago. He retired from the Supreme Court bench in 1875. Mr. Gresson was also President of the Philosophical Institute, Christchurch, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Christchurch. He was in addition a Fellow of Christ's College, Canterbury, and married in county Donegal, Ireland, in August 1845, Miss Anne Beatty.

Greville, Hon. Edward, M.L.C., was for ten years member for Braidwood in the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. He was subsequently appointed Commissioner of Land Titles for that colony, and still holds the position. He originated and is the editor of the "Yearbook of Australia," a standard work of reference on all matters relating to Australia. In May 1892 he was summoned to the Legislative Council of New South Wales by the Dibbs Government.

Greville, John Roger, the popular Australian comedian, was born in Dublin on June 15th, 1834, in which city he began his theatrical career. Arriving during the "gold fever" in Victoria in 1852, he soon left the pick and shovel for the sock and buskin,—a phrase which is used literally, for, strange as it may appear, Mr. Greville in those days essayed Othello. His real career began, however, when he joined Mr. George Coppin as stage manager at Cremorne. After this Mr. Greville was an established favourite, and for the last thirty years has been constantly before the public. His wife (née Marshall) was at one time a popular actress.

Grey, Sir George, K.C.B., M.H.R., D.C.L., LL.D., sometime Governor and Premier of New Zealand, is descended from a branch of the Greys of Groby, Marquises and subsequently Dukes of Dorset, and now represented in the peerage by the Earl of Stamford. He is the son of the late Lieut.-Colonel Grey of the 30th Foot, who was killed at the storming of Badajos, in the Peninsular War, was born on April 14th, 1812, at Lisbon, and educated at Sandhurst for the army. In 1829 he was made ensign in the 83rd Foot, becoming lieutenant in 1833 and captain in 1839, when he sold his commission. In 1837, in company with Lieut. Lushington, he was employed on an exploring expedition to the north-west of Australia, the object being to survey the country between Swan River and the Gulf of Carpentaria. They sailed from Plymouth in H.M.S. Beagle, and landed at the Cape of Good Hope, where they hired the schooner Lynher to convey them to Western Australia, landing in Port George on Dec. 2nd, 1837. There, after severe hardships, in the midst of which Grey showed great gallantry and endurance, they were rescued just in the nick of time by the Lynher. Ultimately a sheltered cove was discovered, and named Hanover Bay, from which point a fresh start inland was made on Jan. 17th, 1838. Hostile natives were encountered, and Grey received three spear-wounds (from the effects of which he still suffers), and was compelled to abandon the exploration of the Swan River. Making a détour inland, they discovered beautiful tropical country, and traced the course of the Glenelg River for seventy miles. On April 16th the party returned to Hanover Bay, and subsequently embarked on board of the Lynher for Mauritius, where Grey spent some time in recruiting his health. In 1839 he returned, and again started on an exploring expedition into the interior with thirteen men, the object being to survey the coast between Sharks Bay and Freemantle. A storm, however, arose, and washed away their provisions, and there was nothing for it but to put back to Perth, a distance of six hundred miles. The men, however, when they had got half way, refused to proceed in the leaky craft, and landing, gave themselves up for lost. And lost they would have been but for the pluck of their leader, who left them at a well, and pushed on to Perth, from whence he sent succour, which arrived just in time. The rescued remnant reached Perth on April 21st, 1839, in a wretched plight, and Grey departed for Adelaide en route for England, where his admirable "Journals of Discovery" were published. On April 15th, 1841, he returned to Adelaide with

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