ADDRESS TO QUEEN MARY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1224, 5 September 1911, Page 11

ADDRESS TO QUEEN MARY.

* ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN OF N.Z. HER MAJESTY'S REPLY. INVITATION TO QUEEN ALEXANDRA. Lady Ward, while ii\ London, presented to her Majesty the Queen a loyal ad<hv;.-> on behalf of the women of New Zealand, and her Majesty's reply was read by Lady Ward last evening at the "social" whora she. was tho guest of the Women's Social and Political League. The reply of the Queen was as follows: — The Queen is much gratified by the address which has been presented to her on behalf of the- women of NewZealand, on the occasion of her Majesty's Coronation, and she thanks them with all her heart for their assurance of loyalty and attachment to the throne. The Queen recalls with feelings nf sincere satisfaction the memorablevisit which she paid to the Dominion ten years ago. ltev Majesty will never forget the. many interesting places she saw, and the kind and hospitable manner in which she was received. It is a great pleasure to the Queen to hear that New Zealand is in a condition so ilourishing and happy, and she wishes those beautiful islands continued success aud prosperity. Her' Majesty heartily appreciates tho women's good wishes for the happy reign of the King and herself, and . sho joins with them in the hope they, express that the ties which unite the Mother Country with these who dwell, in the Oversea Dominions may bo developed and strengthened in . the. future. ' • . . An invitation to Queen Alexandra to •visit Now' Zealand, as the sniest of the Dominion, was extended by Sir Joseph Ward when in London, but her Majesty felt obliged to decline. The following letters were read by Sir Joseph Ward at the social last night:— Hotel Cecil, July 5, 1911. Dear Mr. Harcourt,— Would you be. so Rood as to convey to her Majesty Queen Alexandra a cordial invitation from the Government and people of New Zealand lo visit the Dominion as tho. guest of tlie country? The women of Now Zealand, - especially,- would be proud indeed if lira . Majesty woro to • bestow such a favour. I may say I spoko to his Majesty the Kins on tho matter, and he expressed his concurrence in my extending tho invitation to his Royal mother. ■ Yours sincerely, J. G. WAED. Marlboroutrh House, . Pall Mall, S.W., July 10, 1911. Dear Sir Joseph Ward, — Mr. Harcourt has forwarded to me your letter to him of the sth inst., which I have, as requested, submitted to Queen Alexandra, and I am now charged by her Majesty to deliver you the following reply:— Queen Alexandra is deeply touclred at receivia;? tho invitation from tho people of New. Zealand to visit tho Dominion. Nothing would have given more pleasure to her Majesty than to accept—had it been possible—the invitation to visit.a part of the.British Dominion, of whoso kindly feeling and warmth of roiitiment to -the Mother Country, she has secq so many proofs. It has always been lier sorrim that she was never able to visit the oversen." Dominion with her beloved Co'.isnrt in his lifetime; and she frals now that it. would bo too painful to her to undertake so iinporta'it a journey as this is, deprived of tho presenco of one by whoso side for 47 years all such visits were made. ' Queen Alexandra feels sure that the kind-hrarted people of New Zenland will this, and will forgiyo her for not accepting the iu- ■ vitation sho so greatly appreciates. I remain, , Dear Sir Joseph Ward, Very faithfully yours, S. M. PEOBI'N, General Comptroller to H.M. Queen Alexandra.