ASSISTANCE TO THE EMPIRE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1355, 20 June 1885, Page 3

ASSISTANCE TO THE EMPIRE.

Wellington, June 17. The following is the address drawn up by Sir George Grey, and passed by the House for presentation to Her Majesty the Queen “May it please your Majesty, we, the members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, present our most respectful congratulations to your Majesty on the steps recently taken by New South Wales and other colonies to aid, or to tender effectual aid to the empire at a time of temporary difficulty, thereby giving au example which must facilitate the consolidation of the empire and the establishment of that confidence which always springs from the unexpected manifestation of great and hitherto hardly recognised powers. During Your Majesty’s long and most successful reign the colony of New Zealand and other now large and prosperous communities have been founded in this part of the world. Under your Majesty’s fostering care New Zealand has from a weak and struggling colony gradually increased in strength aud power until it now contains more than half a million of European subjects of your Majesty’s, irrespective of your loyal Native subjects, and with constantly accelerating growth it continues to increase in population and

impoitance. Wf, mindful of these things, and anxious to show our affection and gratitude to your Majesty, and to the great nation from which we have sprung, hasten immediately upon our meeting to assure your Majesty that it is the desire of your subjects in New Zealand, of all races, so far as lies in their power to render your Majesty’s reign still as successful and beneficial to the vast multitude of people under your rule, as it has hitherto been, and with this object in view to aid the empire to the best of their ability at all times when your Majesty may deem their services necessary and valuable and may be pleased to accept them.