A MAORI ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3034, 5 November 1878, Page 1

A MAORI ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.

To the Editor. , Sir,—ln a recent " History of Eng: land " I came across a very beautiful address to the Queen on the death of Prince Albert. I quote the extract in full, as I r am certain it will be road with interest:. •' Not the least interesting of the addresses of condolence presented to Her Majesty oh this melancholy occasion, waa one that proceeded from the New Zealand phiefs, twenty in number. It was > forwarded by. Sir George Grey, then Governor of New Zealand, through the Colonial Secretary. In i the poetical

style natural to such primitive people, they said — 'O, "Victoria, our mother ! We greet you! You who are all that now remains to recall to our recollection Albert, the Prince Consort, who can never more be gazed upon by thy people. We, your Maori children, are now sighing in sorrow together with you. All that we can now do is to weep with you who hast nourished us, your ignorant children of this island, even to this day. We have just heard of the crash of the huge-headed forest tree, which has untimely fallen ere it had attained its full growth of greatness. Oh, my very heart! Thou didst shelter me from the sorrows and ills of life. Oh, my pet bird! whose sweet voice welcomed my glad guests; let then the body of my beloved be covered with purple robes. Yes, thou the pillar that didst support my palace, has been borne to the skies. Oh, my beloved; you used to stand in the very prow of my war canoe, inciting all others to noble deeds. Where, oh, physicians, was the power of your remedies? What, oh priests, availed your prayers ? for I have lost my love; no more can he revisit tbe world !' " Sir, such beautiful addresses from what we call a barbarous people, deserve to be remember when dealing with them. — Yours, October, 1878. S. M. , —T. and C. Journal.