A.—]N To. la,

54

DESPATCHES EROM THE GOVERNOR OE NEW

In common with all classes of Her Majesty's subjects, we beg to assure you that our loyalty to Her Majesty's Person and Throne, is neither diminished by distance nor impaired by time ; and in this far distant Colony we desire to pay a just tribute of homage and gratitude to the Queen, whose public and private virtues and sympathy with her people have endeared herself and the Boyal Family to all her subjects throughout her dominions. We venture to express the hope that your Excellency will be satisfied with the progress of this Frovince since your last visit; and it will be the desire of this, and we are sure all other trades, that your Excellency receive a cordial reception in every district of the Province. We cordially and respectfully repeat our expressions of loyalty, congratulations, and welcome. Signed in the name and on behalf of the Operative Tailors of Dunedin. John Drew, President. Henrt Hogg, Secretary. Beplt. "Gentlemen, — I thank you very sincerely for your congratulations on my arrival here, and for your expressions of loyalty and attachment to your Queen. You justly state that Her Majesty has ever sympathised in the success or sorrows of her people, and it will be most gratifying to the Queen to find how deep-seated is the loyalty of her subjects in this distant portion of her dominions, and how desirous they have been to testify their love for their Sovereign. G. Gret.

Mat it please Your Excellenct, — We, the Directors and Members of the Caledonian Society of Otago, beg respectfully to approach your Excellency with expressions of loyalty to the Throne, and congratulations and welcome to your Excellency on your visit to Otago. We do ourselves the honor to lay before your Excellency the book of our Constitution and Bules printed for the use of our members, from which we take leave to make the following extract, setting forth the objects of our Society : — " The object of the Society shall be the promotion of Benevolence, National Literature, Customs and Accomplishments. "1. Benevolence to be promoted by contributions to the funds of such Charitable Institutions as the Directors may determine; by giving information and advice to newly arrived immigrants, and by affording for special cases of destitution such temporary relief as to the Directors may appear practicable or expedient. " 2. Literature to be promoted by offering prizes for the greatest proficiency of pupils attending the various educational institutions of the Colony, and also by procuring and disseminating information, regarding the Poetry, History, and Archaeology of Scotland. "3. Customs and accomplishments to be promoted by offering prizes for excellence in the performance of national feats, games and exercises, to be exhibited at the annual gathering of the Society." Wo rejoice to learn that our beloved Sovereign has accorded her special patronage to similar societies at home, and that their annual gatherings are every year honored by the presence of Her Majesty and the Boyal Family ; and we venture to express the hope that your Excellency will accord your patronage to our Society, which, although constituted on a principle of nationality, and to perpetuate national traditions, is over ready, as our means permit, to extend its benefits without distinction of race or class. Benewing our expressions of unabated loyalty, and congratulating and welcoming your Excellency en your visit to Otago, and humbly soliciting the honor of enrolling tho name of your Excellency as patron of the Caledonian Society of Otago, We have the honor to be, your Excellency's most obedient and humble servants, Alexander Findeater, President. John Edmund, Treasurer. John Cunningham Stott, Secretary. Beplt. Gentlemen, —■ It is with great pleasure that I have heard those expressions of loyalty and attachment to your Queen, to which in common with the rest of Her Majesty's subjects resident in this place, you have this day given utterance. It will give me much satisfaction to give my patronage to your Society, and to aid you to the best of my ability in promoting the objects you have in view. Whilst we are all striving to build up one common people from what were once separate nations, I agree with you in thinking it wise to collect from each type of nationality of which we are composed, all those peculiar institutions, or customs, or sports which may promote the welfare, the happiness, or enjoyment of mankind. One of the most important, and at the time it was introduced, one of the most novel features of the New Zealand Constitution, was borrowed by me from the laws and customs of Scotland. I beg to thank you for your most cordial and friendly welcome, of which I shall ever entertain a grateful remembrance. G. Gret. Address of tho Ancient and Independent Order of Oddfellows of the Otago District to His Excellency Sir George Gret, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand. Your Excellenct, — On behalf of the Members of the above Order, we most heartily and sincerely welcome your Excellency on the occasion of your visit to Otago ; and as patron of our Ancient Order of many years