ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

77

A.—No. la.

We claim to be a part of Britain's power, To be the Britain of the Southern Seas, And feel we are a section of her State By every means we nobly shall aspire ; That should not bo ignored in this bright hour, Although the youngest of her colonies, Which we are met in joy to celebrate. Time yet may crown this patriot desire. 'Tis tho productive energies which raise Long have these Islands to your heart been dear, That island home of liberty and worth To make them great incessantly you've toiled ; To her exalted place of power and praise— And long may you tho noble title wear, The envy and the glory of the earth. Of foster-sire of Britain's youngest child. May health and happiness prolong your days, And give you power to realise your plans Of earnest love to man in many ways, Is the warm prayer of Nelson's Aetizans. William Falconer, President. Joshua Siglet, jun., Vice-President. Thomas G. Phingle, Secretary. William T. Bond, Treasurer. John Campbell, William Haddow, William Bethwaite, J> Committee. William Bueton, William Garrard, J Beplt. Gentlemen, — I thank you very heartily for this address, and for your expressions of love and loyalty for your Queen, which shall, without delay, be made known to Her Majesty. It is with great pleasure I have perceived how loyal and patriotic are tho sentiments you have given utterance to, and how heartfelt are your aspirations and desires, to raise this your adopted country to a position worthy of the race from which you have sprung. I will only say that to foster such designs in the breast of yourselves and your children, and to aid you in carrying them into practical development, has always been my aim and wish, and ever shall be so ; and that I know that these wishes on my part are most fully participated in by my Besponsible Advisers, and by the General Assembly. That you may long entertain the desire of continually advancing your country and your descendants in the paths of patriotism, justice, and every national virtue, and that you may be successful in vour efforts to attain such great and good ends is my earnest prayer. G. Gret.

Enclosure 3 in No. 32. Address from the Band of Hope, to Governor Sir George Gret, K.C.B. To His Excellency Sir George Gret, K.C.8., Governor of Now Zealand: — It is with feelings of great pleasure that tho Committee of the Nolson Band of Hope have assembled so large a number of the youth of Nelson for the purpose of welcoming your Excellency to this City, after an absenc'e of so many years ; believing, as they do, that the interest your Excellency formerly took in the education of the young has not diminished, though it may have been set aside by matters demanding more of your Excellency's time and attention. The cause of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors is one affecting so materially the general wellbeing of the Colony, that we feel assured that your Excellency will not be less gratified at meeting so large an assemblage of youthful abstainers than the committee are in being able to bring them before your Excellency ; especially when they remember the noble' example your Excellency set before the Natives and the whole Colony by the agreement your Excellency made with the late William Thompson to abstain from intoxicants, in order, if possible, to induce the Maoris to abstain from those intemperate habits which have been such a fruitful source of decay among them; and we would respectfully urge your Excellency to make use of the great influence you have over the Natives to discourage the use of intoxicating liquors among them, and thus help to prolong, if only for a few years, the existence of so noble a race as the Natives of New Zealand. While thanking your Excellency for your attendance here this evening, and for the countenance thus given to the efforts which have been put forth to draw away the youth of Nelson from the paths of folly and vice, we would express our earnest wish that peace and prosperity may attend your Excellency's administration of the affairs of this Colony, so that your Excellency's name may be held in honored remembrance by both the present and future generations. We beg to remain, your Excellency's most obedient servants, Benjamin Ceisp, President. Josepu Ceisp, Secretary. Charles James Hill, Treasurer. Beplt. Gentlemen, — You could have given me no greater pleasure than to have assembled the youth of Nelson to welcome me upon my arrival in this City, after so long an absence. I am rejoiced to see them here, and I can assure them and yourselves, that to strive to make them happy and good will ever be to me a most pleasing duty. I trust your efforts to promote habits of temperance may be crowned with great success, and that 20