A.—No. la.

ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

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We congratulate your Excellency upon the rapid progress made by the Colony, as exemplified by the greatly increased facilities which exist by means of steam communication between the various Provinces, and the new bond of union between the Middle and Northern Islands by means of the electric telegraph. We sincerely trust that the peace which at present prevails between the Natives of New Zealand and the European settlers may long remain undisturbed, and that the measures adopted by your Excellency's Government may be attended with the best results. We desire to assure your Excellency that the loyal devotion of the inhabitants of this city to the throne and person of Her Most Gracious Majesty tho Queen extends likewise to your Excellency as Her M'ajesty's representative within the Islands of New Zealand. We fervently hope that your Excellency's visit to this city may afford you many pleasing recollections ; and on behalf of the citizens of Christchurch we wish your Excellency long life, prosperity, and happiness. Beply. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — I beg that you will accept my most sincere thanks for the congratulations which you have offered me on my arrival in this city. I have long desired to witness your prosperity and advancement, of which I have heard so much, and to again revisit scenes in which your industry and enterprise have wrought so great a change. It is very gratifying that you can meet me with such well founded congratulations on the progress made by the Colony, and upon the rapidity with which communication between its several parts is now conducted. These are unmistakable signs of a course of prosperity upon which we are now entering, and which may, I trust, be long continued. I receive with pleasure the expression of your wishes that the peace which at present prevails between the two races of Her Majesty's subjects may be long maintained. I feel assured that the General Assembly and my Besponsible Advisers will neglect no means to give effect to the wishes you have thus expressed. Their constant efforts have long been directed to the attainment and maintenance of peace. I will make known to the Queen your warm expressions of loyalty, and the rapid advance which this portion of Her Majesty's dominions has made. You may be assured that this intelligence will be a source of great gratification to your Sovereign, who has ever taken the most lively interest in tho welfare of all classes and races of her subjects. I thank you for your wishes for my prosperity and happiness. In so far as I can I will do my best to repay these kind expressions by such good offices as it may be in my power to perform for this city and its inhabitants.

Address from Lyttelton Municipal Council to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.8., and Beply. To His Excellency Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c. May it please Your Excellency,— We, the Lyttelton Municipal Council, and other residents of this town, respectfully offer our congratulations on your Excellency's arrival in this port, and tender our warmest welcome on the occasion of this your first visit since your return to New Zealand. As loyal and faithful subjects of Her Majesty, we desire to express our undiminished attachment to her person and Government. We trust your Excellency will be pleased with the advancement evident in all the material interests of the Province since your last visit, and will notice with feelings of pleasure the progress made in the tunnel that is to connect the trade of this Port with the Plains. In conclusion, we fervently pray that by the favour of Divine Providence you may enjoy the blessing of good health, and be spared for a long course of usefulness in the service of Her Majesty. Joseph Ward, Chairman of the Municipal Council.

Beply. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Municipal Council, — I thank you most sincerely for the cordial welcome which you have given me on my arrival at the Port of Lyttelton. It is with great gratification that I witness the progress made in this town and port since those now distant days in which I witnessed your first efforts to overcome the many difficulties you had to contend against. Her Majesty will receive with pleasure your warm expressions of attachment to her person and Government, and I feel assured that pleasure will be greatly heightened by her knowledge of the prosperity to which this Settlement and its inhabitants have attained. I thank you for your wishes for my health and that I may render good service to our Queen. You may rely that no effort on my part shall be spared to second well those measures for your happiness and welfare which your Bepresentatives may mature, and which my Besponsible Advisers may recommend me to adopt, and the promotion of which is to them an object of unceasing solicitude. 7