2

A.—6c

The Duchess and I are sincerely grateful to you and Lady Ranfurly for your kind hospitality, and for the unceasing care, trouble, and forethought which you have displayed on our behalf. We shall look back with the pleasantest recollections to those happy days which we spent as your guests. . . My best thanks are also due to your staff for the cheerful and assiduous manner with_ which they have coped with the vast increase of work thrown upon them in consequence of our visit. Though, unfortunately, our stay has from force of circumstances been a short one, I earnestly trust that the experience and knowledge of the country which I have gained, and my personal intercourse with its people, may in some measure tend to sustain and enhance the existing feeling of sympathy and interest between the Mother-country and New Zealand, and thus draw still closer those ties of affection and brotherhood by which we are so happily united. Heartily wishing that the steady growth and prosperity of the country may ever continue, Believe me, dear Lord Ranfurly, Very sincerely yours, George.

His Excellency Lord Ranfurly to the Right Hon. the Premier. Government House, Wellington, 2nd July, 1901. Memorandum for the Right Hon. the Premier. The Governor has been commanded by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York to convey to the Government Their Royal Highnesses' warmest thanks for all their thoughtful and admirably carried-out plans for the accommodation, comfort, and entertainment of themselves and their staff. . To the Premier personally they have commanded him to convey their warmest thanks for his courtesy, kind attention, and untiring energy, which Their Royal Highnesses state in no small degree contributed to make their stay in New Zealand so enjoyable. Their Royal Highnesses regret that force of circumstances has made their stay in the colony but a short one. They, however, earnestly trust that the experience and knowledge of the country they have gained, and their personal intercourse with the people of New Zealand, may in some measure tend to sustain and enhance the existing feeling of sympathy and interest between the Mother-country and New Zealand, and thus draw still closer those ties of affection and brotherhood by which both are so happily united. His Royal Highness expresses the hope that the steady growth and prosperity of the country may ever continue. The Governor begs to enclose full text of the letter he received from His Royal Highness, from which the Premier will see his appreciation of the services of the various departments of the State. The Governor personally desires to thank the Premier for his kind attendance throughout the visit, and for his unceasing efforts to add to its pleasure and success. Ranfurly. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,375 copies), i'l i!s. Od.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.- 1901. Price 3d.]