ADDRESS BY QUEEN PA.

"WORDS OP WELCOME." The following address of welcome was made by Queen Pa, of Raratonga : ".Welcome, 0 son of Pa and Kainuku ; welcome, 0 Governor of New Zealand ! Come and reposo under the Pu-ara (screw-pine tree). Look round and ccc the vaka-nui (large canoes) Takitumu, Puaikura, and Te Au-o-Tonga. The canoes are good, 0, Ariki; let us* live in peace 1 Welcome to the higheided canoe ot Takifcumu; welome our son ; let us thank the Lord in his goodness for thus bringing us together. Welcome 1 O, eon ; here are Pa and Kainuku, the Ariki of Takitumu, with our chiefs, and all the. peopleunder us from Taakarua to Torea-iva, to receive you, your lady, family, land all who are with you ! Welcome in the love of friendship! Welcome!" In repiy to theae addresses His Excellency said: '• Makea Oriki, chief of the Government of Cook Island Federation, and to the arikis who form the Government, whose names are affixed to the address on my arrival this morning, I thank you for the cordial welcome you have given me as the Governor of Mew Zealand, with which colony you have so long been in close intercourse, and also ior yeur welcome to. Lady Glasgow and my .. family who have come, with me to visit your beautiful islands. From the time when £ first came to New Zealand till now I have wished so visit you, in order that you might have a proof of the interest which I take in your welfare, and to assure you of the goodwill of the inhabitants of New Zealand to you and your people. I had hoped, if time and weather permitted, to visit . all the islands, but I fear 1 cannot undertake to do so, and I ask you, therefore, to convey to the Arikis, Gotvernors, and people of those islands my regret; that I cannot visit them on this occasion, and my best wishes for their happiness and welfare. I shall take the greatest pleasure in conveying to Her Majesty your expressions of thankfulness for the protectorate over your islands. Her Majesty will be pleased to hear that your children are to be taught English for their own great good, and that of the people of other islands to whom they will be able to become guides and teachers. I have been glad to hear from the British Resident, Mr Moss, how well your Government has maintained the law among your people, and how I^j>l>My your Federal Pailiam^ht and the O&uiicils of the various islands have striven to perform .thqir new duties, the due obßer,vance of which have tended so couch"' to* render the maintenance of order and good Government easy among you. Persevere in this work so that by unanimity and. cordial co-operation, you may be strong to do good for your people. I pray you God's blessing on your labours and for the happiness and prosperity of the inhabitants of your island." ADDRESS FROM QUEEN TINOM ANA. To the.Governor of New Zealand, your lady and family, also your distinguished guests. Salutations !I, Tinomana Ariki, chief of the Rarotonga Government, my chiefs, and all the people of Puaikura welcome you to our district. Come to "Au M'aru " that wo may remain andbe happy, and allow us to give you a drink of water, and give you a glance of Puaikura. We consider Queen Victoria our mother, and we are under her protection. We are her children, and now we see that we are not forgotten, as you have come from a distant land to visit us. We sincerely trust that your visit will concentrate our friendship, and hope that when you return to New Zealand you will remember your children at Arorangi, Rarotonga. This ia enough. — Tinomana Ariki. April 3rd, 1394. His Excellency, in reply, s«id : To Tinomana Ariki : I thank you for the address of welcome which has just been read to me, and presented in your name and in that .of your chiefs, rangatiras, and people. Tfrm have welcomed me as the representative of Queen Victoria, the oldest and most loved ot reigning sovereigns, and you have given a most cordial welcome to my daughters and triends, for this I^gain thank you. I shall nob fail to inform Queen Victoria of the rererence you express for her, and that you look upon her aa your mother, nor to tell her of your friendship for all her subjects. All I have seen since I havo been in Rarotonga, convinces me that you are a well-1 governed and happy people, and I trust and believe thab the alterations in the laws which have been made and which will ba mado by your Federal Parliament and your several island councils will be for the welfare atid improvement of your islands. You may depend upon ib thab we shall never forget the kindneea which we have received both at Avarua and at Arorangi, and our good wishes and prayers shall always be for the welfaro of the people of the Cook Island federation,— Glasgow. ■ ,

Tiia manager of the Costley Home acknowledges receipt of the usual monthly parcel of illustrated and other papers from the members of the Working Mena' Clubjfor use of the inmates.