THE COLONISTS' ADDRESS TO BISHOP SELWYN.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3515, 21 October 1868, Page 3

THE COLONISTS' ADDRESS TO BISHOP SELWYN.

We give below a copy of the address which is to be forwarded to his Lordbhip the Bishop of Lichfield so soon as all the signatures have beeu received. The address is now in course of being illuminated at Wellington, and the signatures from various parts of the colony will be written oa slips of parchment and deposited in the casket which we described in our issue of yesterday. It is expected that the address will be ready within a month. A copy of it, signed by his Excellency the Governor, readied Bishop -elvryu a few days ago. The following is a copy of it : — "To the Right Rev. George Augustus, Lord Bishop of Lichfield, and Bishop of New Zealand, Ac, &c. "The colonists of New Zealand, of all classes and creeds, wh«se names will be found in lists accompanying the present address, deaire, on the eve of your departure from these shores, to express to you their most hearty wishes for your future welfare, and their sincere admiration and appreciation of those high and noble qualities displayed during your long and anxious labours in these islands, which have already earned for you a world- wide reputation. " They feel that an attempt to recount your exertions in the interest! of humanity, or to acknowledge, in becoming terms, the unflinching fortitude, the self-denying devotion, and the large-hearted and opea-handei generosity which have distinguished your past career, while unnecessary on their part, would be distasteful to yourself. Believing that your name will be for ever associated with the early history of the colony, they feel confident that, however impoitant may be the destiaed career of their adopted country, that name will always be prominent among the noblest of its ornaments, and your career will be held up to their posterity as a worthy exemplar of devotion ti> duty. "That the Almighty may be pleased to spare you for many years to discharge the honourable and responsible functions of the high office to which you have been called by your Sovereign, and to grant to you and your family an abundant measure of His choicest blessings, is the cordial wish of those who now join in offering to you this sincere 'Farewell' tribute. " Signed and presented in the name of the colonists at a public meeting held at Wellington. "G. F. Bowen, &c." We have been favoured with the following copy of his Lordship's reply, which has been forwarded to the Cathedral printing-office in order to have copies of it printed and forwarded to various parts of the colony ;—; — "Auckland, October 20, 1868. "To his Excellency Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.xM.G., and the colonists of New Zealand. "My dear Friends and Brethren, — I thank you cordially for the address which you have done me the honour to present to me. "The reasons of my departure from New Zealand are sufficiently known to you ; so that you need no assurance from me that nothing but the most strongly expressed wish of her Majesty and the Archbishop o^ Canterbury would have prevailed upon me to k>ava this country, where twenty-six years of my life have been passed. " I shall never cease to remember New Zealand and promote its interests to the best of uoy power. 41 1 earnestly hope that the tidings may Boon reach me in England that peace has been restored between the two races ; and that New Zealand may again exhibit the blessed sight of the E iglish and Maori people growing up together as one nation in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in dutiful allegiance to the Queen. \ "I remain your affectionate and faithful friend, "G. A. New Zealand and Ltchfield." Besides the casket to which we have alluded, a movement is on foot in Auckland for forwarding to the Bishop a handsome desk, made of various indigenous woods, aud surmounted by Ms Lordship'a i coat of arms.