PRESENTATION TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE VIRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1205, 2 January 1875, Page 9

PRESENTATION TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE VIRE.

The following letter, sent to the Premier by the Agent-General, and forwarded to the Provincial Government of Otago, has been handed to us for publication : — In continuation of m>- letter of the l.st in.st., concerning the communication which you directed me to make of the thanks of the Government of New Zealand to the President of the French Republic for the services rendered by the ship La Vire, F have the honour to inform you that, immediately on my arrival afc Paris, I put myself in communication, according to the suggestion of the Count de Jnrnac, the French Ambassador at this Court, with the Marquis de Beauvoir, who is at present attached to the French Foreign Office. The Marquis de Beauvoir's name will be well known to you in connection with the admirable work in which he has described his Austra lasian travels. He at once gave me his willing assistance in fulfilling the duties of my mission. I received from M. de Beauvoir on the sune day the letter, of which I enclose a copy, informing me that the lnic Deoazes, Minister of Foreign Affairs, would receive me on the 2nd instant. I was very cordially received by His Excellency. He expressed, the gratification of the French Goveynvnentin receiving such a testimony of friendship ami goodwill on the part of tlie Government of New Zealand, and spoke with lively interest of the progress of the Colony, and ot the kindness with which he was pleased to say French officers coming from the neighbouring Colony of New Caledonia always spoke of their reception among our people. 1 answered him that the French flag was always very welcome in New Zealand, and that the conduct of tho officers and crew of La Vire would make it doubly so in. future. The Due Decazea had been good enough to apply already on niv behalf— as you will see by the enclosed letter from M. Mollarrl, Chief of the Protocol Office — to the Marshal President for an audience, and it was finally arranged that His dliould receive me immediately after my interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I accordingly proceeded from the Foreign Office to the Palace of the Elysees. Having stated the object of my mission, and delivered into His Excellency's hands the letter conveying the thanks of the Government, of which I have already sent you a copy, the President be£rgpd me to answer the GovernniPiit of New Zealand that he was deeply sensible of the seutiments of good will of which thdr action in this matter was a proof, and felh especially gratified by my personally taking the of conveying your thanks to him. He added that he trusted tlia French navy would always be as rehdy as the English navy had often shown itself to serve those m suffering or in peril. It ouly remaind for me- to convey to the Minister of Marine, Admiral de MartigiiHO, the service of plate voted by the Provincial Council of Otago for preseutation to Captain Jncquemart. The Minister uc cepted the case for cou wyance to Captain Jacquemart, who is still on foreign service, saying thai although that officer had only discharged a duty which he trusted French sailors would alwaya be ready to fulfil, it was not the less gratifying to him as chief of the French Admiralty to fihd thai the service rendered by Captain Jatfqtiejnpj't Jjjid