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Star (Christchurch), Issue 238, 16 April 1869, Page 2

Foresters and Oddfellows. HI The following joint address will be n^H sented to the Duke of Edinburgh byHH Ancient Order of Foresters and CJHB fellows : — fl^fl " To his Royal Highness, Alfred ErnVH Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, &c, &jp', &c,M " The humble and loyal address of Officers and Members of the Ancient OJH| of Foresters and of the Loyal Order of CHH fellows dwelling in the Prorince of Can^Hß bury, in New Zealand. Hfl " May it please your Royal Highness —^^fl " On behalf of the benevolent and pr^Hj dent institutions to which we belong, wel^^B the greatest pleasure in welcoming J^H| Royal Highness to this city and proviucejjg " It would on any occasion be gratifyin^^H our feelings of deep loyalty and attachirffl^H to the throne and person of your EfIHH Mother, Her Most Gracious Majesty, j^H spectfiilly to offer the homage and COI bHB greeting due to any member of her f ai HH visiting this distant part of her dominionHßJ " But we do so the more fervently ifl^H because we call to mind the foul and trea^^B able attempt upon your Royal Highness'^HM by a wretched individual in another col^^Bjj on the occasion of your former voyage r( JHH the world, the consequences of which vented you from fulfilling your desire at HHH time to visit New Zealand. We siucc^H| rejoice that that visit has now been ac<^Bß plished, and that your Royal EighnessJ^H been enabled to prove to us, by the glad V^H of your presence in active exercise H^H vigorous health, that no permanentlyHH jurious consequences have resulted from^^H traitorous attack upon the son of our Q t fHH " On other grounds, moreover, it is °|^^B to an ordinary royal visitor that we 4H| this tribute of our loyalty and personal^HH tachment. We welcome to the land v h^H| was discovered and recommended for coloi^^^H tion. by the great circumnavigator of a hnugHH years ago, James Cook, you, another captaßHH the same Royal Navy, now sailing for^^H second time round the world, and carrflHH to all its principal ports that honoured which betokens the worth, the humanity flHH the readiness to aid the needy and distreHH| no less than the bravery, the manly e 4BH

*nee, and the prudence and presence of mind! in difficult emergencies, -which ever adorn the character of British sailors. " We reflect with even more gratification that -while taking your share in the Royal Navy's noble duty of.- spreading over the globe- a knowledge and impression of the power and "goodaess.of the' most civilised dominion on its surface, you are not only learning all that relates, to your profession, but also acquiring an extensive inowl edge of the Empire's numerous and important dependencies, and of their relations, commercial/social, or otherwise, with the other nations of the world ; thus worthily fitting yourself not only to lead the British fleets in baftle for the right, in scientific discovery, or in bearing help to a friend in peed, but also to maintain yrith honour and advantage the dignity of any post of high command in the government of Her Majesty's subjects in any part of her dominions, to which your Royal Highness may be called hy the will of Her Majesty and the desires of her people. "Werecollectthefactthatyourdistinguished father, the late Prince Consort, was a f member of the Ancient Order of Foresters,ancl a valued friend of other similar institutions. : We re- - spectfully condole with you on the loss which the cause of charity and- goodwill amongst all men, no less than those of, social improvement and the advancement of the peaceful arts and sciences, sustained when it pleased an allseeing Providence to remove from amongst us at so early an age the wise and good Prince Albert. " We beg you to lay before her Most Gracious Majesty our respectful hut most hearty assurances that, although among those more distant from her throne and presence than any other portion of her subjects, there are none more loyal and devoted than the Foresters and Oddfellows of Canterbury in New Zealand. " Our earnest prayer is, and ever will be, that Almighty God may bless and Avatch over you throughout , your voyage, shield your life, grant you constant health and happiness, restore you safely to our beloved Queen, and give you a future career in which you shall be an honour to your illustrious family and to the Empire in which you hold so high a station: and that you may always be ready and willing to give the benefit of your powers, improved by travel and experience, to tire best interests of mankind, and to the service of the British dominion, in whatever capacity and whatever part of the world your royal duty shall he appointed." . , -, — r --•