VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2591, 31 October 1867, Page 3

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR.

On Monday evening the Bishop of Wellington and tho Standing Committee of the Diocese, in the presence of a considerable number oi tho lay members of tho Church of England presented, his Excellency the Governor with the subjoined valedictory address ; tho presentation being prefaced by a few remarks from the Bishop, on behalf of the clergy ; and from Mr Bannatyne, on behalf of the lay members of tho Standing Committee : — To ins Excellency Sir George G-rby, K.C.8., Governor oi? New Zealand. May it please your Excellency, — The Bishop, clergy, and lay members of tho Church of England, in New Zealand, constituting tho Standing Committee of the Dieceso of Wellington, desire to address your Excellency on the occasion of your retirement from the Govern- | cuimt of this country, and to record their senso of tho hearty support and encouragement you have given to works of religion, education, and charity, and moro particularly of tho interest your Excellency has from the beginning taken in tho church constitution adopted by tho branch of the Church of England and Ireland in this colony, and the successful working of the system. lt^uis been your Excellency's lot, and at (he Bamo time, as we believe, your great pleasure to witness and take a loading part in the inaugura-

tion of plans and institutions, both civil and religious in several parts of the empire. Small as they may seem at tho first, they are probably seed-plots containing important issues; arid wo would, with all respect, expros9 four grateful acknowledgment of the high example your Excellency has get us of laboring zealously for the good of future generations, as well as for the present interest of the society at large, and the Church of our Q-od and Savioxxr. Signed by the Bishop of Wellington, the clergy and the lay members of tho Standing Committee. Dated at Wellington, This 28th day of October, 1867. His Excellency replied in the following terms : — My Lobd, Eevebend Gentlemen, and Gentlemen, — I thank you most sincerely for the address you have presented to roe upon my approaching retirement from the Government of New Zealand. For several years I have labored with tho bishops, tho clergy, and laity of the Church of England, in striving to found on a lasting basis a branch of our National Church in this new country. Many of my fellow-laborers have passed _ away ; but the remembrance of the part they, conjointly with yourselves, have taken in this great work, will never pass from my mind. I thank God that I was in any degree permitted to aid in so good an undertaking. I shall carry with me on my retirement no more satisfactory remembrances than the recollections of any good we inay have been jointly instrumental in accomplishing ; and, as long as I live, I shall watch with interest your continued efforts to promote tho objects of our Mother Church. (Signed) G. Gbey. Wellington, October 28, 1867.