REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO PREPARE A CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY, ON THE FALL OF SEBASTOPOL.

Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1856 Session I

1 85 6.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO PREPARE A CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY, ON THE FALL OF SEBASTOPOL.

EXTRACTS FROM THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF R ['PRESENT ATI'VES.

Votes, No. 8, Thuesday, May 1, 1856. 2. Congratulatory Address to Her Majesty:—Mr. Stafford, pursuant to notice, moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to prepare a congratulate y Address to Her Majesty, on the achievements of Her Majesty's lorces and those of her Allies in the present War; such Committee to consist of Mr. Speaker, Captain Cargill, Mr. Carleten, Mr. Domett, Mr. Featherston, Major Greenwood, Mr. Hall, Mr. Richmond, and the mover; report to be brought up <on the 15th instantQuestion put and passed.

Votes, No. 18, Thuesday, May 15, 1866. 5. Postponements:—(2) The Report of the Committee appointed to prepare a congratulatory Address to Her Majesty postponed, on motion of Mr. Sewell, to this day week.

Votes, No. 23, Thuesday, May 22, 1856. 8. Congratulatory Address to Her Majesty:—Mr. Stafford, Chairman of the Committee appointed to prepare a congratulatory Address to Her Majesty, on the achievements of Her Majesty's forces and those of her Allies in the present "War, brought up the Report of the Committee, which was read, and ordered to be printed.

]).—No. 4.

REPORT.

Tiie Select Committee of the House of Representatives, appointed "to prepare a Congratulatory Address to Her Majes'y, on the Achievements of Her Majesty's Forces, and those of her Allies, in the present War," beg leave to report that they have agreed to the following Address :— To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. May it please Your Majesty, "We, your Majesty's faithful subjects, the Commons of New Zealand, in their House of Representatives assembled, humbly desire your Majesty to accept the assurance of our devoted loyalty to your Majesty's throne and person. This Colony is among the youngest and most distant of any in your Majesty's dominions. But wo may perhaps without presumption, declare that none of your Majesty's faithful subjects can feel a warmer interest in whatever befals the mother country. So we have watched with lively sympathy the progress of the war in which your Majesty is at present engaged : we have felt deeply for the inexpressible sufferings of your Majesty's troops; we have beheld with admiration their heroic endurance ; and have exulted at the frequent and brilliant triumphs of their active valour. And now we venture to offer to your Majesty our earnest congratulations upon the fall of that great fortress which had so long resisted the efforts of the Allied Armies. The whole Empire drew a freer breath as the great tidings were announced; and at the distance of half the globe we shared in the general joy. That it may be consistent with the will of the Almighty Power on whom depend the issues of all human events, that continued successes may secure a peace beneficial to our count] y and to mankind, is the hearty prayer of your Majesty's faithful Commons of JSew Zealand. E. W. STAFFORD, Chairman. Committee Room, House of Representatives, May 22, 1856.