A.—7a,

1900. NEW ZEALAND.

DEATH OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA (LETTER OF CONDOLENCE FROM THE LEADING CHIEFS REPRESENTING THE MAORI TRIBES IN NEW ZEALAND ON THE), AND REPLY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

(No. 78.) Premier's Office, Wellington, Ist August, 1900. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Premier presents his compliments to His Excellency, and begs to forward herewith a request from the leading chiefs representing the Maori tribes in this colony, who desire that His Excellency should convey to Her Majesty the Queen their condolence in this her time of trouble and bereavement, and trust that our Supreme Father will soften the severity of the blow that has fallen upon her. The Premier desires that a cable may be sent to the Secretary of State, conveying to Her Majesty the heartfelt sympathy of the chiefs and tribes of the Maori race in this colony. Special reference is made to the late Duke of Edinburgh's visit, and the deep interest he took in the race. E. J. Sbddon. Wellington, Ist August, 1900. To the Eight Honourable E. J. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand: Greeting. Wβ, whose names are appended hereto, as representatives of the Maori people in and out of Parliament of these Islands (Aotearoa and Waipounamu), do humbly ask you to convey our sincere word through His Excellency the Governor to our Most Severed Mother the Queen. That is to say: We, her Maori subjects, do and have ever professed the deepest feelings of loyalty and love for Her Majesty. She, as the Sun of our Universe, instilled all the graces of Christianity into our beings, and reclaimed us from the outer fields of ignorance and darkness, for which we do here make graceful acknowledgment; and since the year 1840, when she became our Mother and we her baptized children, as recorded by the Treaty of Waitangi, we have never weakened in our filial devotion. Therefore, when we heard to-day the word conveying the sad tidings of the death of her son, the Duke of Edinburgh, we were embosomed in grief, and our hearts welled up in sympathy to our Queen Mother. We offer her our condolences in her time of bereavement, and trust that our Supreme Father will soften the severity of the blow that has fallen upon her. We all know what it is to feel the wrench such severances occasion. We sorrow with her, and suffer. As her joys have been our joys, so do we claim to share her griefs. Her late son was the one member of her family who honoured this country of ours with his presence. On the occasion of his visit, about the year 1868, he met many of the chiefs and tribes of our race, and expressed great concern for their welfare. They have not forgotten his kind words, and the deep interest he took in them. Though we loved him for himself, yet we loved him for his Mother and our Ariki. May God lengthen her days and lighten her sorrows. That is all. From her loving children, Tamahau Mahupuku, Tame Parata, M.H.E., Captain H. P. Tunuiarangi, Hbnaee Paeata, Wi Peee, M.H.E., And all the tribes represented by us.