24.

A.—No. 1

DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE

may be conferred on persons serving in the Local Eorces, which are or may hereafter be raised in any of Her Majesty's Colonies. I have to instruct you to take whatever steps may appear to you most likely to give publicity to this Warrant. I have, &c, Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. CARNARVON.

Enclosure in No. 24. Waeeant for extending the Victoria Cross to the Local Forces in New Zealand, and in the Colonies and their Dependencies generally. Victoeia E. Victoeia, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of C-reat Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting : Wheeeas by a Warrant under Our Eoyal Sign Manual, countersigned by one of Our principal Secretaries of State, and bearing date at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, the 29th day of January, 1856, in the nineteenth year of Our Eeign, We did constitute and create a new Naval and Military Decoration, to be styled and designated the Victoria Cross, which Decoration We expressed Our desire should be highly prized and eagerly sought after by the Officers and Men of Our Naval and Military Services, and did also make, ordain, and establish tho Eules and Ordinances therein set forth for the government of the same, to be henceforth inviolably observed and kept. And whereas during the progress of the operations which We have taken against the insurgent Native Tribes in Our Colony of New Zealand, it has happened that persons serving in the Local Forces of Our said Colony have performed deeds of gallantry, in consideration of which they are not, according to the strict provisions of Our said recited Warrant, eligible for this high distinction: Now know ye, that We of Our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have thought fit hereby to signify Our Eoyal Will and Pleasure that the said decoration may be conferred on such persons aforesaid, who may be qualified to receive the same in accordance with the rules and ordinances made, ordained, and established by Us for the government thereof, by Our said recited Warrant, and We do by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, ordain and appoint that it shall be competent for such persons aforesaid to obtain the said Decoration in the manner set forth in the Eules and Ordinances referred to, or in accordance with such further Eules and Ordinances as may hereafter be made and promulgated by Us, Our Heirs and Successors, for the government of the said Decoration, provided that it be established in any case that the person was serving with Our Troops under the Orders of a General or other Officer, under circumstances which would entitle an Officer or Soldier of Our army to be recommended for the said Decoration, in accordance with the Eules and Ordinances prescribed in Our said recited Warrant, and provided also such person shall be recommended for it by such General or other Officer. And We do further for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, ordain and appoint that the said Decoration may also be conferred, in accordance with the Eules and Ordinances prescribed in Our said recited Warrant, and subject to the provisions aforesaid, on such persons who may be qualified to receive the same in accordance with the said Eules and Ordinances, as may hereafter be employed in the Local Forces raised, or which may be raised in Our Colonies and their Dependencies, who may be called upon to serve in co-operation with Our troops in military operations which it may be necessary to undertake for the suppression of rebellion against Our Authority, or for repelling invasion by a foreign enemy. Given at Our Court, at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, this first day of January, 1867, in the thirtieth year of Our Eeign. By Her Majesty's Command, J. Peel.

No. 25. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. (No. 14.) Sir, — Downing Street, 25th February, 1867. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 106, of the 10th of November, enclosing for my information, in the absence of official documents, a copy of a Government Gazette containing the particulars of an engagement which took place on the 12th of October last between Her Majesty's Colonial Forces and a body of armed rebels who were encamped in the District of Napier. I am glad to receive this account of the dispersion of the Hau Haus who had appeared in tins neighbourhood, and who were threatening the safety of the town itself. The measures which were taken by the Superintendent of the Province for the expulsion of these fanatics appear to have been necessary for the security of the district, and to have been prompt and vigorous without being premature, while