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A.—No. la,

8

DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE

No. 13. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Bight Hon. Earl Granville, E.G., to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, E.C.M.G. (No. 102.) Sir, — Downing Street, 2nd October, 1869. I have received your Despatch No. 78, of the 2nd of July, enclosing the copy of a Colonial Order in Council, by which " in exercise of all powers and " authorities enabling you in that behalf," you " institute a decorative distinction to " be conferred on members of the Militia, Volunteers, and Armed Constabulary,' " who particularly distinguish themselves by their bravery in action, or devotion " to their duty while on service." This step is taken on the recommendation of Colonel Whitmore, in order to supply to the officers and men of the Colonial forces some personal distinction in lieu of the Victoria Cross and other rewards, which are powerful incentives in all regular armies. I can quite understand the value which Colonel Whitmore attaches to a distinction thus conferred by the representative of the Queen, and I think the critical circumstances of New Zealand, and its recent assumption of tho duty of self-protection, justifies your Government in desiring that Her Majesty's prerogative, as fountain of honor, should be thus exerted to animate the courage and devotion of their local forces. But I am unwillingly constrained to observe that, in complying with this natural desire, you have overstepped the limits of the authority confided to you by Her Majesty. That authority is derived either from Acts of the Imperial Parliament or Local Legislature, or from the Boyal Letters Patent which constitute your Commission. By one or other of them, the prerogatives of convoking or proroguing the Legislature, of dissolving the House of Bcpresentatives, of pardoning criminals, of appointing and dismissing officers holding during the Royal pleasure, have been formally entrusted to you; but the authority inherent in the Queen as the fountain of honor throughout her Empire has never been delegated to you, and you are not therefore competent, as Her Majesty's representative, to create any of those titular or decorative distinctions which, in the British Empire, have their source, and are valuable because they have their source, in the grace of the Sovereign. I think it necessary to point out this in order that no precedent may be established for taking a similar step hereafter, either in New Zealand or any other British Colony, without the cognizance of Her Majesty's Government, and the personal sanction of the Queen. But I proceed at once to add that, under the very exceptional circumstances of the Colony, I have felt at liberty to lay before Her Majesty my recommendation that the regulations which you have issued, and which, taken strictly, are at present void, may be confirmed. Her Majesty has been pleased to accept that recommendation, and I am accordingly commanded to convey to you Her ratification of the Colonial Order in Council of the 10th of March, and Her gracious desire that the arrangements made by it may be considered as established from that date by Her direct authority. lam confident that this announcement of the Queen's pleasure will enhance the satisfaction with which this decoration will be accepted and worn by those to whom it has been or may hereafter be awarded. I have, &c, Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. GBANVILLE.

No. 11. Copy of a DESPATCH from the Bight Hon. Earl Granville, E.G., to Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 103.) Sir, — Downing Street, 4th October, 1869. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 73,

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