A.—2a

1892. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND. (IN CONTINUATION OF A.-2, 1892.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth December, 1891. With reference to the Earl of Carnarvon's circular despatch of the 13th June, 1877, transmitting a summary of the Statutes dated the 30th May, 1877, of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George; and to my circular despatch of the 7th September, 1887, respecting the recovery of the Insignia on the decease of members within the colony under your Government, I have the honour to acquaint you that the Queen, as Sovereign and Chief of the said most Distinguished Order, has been graciously pleased to issue Statutes of the Order dated the 24th November, 1891, repealing those provisions in the Statutes of the 30th May, 1877, which ordained that persons admitted into the Order should make arrangements for the return, on their decease, of the Insignia or badges received by them; and altering, amending, and consolidating the several Statutes of the Order. 2. In enclosing for your information copies of the new Statutes, I have the honour to acquaint you that it will no longer be part of the duty of Colonial Governors to obtain and transmit to the Chancery of the Order the Insignia of deceased members, as the Insignia are for the future returnable only when the holder is promoted in, or ceases, while living, to be a Member of the Order; but it is desirable that, as heretofore, the death of any Member of the Order within the colony under your Government should be notified for record in the Chancery of the Order, and also that the decease, within the colony, of persons possessing other honorary distinctions should, as heretofore, be reported to the Secretary of State. 3. In the event of any member of any of the classes of the Order ceasing to hold his rank and place as a member of the Order or of his resigning his Dignity, the whole of the Insignia issued to him will have to be returned; and in the event of the promotion within the Order of any Member of the Second or Third Class, he will have to return to the Secretary of the Order the Insignia previously worn by him. I have, &c, KNUTSFOED. The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.

No. 2. Sir,— Downing Street, 17th December, 1891. With reference to my predecessor's circular despatch of the 16th March, 1885, I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the colony under I—A. 2a.