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I am commanded by Her Majesty to request that you will convey to the Legislative Council an expression of her sincere thanks for their loyal congratulations. I have, &c, EIPON. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 11. Sic, — Downing Street, 23rd August, 1894. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, extract from a joint letter, which was addressed to me by the Agents-General for the Australasian Colonies and the Cape of Good Hope, relative to the proposed issue of medals for meritorious service, for distinguished conduct, and for long service to the local Forces in the colonies, to be bestowed by the Queen's Eepresentative in each colony, together with copies of the subsequent correspondence wdrich has passed between this department and the War Office on the subject. It will be observed that a Eoyal Warrant has been signed by Her Majesty authorising the grant of these decorations to colonial Forces under regulations to be framed similar, as far as circumstances permit, to those now existing for the regular Forces, and that the colonial Governments should frame regulations accordingly, to be first submitted by me for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, in order to secure as far as possible the desired uniformity. It will 'further be observed that the medals will be issued by the Imperial Government as recommended by the Agents-General, and that it is suggested that, when the proper time arrives, applications by the colonial Governments for medals should be made through the Agents-General to the Commissary-General of Ordnance, Woolwich. I take this opportunity of informing you that colonial Volunteers who are not included in the colonial Forces above referred to will nevertheless be eligible for the Volunteer long-service medal recently instituted for Volunteers in this country, and that your Government will be at liberty to frame regulations similar to those contained in the enclosed army order, providing for the grant of this decoration in the colony under your Government. I have, &c, EIPON. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. Enclosures. Westminster Chambers, 9 Victoria Street, Westminster, Sir,— 22nd March, 1893. Eeferring to the circular letter, dated 10th May last, addressed to us individually, enclosing copies of correspondence between the War Office and your department relative to the proposal for the issue of medals for meritorious service and for long service and good conduct to the local Forces in the colonies, in which we were invited, on behalf of our several Governments, to adapt the regulations of the War Office to the circumstances of the colonial Forces, we have the honour to inform you that, after fully considering the matter, and the points in connection therewith raised by our respective Governments, we have agreed to request, that the War Office may be moved to recommend that the medals for the colonies shall be applicable to the colonial Forces, and shall be issued under regulations identical, as far as possible, with those now existing for the regular army, and that such medals shall be bestowed by the Queen's Eepresentative in each colony upon men who have served long and meritoriously in the local Forces of each colony ; but that that portion of the regulations which provides for the award of gratuities together with the medal shall not apply to the colonies, but that powers may be reserved for the Governor in Council of any colony to grant such gratuities as shall be advised. In view of the strong opinion expressed by Her Majesty's Secretary of State for War, that the period of service should not be relaxed in the case of colonial troops, we do not propose to press that question further at the present time. We have decided to recommend to our Governments that it is desirable that all the medals should be issued by the Imperial Government, as, in our opinion, a medal issued in the colonies would not be so highly valued as a medal struck and issued by the Imperial Government. Saul Samuel, Agent-General for New South Wales. E. Braddon, Agent-General for Tasmania. James E. Garrick, Agent-General for Queensland. Westby B. Percival, Agent-General for New Zealand. J. C. Bray, Agent-General for South Australia. Malcolm Feasee, Agent-General for Western Australia. A. Claeke, Agent-General for Victoria. The Eight Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies.