7

A.—2

Colonial Office to Wae Office. Sic, — Downing Street, 4th September, 1893. With reference to the letter from this department of the 18th October, 1892, and to the reply from the War Office of the 4th January last, relating to the proposed issue of the medals for meritorious service, and for long service and good conduct, to the local Forces in the colonies, I am directed by the Marquis of Eipon to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary CampbellBannerman, copies of letters received on this subject from the Agents-General for the Australasian Colonies, and from the High Commissioner for Canada, who have deliberated upon this question in compliance with the suggestion of the Secretary of State. It will be observed that the AgentsGeneral recommend, and that the High Commissioner for Canada concurs in the recommendation, 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 representative 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 he shall be so advised. Mr. Campbell-Bannerman will see that it is proposed that the medals should be issued by the Imperial Government. lam to state that Lord Eipon agrees in the views expressed by the AgentsGeneral, and he desires me to suggest that it would be the most convenient course if Mr. CampbellBannerman concurs also in their views, and that a recommendation should now be made to the Queen to authorise the grant of these medals by Her Majesty's Eepresentatives in colonies having a permanently embodied military force, in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty, under regulations as far as possible identical with those now existing for the regular army, or as may be at any time approved by the Secretary of State for War; the medals to be issued by the Imperial Government, their cost being borne by the colony concerned. Lord Eipon thinks it advisable that the recommendation to Her Majesty on this matter should be made by the Secretary of State for War, rather than by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as technicalities may be involved which can better be dealt with at the War Office; and he is of opinion that the recommendation should be in general terms, as suggested above, without particular colonies being named, in order to admit in the future of any other colony having a permanent Force coming into the arrangement—such, for instance, as the Cape of Good Hope, from which colony no representation has yet been received, although it is understood that the Agent-General for the Cape took part in the deliberations on the matter. It will be seen that the Agents-General differ from the view expressed by Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman, in War Office letter of 4th January last, in regard to the question of the issue of the medals by the Imperial authorities. On this point Lord Eipon desires to indorse the views of the Agents-General, and to urge that they may receive the favourable consideration of the Secretary of State for War. His Lordship is of opinion that greater value will be attached to the medals by those upon whom they are conferred if the medals are issued by the Imperial Government, and he thinks that this feeling should be encouraged as much as possible, as it tends to strengthen the ties between the colonies and the Mother-country. Lord Eipon would be glad if Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman would be so good as to cause the necessary steps to be taken in the matter, if he should agree in the views expressed in this letter. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, War Office. Edward Fairfield. Victoria E.I. Wheeeas it is our desire to grant medals for meritorious service for distinguished conduct and for long service, under regulations similar, as far as circumstances permit, to those now existing for our regular Forces, to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of our Indian Forces and of our colonial Forces. It is hereby ordained that such medals shall be issued to our said Indian and colonial Forces under such regulations as may from time to time be recommended by the Governor-General of India, the Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada, or the Governors of the other colonies of our Empire, and approved by our Secretary of State. Given at our Court at Balmoral, this twenty-fourth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four, in the fifty-seventh year of our reign. By Her Majesty's command. H. Campbell Banneeman.

No. 12. Sib,-— Downing Street, 25th August, 1894. I have the honour to inform you that an address has been presented by the House of Commons to Her Majesty for a return of the number of divorces granted in each of the British colonies and possessions in each year during the past ten years, and I have to request that you will be good enough to furnish me at your earliest convenience with a memorandum giving the information desired in this return, so far as it relates to the colony under your Government. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government EIPON of New Zealand.