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No. 42. (No. 29.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th April, 1903. With reference to your despatch (New Zealand, Honours) dated 16th January, 1903, forwarding me five insignia of the Companionship of the Distinguished Service Order, I have the honour to inform you that one officer mentioned, Lieutenant W. V. Townley, is unknown in New Zealand. I communicated with the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, who has replied that " there is Lieutenant W. V. Townley, of the late .Fifth Queensland Imperial Bushmen, hut there is no record of him being awarded Order." Under the circumstances, therefore, I beg to return you the Order for Lieutenant Townley, together with the warrant and statutes. 2. With reference to the Order for Lieutenant D. A. Hickie, I have the honour to inform you that I publicly presented this to him at Christchurch on the 20th ultimo, on the occasion of the unveiling of a memorial tablet at the Boys' High School to those boys who had served in the South African War. The Order for the late Lieutenant Tudor was handed to his sister at the same time. 3. I hope next month, when in Auckland, to present the remaining Orders to Majors Abbott and Bartlett and Captain Stevenson. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANTURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 43. (No. 30.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 11th April, 1903. I have the honour, at the request of my Government, to call your attention to a matter that appears to bear somewhat hardly on some of those New Zealanders who took part in the late South African war. His Majesty's medal is granted for long service and conclusion of the war, under the following conditions, that: (a.) They were actually serving in South Africa on or after the Ist January, 1902. (b.) That on that date they had completed eighteen months' war service, or subsequently completed such service before the Ist June, 1902. Under these conditions many men who had no service in the earlier stages of the campaign, or in Her late Majesty's reign, receive the King's medal, and also the Queen's ; yet on the other hand many of those who served more than eighteen months, and commenced serving in the early stages of the war, but who were not serving on or after Ist January, 1902, receive only the Queen's medal. My Ministers inform me that it the issue of the King's medal were to all who had served for a certain period during His Majesty's reign it would give great satisfaction, and they express the hope that this may be favourably considered. I have, &c, The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, RANFURLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,375 copies), *8 2s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o3 Price, 9d.]

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