Numb. 28.

215

THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1867.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 6th May, 1867.
THE following Despatch, with enclosure, from Her
Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the
Colonies, is published for general information.
E. W. STAFFORD.

Downing Street,
9th February, 1867.
SIR, —I have much pleasure in transmitting to you
a copy of a Warrant, issued under the Royal Sign
Manual, under which the decoration of the Victoria
Cross may be conferred on persons serving in the
Local Forces, which are or may hereafter be raised
in any of Her Majesty's Colonies.
I have to instruct you to take whatever steps may
appear to you most likely to give publicity to this
Warrant.
I have, &c.,
CARNARVON.
Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B.,
&c., &c., &c.

Warrant for extending the Victoria Cross to the Local
Forces in New Zealand and in the Colonies and their
Dependencies generally.

VICTORIA R.
VICTORIA, by the Grace of God of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen,
Defender of the Faith. To all to whom these
presents shall come, Greeting:

Whereas by a Warrant under our Royal Sign
Manual, countersigned by one of our principal
Secretaries of State, and bearing date at our Court
at Buckingham Palace, the twenty-ninth day of
January, 1856, in the nineteenth year of our Reign,
we did constitute and create a new naval and military
decoration to be styled and designated the Victoria
Cross, which decoration we expressed our desire
should be highly prized and eagerly sought after by
the Officers and men of our naval and military
services, and did also make, ordain, and establish the
rules and Ordinances therein set forth for the
government of the same, to be thenceforth inviolably
observed and kept.
And whereas during the progress of the operations
which we have undertaken against the insurgent
Native tribes in our Colony of New Zealand, it has
happened that persons serving in the local forces of
of our said Colony have performed deeds of gallantry,
in consideration of which they are not, according to
the strict provisions of our said recited Warrant,
eligible for this high distinction:

Now know ye, that we, of our especial grace,
certain knowledge, and mere motion, have thought
fit hereby to signify our royal will and pleasure
that the said decoration may be conferred on such
persons aforesaid, who may be qualified to receive
the same in accordance with the Rules and Ordi-
nances made, ordained, and established by us for the
government thereof, by our said recited Warrant,
and we do by these Presents for us, our heirs and
successors, ordain and appoint that it shall be com-
petent for such persons aforesaid to obtain the said
decoration in the manner set forth in the Rules and
Ordinances referred to, or in accordance with such
further Rules and Ordinances as may hereafter be
made and promulgated by us, our heirs and
Successors, for the government of the said decora-
tion, provided that it be established in any case that
the person was serving with our Troops, under the
orders of a General or other Officer, under circum-
stances which would entitle an Officer or Soldier of
our Army to be recommended for the said decora-
tion, in accordance with the Rules and Ordinances
prescribed in our said recited Warrant, and provided
also such person shall be recommended for it by such
General or other Officer.

And we do further, for us, our heirs and
successors, ordain and appoint that the said decora-
tion may also be conferred, in accordance with the
Rules and Ordinances prescribed in our said recited
Warrant, and subject to the provisions aforesaid, on
such persons who may be qualified to receive the
same in accordance with the said Rules and Ordi-