THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 335

of "The Native Land Act, 1873," for the Northern
District, vice John Edward Grace, Esq., transferred.
DONALD MCLEAN.

Clerk and Interpreter under the 11th Section of
"The Native Land Act, 1873," appointed.

Native Office,
Wellington, 25th April, 1876.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
appoint

JOHN EDWARD GRACE, Esq.,

to be Clerk and Interpreter, under the 11th section
of "The Native Land Act, 1873," for the Wellington
District.

DONALD MCLEAN.

Decorative Distinction granted.

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 8th May, 1876.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
award the Decorative Distinction instituted by
Order in Council dated tenth March, one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine, to the under-mentioned
officers and men of the New Zealand Militia, Volun-
teers, and Armed Constabulary, whose claims to the
same have been submitted to His Excellency on
account of the Acts of Bravery performed by them
respectively, as stated against their names:--

| Corps. | Rank and Name. | Acts of Bravery
for which recommended. |
|---|---|---|
| Native Contin-gent. | Major Rapata Waha-waha. | For personal gallantry and loyal devotion on occasion both of the first and last attack on Ngatapa, and more especially for the courage he showed on the first occasion, at the head of only seventy men, when all the rest of the Native Contingent had re-treated, and left him without support. Major Rapata then pushed his way close to the entrenchments, and held a position at a pistol-shot dis-tance all day, and until, under cover of night, he was com-pelled by want of ammunition to retire, having sustained heavy losses. |
| Taranaki Militia | Captain Francis Joseph Mace. | For conspicuous bravery in the performance of his duty throughout the Taranaki war; for most valuable and efficient services in conveying de-spatches through the enemy's country, and in acting as guide upon many important expeditions. Notably his conduct at the Kaitikara River, on the 4th June, 1863; at Kaitake, on the 11th March, 1864; and at Warea, on the 20th October, 1865. Captain Mace's services were publicly noticed by General Pratt, Colonel Warre, and other officers, upon seve-ral occasions; and he person-ally received the thanks of Governors Browne and Grey. |
| Armed Constab-ulary. | Inspector John Mack-intosh Roberts. | For the gallant and conspicuous example shown by him (when Sub-Inspector) at Moturoa, on the 7th November, 1868, to his young and newly raised division, while covering the retreat from the pa, although outnumbered, and at one time almost surrounded. To Inspector Roberts' forti-tude and officer-like qualities it was due chiefly that these young soldiers, who had only joined the force one day, not only maintained their ranks and discipline in a dense bush, in spite of the repeated effor of the enemy to close with them, but were enabled so efficiently to perform the dangerous duty intrusted to them, that the force, encum-bered with many wounded, was able to draw off in good order. It must also be re-membered, to the honor of Inspector Roberts, that it was mainly inly to to his fortitude and resolute bearing that the great bulk of the force left behind at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu were rallied and safely brought off to Waihi, reaching that post the day after the rest of the force had arrived and given them up for lost. |
| Armed Constab-ulary. | Sub-Inspector George Preece. | For personal bravery (when Interpreter to the Native Contingent, and attached to Major Rapata) on the occa-sion of the first attack upon Ngatapa. Mr. Preece's be-haviour was so brilliant as to elicit the admiration of Major Rapata, who recommended him for special reward to the Colonel Commanding on the following day, with the very complimentary remark that, with two or three more like him, he would have been able to break into the pa, at that time not fully completed. |
| Armed Constab-ulary. | Assistant-Surgeon Samuel Walker. | For conspicuous gallantry in the performance of his duties as Assistant-Surgeon on many occasions during the campaign of 1868-69, and notably at the successful at-tack upon the position and en-campment of Titoko-Waru at Otauto, on the 13th March, 1869, where he was exposed to a very heavy fire, and bore himself with great courage. |
| Guides. | Sergeant Christopher Maling. | For most valuable and efficient services as Sergeant of the Corps of Guides on many occasions, and especially in going out to scout in advance with three men (two of whom were shot on the morning of the 26th February, 1869), by which an intended ambuscade was discovered, and many lives saved. And for a long reconnaissance with two men of the Corps of Guides (which lasted two nights and days) in advance, to ascertain the direction of Titoko-Waru's re-treat after he had evacuated Tauranga-ika. This service was a most daring one, and of the utmost importance to the force, as intelligence was thus obtained which in no other way could have been procured. |
| Native Contin-gent. | Major Kepa Kepa Rangihi-winui, New Zealand Militia. | For devoted and chivalrous conduct at Moturoa, on the 7th November, 1868, when at the head of a very small por-tion of his tribe, with which he covered a flank of the re-treat, and assisted the removal of the wounded, although ex-posed to a very heavy fire at a close range. And for the personal gallantry and con-stancy shown by him in con-ducting the pursuit of Titoko-Waru's followers after their defeat at Otauto on the 13th March, 1869, hanging on their rear, and constantly harass-ing them during several days in dense bush. His force on this occasion was composed entirely of volunteers, several officers and many men of the Armed Constabulary having volunteered to follow this distinguished chief, besides the members of his own tribe. |
| Armed Constab-ulary. | Sergeant Richard Shep-herd. | For distinguished bravery at Otauto, on the 13th March, 1869, while holding the ground close to the encampment, and enabling a close reconnaisance to be made by Major Kepa and the Colonel Commanding. Sergeant Shepherd was dan-gerously wounded on this occasion. |
| Wanganui Vol-unteer Con-tingent. | Sergeant Samuel Austin. | For gallant and distinguished conduct on the 7th January, 1866, when, at the capture of the Putahi Pa, Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell was severely wounded, and Sergeant Austin carried him during a great part of the engagement under a raking fire, and finally off the field, which action was witnessed by General Chute, who then thanked him for his fearless and heroic conduct |