APRIL 28.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 693

Extension of the Grant of Imperial Medals to the New Zealand Permanent Forces.

Defence Office, Wellington, 22nd April, 1898.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve of the attached Regulations extending the grant of the “Distinguished Conduct,” “Meritorious Service,” and “Long Service and Good Conduct” Medals to the New Zealand Permanent Forces, as authorised by Royal Warrant, dated at Balmoral the 31st day of May, 1895, and to ordain that such Regulations shall come into force in the Colony of New Zealand on and from the 22nd day of April, 1898, and further to ordain that the New Zealand Long Service and Good Conduct Medal hitherto awarded to the New Zealand Permanent Militia under the authority of paragraph 211, Permanent Militia Regulations 1887, be abolished on and from the 21st day of April, 1898, and to cancel the paragraph quoted accordingly.

T. THOMPSON.

REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ISSUE OF THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT, MERITORIOUS SERVICE, AND LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS TO THE NEW ZEALAND PERMANENT FORCES.

Issued under authority of the Royal Warrant of 31st May, 1895, and approved by the Secretary of State.

RANFURLY, Governor.

By his Deputy,

JAMES PRENDERGAST.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL.

1. A SILVER Medal having on one side the Royal effigy, and on the other the words “For Meritorious Service,” shall be issued, on the approval of His Excellency the Governor, as a reward for “Meritorious Service,” to any soldier above the rank of a Corporal, not being a Commissioned Officer, in the Permanent Force of New Zealand, either before or after discharge. The rank, name, and Corps of the recipient shall be inscribed on the rim of the Medal.

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL.

1. A Silver Medal bearing on it the words “For Distinguished Conduct in the Field,” shall be issued on the approval of His Excellency the Governor, (as a reward for the same), to any Warrant Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer, or private soldier, in the Permanent Force of New Zealand. The rank, name, and Corps of the recipient shall be inscribed on the rim of the Medal, together with the date of the gallant conduct.

2. In a case where a soldier, already in possession of a Medal for Distinguished Conduct under the preceding paragraph, is recommended on account of further Distinguished Conduct in the Field, a bar shall be added to the Distinguished Conduct Medal already conferred, on the approval of His Excellency the Governor, the date of the additional gallant conduct being inscribed on the bar.

MEDAL FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT.

1. On the approval of His Excellency the Governor, a Silver Medal shall be awarded to any Non-Commissioned Officer or private of the New Zealand Permanent Force who has served for eighteen years with an irreproachable character, subject to the following regulations:—

2. Any Non-Commissioned Officer or private who, within the last eighteen years, has been 12 times entered in the regimental defaulter sheet, has ten cases of drunkenness recorded against him, or has been convicted by a Court-Martial or for felony or any other offence of a disgraceful nature by the Civil power, or as a Non-Commissioned Officer has been drunk under arms, is absolutely ineligible for these rewards.

3. The Medal shall bear on one side the words “For Long Service and Good Conduct,” and on the other side the Royal Arms, and shall be presented in the name of Her Majesty the Queen by the Commanding Officer on parade. It shall be worn by the recipient as an honourable testimonial of Her Majesty’s approbation of his conduct.

4. The rank, name, and corps of the recipient shall be inscribed on the rim of the Medal.

5. A Non-Commissioned Officer or private, if qualified as regards length of service, who may have distinguished himself by the display of zeal and gallantry in the Service, shall also be eligible for this medal, although he may not strictly fulfil the required conditions.

6. A Non-Commissioned Officer convicted of a misdemeanour and reduced to the ranks, or to a lower grade, for any offence for which he would not necessarily have been tried as a private soldier, shall, if his conduct has been good for a continuous period of five years from the date of such reduction, not be precluded by such reduction from receiving the Medal referred to in the first paragraph hereof.

7. A Medal for “Long Service and Good Conduct” granted to a Non-Commissioned Officer or private shall be surrendered on his being awarded a Medal for “Meritorious Service.”

8. When the conduct of a soldier who has earned the Medal for “Long Service and Good Conduct” has, after the award of the Medal, been such as to disqualify him from wearing the Medal, it shall be competent for His Excellency the Governor, on the recommendation of the Commander of the Forces for the time being, or in the event of there being no Commander of the Forces, then of the Under-Secretary for Defence, to deprive him of the Medal.

9. Any Medal or Decoration forfeited by a soldier under the preceding paragraph may be restored to such soldier by His Excellency the Governor on the recommendation of the Commander of the Forces for the time being, or in the event of there being no Commander of the Forces, then of the Under-Secretary for Defence.

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