THE COLONIAL ORDER OF KNIGHTHOOD.

Southland Times, Issue 1128, 22 March 1869, Page 3

THE COLONIAL ORDER OF KNIGHTHOOD.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 25th Feb., 1869. The following despatches, with enclosures, from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, are published for general informatian... B. W. Stajpfobd.

Dowmng-street, Bth Dec, 1868. Sib — The Queen has had occasion to observe that the constant progress oi' the British Empire in population, wealth, and enterprise, and the increased opportunities thus happily afforded to her subjects of rendering effective services to their Sovereign and the:r country, have in some respect outgrown Her Majesty's means of recognizing those services in a fitting manner. You are aware that, with the object of supplying that deficiency, it was found requisite iu the year 1847 to enlarge and modify the ancient Ordei of the Bath, and more recently that Her Majesty has been pleased to create a new Order of Knighthood, the Star of India, for the reward of services rendered in relation to Her Indian Empire. The sphere of usefulness and eminence which is now open in the British Colonies is so varied and extensive as to render it, iu Her Majesty's judgment, advisable that to them, as to India, a special form of distinction should be appropriated. For this purpose Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to sauctiou such a modification of the Statutes of the Order of Saint Minhael and Saint George, originally instituted by King George 111. in connection with His Majesty's Mediterranean possessions, and now presided over by a Priuce of the Blood Koyal, together with such an enlargement of its numbers, as will render it available as a reward of distinguished merit or services in any part of Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions. ■- > I annex, for publication, in.. the Colony under your' Government, copies of su much ofthe^new statutes as prescribe t^e qualifications for admission inftttae

i- Order iand the number of the Knights. it The Queen, is confident; that this >t measure will be received bv Her subjects :■ a* an evidence of the importance which ; Her Majesty attaches to Her Colonial p Dominions as integral parts of the 3 British Empire, of Her constant interest 1 in their progress, and of Her desire that r services of which they are the scene or s the occasion may not pass without ade- • quate and appropriate recognition. I have, &c, Buckingha.ii and Chandos. f Governor Sir G-. P. Bowen, G-.C.M.Q-., &c, &c, &c, i Extract from the Statutes of the most 1 Distinguished Order of Saint Michael t and Saint 0-e.orge, dated the 4th Det cember, 1868. i Order to contain Three Classes of > Knights Grand Cross, Knights , i Com -minders, and Coin- ' i panions. l ! It is ordained that this Most Distin- • i guisbed Order shall contain Three Classes, ' a? in Our a&i I Letters Patent tnentione I, to be styled and designated respectively — Knights Grand Oboss, 1 Knights Commandbbs, and Companions. First Class t> co n prise [2-3] Knights Grand Cross. It is ordained that the First Class, or Knights Grand Cross, shall not exceed twenty-five in number. Second Class to comprise [60] Knights Commanders. It" is ordained, that the Second Class, or Knights Commanders, shall not exceed .sixty in number. Third Class to comprise [100J Com. panions. It is ordained that the Third Cl iss, or Companions, shall not exceed one hundred in number. Qualifications of Persons eligible for admission into the Order. It is ordained, that the persons to ba admitted into this Most Distinguished Order, shall be such natural-born subjects of Our Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as may have held, or shall hereafter hold, higi and confidential offices within any of our Colonial Possessions, or such other natural-born subjects of Our Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, as may have held, or shall hereafter hold, high and confidential offices, or may render extraordinary and important services to Us as Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in rela-Moa to any of Our Colonial Possessions, or who may become eminently distinguished therein by their talents, merits, * virtues, loyalty, or services, or who are, or hereafter may be, appointed Officers of this Most Distinguished Order.

Downing-street, 10th December, 1868. JSie — As certain Circular issued from this Department to the Australian Governors,have occasioned some oiisapprehension respecting the jurisdiction assigned to the different French Consular Authorities in Australia and New Zea lond, I think it proper to inform you, that the French Government have appointed a Consul G-eueral at Sydney, with powers extending over New South Wales, Queensland, North Australia, and New Ztuland, and a Consul General at Melbourne, with powers extending ever Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. I have, &c, Graitvtlle. Governor Sir G. P. Boweu, G.O.M.G.