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A.—2

If the service has been performed in time of peace, the notification must be made within two years after the date of such service. 5. After such notification shall have been received, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs shall, if the case comes within the conditions prescribed by the present regulations, and arises from naval or military services before the enemy, refer it to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the War Department, previously to taking Her Majesty's pleasure thereupon, in order to ascertain whether there be any objection to Her Majesty's permission being granted. A similar reference shall also be made to the Commander-in-Chief if the application relates to an officer in the army, or to the Lords of the Admiralty if it relates to an officer in the navy. 6. When Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs shall have taken the Queen's pleasure on any such application, and shall have obtained Her Majesty's permission for the person in whose favour it has been made to accept the foreign order, and wear the insignia thereof, he shall signify the same to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, in order that he may cause the warrant required by clause 1 to be prepared for the Royal SignManual. When such warrant shall have been signed by the Queen, a notification thereof shall be inserted in the Gazette, stating the service for which the foreign order has been conferred. 7. The warrant signifying Her Majesty's permission may, at the request and at the expense of the person who has obtained it, be registered in the College of Arms. 8. Every such warrant as aforesaid shall contain a clause providing that Her Majesty's license and permission does not authorize the assumption of any style, appellation, rank, precedence, or privilege appertaining to a Knight Bachelor of Her Majesty's realms. 9. When a British subject has received the Eoyal permission to accept a foreign order, he will at any future time be allowed to accept the decoration of a higher class of the same order, to which he may have become eligible by increase of rank in the foreign service, or in the service of his own country ; or any other distinctive mark of honour strictly consequent upon the acceptance of the original order, and common to every person upon whom such order is conferred. 10. The preceding clause shall not be taken to apply to decorations of the Guelphic Order which were bestowed on British subjects by Her Majesty's predecessors, King George IV. and King William IV., on whose heads the Crowns of Great Britain and of Hanover were united. Decorations so bestowed cannot properly be considered as rewards granted by a foreign Sovereign for services rendered according to the purport of clause 2of these regulations. They must be rather considered as personal favours bestowed on British subjects by British Sovereigns, and as having no reference to services rendered to the foreign Crown of Hanover. Foreign Office, 3rd February, 1886. Begulations respecting Foreign Medals. 1. Applications for permission to accept and wear medals which, not being the decoration of any foreign order, arc conferred by a foreign Sovereign on British subjects in the army or navy, should be addressed to the Commander-in-Chief or the Lords of the Admiralty, as the case may be, who, if they see fit, may submit the same for Her Majesty's sanction, upon obtaining which they may grant such permission without other formality. 2. Any other British subject, having obtained Her Majesty's permission, is at liberty to accept and wear a foreign medal, not being the decoration of a foreign order. 3. No permission is necessary for accepting a foreign medal if such medal is not to be worn. Foreign Office, August, 1885. Salisbury.

. No. 23. (New Zealand, No. 19.) Sib,— Downing Street, 16th March, 1886. I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and that of your Government, a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with its enclosure, respecting the German Consulate at Nelson. I have, &c, GEANVILLE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

Enclosure. Bm,—» Foreign Office, 4th March, 1886. I am directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, translation of a note which his Lordship has received from the German Ambassador at this Court, stating that the German Consulate at Nelson (New Zealand) had been abolished, and that the Consul at Wellington will have jurisdiction over that district. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. T. V. Lister.