H.—3l.

1898. NEW ZEALAND.

THE NEW ZEALAND CROSS: APPLICATION FOR—MR. H. WRIGG.

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 12th July, 1898. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House the recommendations and certificates which accompanied the. application that the New Zealand Cross should be bestowed on Mr. Harry Wrigg."—(Mr. Massey.) Application, New Zealand Cboss for Mr. Harby Wbigg. Sib,— ftapier, 26th August, 1897. By an Order in Council of the 10th March, 1869, the distinction (the New Zealand Cross) , shall " not be claimed by any individual on his own account, but the claim must be made by the Commanding Officer of the Force or district." In accordance with this order (Colonel St. John, then commanding the district at Opotiki, being since deceased), it affords me great pleasure to recommend Mr. Harry Wrigg, late cornet, Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry, to be a recipient of this highly coveted distinction, to which, in my opinion, he is fully entitled, for his act of bravery in voluntarily carrying despatches from Opotiki to Tauranga (and returning), through a country swarming with hostile Natives, along a. route where only the day before they had murdered two old settlers (Mr. Bennett White and the mailman, whose name I forget), and at a time when the rivers were in high flood and exceedingly dangerous to cross. Strictly speaking, perhaps, I should not be now making this application, as I was not "the Commanding Officer of the Force or district," but I was District Adjutant (through whom all orders were issued), and I am quite certain that had the late Colonel St. John been alive he would have made every effort to obtain the decoration for Mr. Wrigg. It may be said also that the claim should have been made before, but I respectfully submit, amongst others, as a precedent that Colonel McDonnell received his Cross in 1886 for an act of bravery in 1863, or twenty-three yearsafter. • A perusal of the accompanying documents will, I feel sure, enable you to strongly recommend Mr. Wrigg's claim to His Excellency the Governor's most favourable consideration. I have, Ac, M. W. Boweb, Hon. T. Thompson, Defence Minister, Wellington. Late District Adjutant, Opotiki.

Sic, — Auckland, 14th August, 1897. After getting to this stage, I find at the last moment that the Order in Council provides: " That the distinction shall not be claimed by any individual on his own account, but the claim must be made in favour of the person considered to be entitled to it by the Commanding Officer of the Force or district." Colonel St. John being deceased, will you, as late Adjutant of the district, kindly forward, with any recommendation yoa may be pleased to make. I have, &c, Haeey Weigg, Captain Bower, Town Clerk, Napier. Late Cornet, B.P.V.C. Lettee from Colonel Shepherd, late Leinster Eegiment. Deae Sic, — Wellington, 3rd November, 1897. I have just been shown the papers in connection with the services you rendered during the Maori War in 1867, and I must say that it appears to me that what you did merits the distinction of the New Zealand Cross being conferred on you. It is well recognised that true bravery is shown by those who volunteer for such hazardous solitary undertakings equally with those who win the Cross under fire before the eyes of their commanders and comrades in the heat of action. I should be very pleased to see the Crossawarded to you. Yours, &c, T. Vieet Shepheed, Major, Late Leinster Eegiment, and Lieut-Colonel, New Zealand Militia. Harry Wrigg, Esq., Auckland. I—H. 31.