H.—3la.

Mr. Wrigg's name being totally unknown to his most intimate campaign comrades as ever having displayed any marked conspicuous bravery, and they and ourselves never having seen any notice whatever intimating that he was applying to have this decoration, it did not admit of our lodging a protest against the presentation before now, as otherwise we would have done. We respectfully submit that a personal application for this decoration would not be made by any man deserving of such a distinction. No act of conspicuous bravery could possibly have been displayed by any Volunteer during the war, without it being publicly known and daily discussed, not only by the men belonging to that particular company, but by all and every Volunteer, and in every camp throughout the Island, and it would unquestionably have been noticed by Press correspondents. Mr. Wrigg's name was never mentioned during the war, as far as those who were with him at that immediate time are aware, except as an ordinarily good man; and, as no reference whatever is made to him by any of the Press correspondents, it is absolutely impossible that he can have exhibited any " conspicuous bravery." Moreover, we respectfully claim that Mr. Wrigg's name cannot have appeared in any of the military despatches, otherwise it would have been publicly known at the time; and if his name is not honourably mentioned in the despatches it is undeniable proof that he cannot have displayed "conspicuous bravery." Undoubted evidence can be produced proving that in the year 1870 Colonel St. John had never up to that date recommended, or even contemplated recommending, Mr. Wrigg for this or for any other decoration. Also, strong prima facie evidence can be adduced proving that it was not till several years after the war that Mr. Wrigg himself for the first time conceived the idea of applying for the decoration. For obvious reasons we must most respectfully decline to minutely criticize in writing Mr. Wrigg's claims, or the evidence of the gentleman who, we are given to understand, was instrumental in supporting Mr. Wrigg's claim to this decoration; but we are prepared to be examined under oath by any Commission that you may appoint, and the proofs that we can produce will be of such a nature that we feel assured you will reconsider the actual presentation, despite the fact that the matter is already gazetted. We would draw your attention to your notice of last year, when you wisely decided that no further decorations whatever were to be issued—"that the list was closed"; and we would now respectfully request that you adhere to that determination. Finally, we would most respectfully ask you if you would inform us on what date Mr. Wrigg was first officially recommended for the decoration, if ever, and by whom; the date on which he first applied for it himself; and the names of those persons whose evidence assisted Mr. Wrigg in convincing you as to his action of conspicuous bravery. Edwin Bbzab, late Colour-sergeant, 57th Foot, and Sergeant-major of Volunteers for twenty-four years. William James Eaven, late Jackson's Forest Rangers, Sergeant-major B Battery, Christchurch. H. M. L. Atchebley, late Colour-sergeant, No. 2 Company, Ist Waikato Eegiment. Charles Haslem, late Artificer, C.T.C. and 3rd Waikato Eegiment. Michael Landres, late 57th Eegiment. Bdwakd Hutchings, late Trumpeter, Colonial Defence Force. John Williams, Ist Waikato Eegiment (Pitt's Four Hundred). Eobert Evans, Superintendent, Local Transport Corps, and Volunteer Officer, East Coast Expeditionary Force. James Walden, late Wellington Eifles. John Eobinson, Wanganui Eangers. James Malcolm May, Wanganui Eifles. William Buck, C.D.F. Peter Garbes, late Wellington (Captain Buck's Company). E. H. Beal, late Engineer Volunteer, Waikato and Tauranga, 1863 to 1867. C. O. Montbose, late 40th Eegiment, formerly of the Waikato, 1860 to 1865. Many other veterans are in complete sympathy with this petition, but are precluded from signing it through their connection with the Civil Service of the colony, but further petitions from other parts of the colony will be presented later on. The Hon. the Defence Minister, Wellington.

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