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R XHTI'.T T R . EXHIBIT No. 1. G. P. Bowen, Governor.—Ouder in Council. At the Government House, at Wellington, this 10th day of March, 1869. Present : His Excellency thh Govkrnor in Council. Whereas it is expedient that regulations should he made for conferring a decorative distinction on members of the Militia. Volunteers, and Armed Constabulary, who may particularly distinguish themselves by their bravery : Now therefore His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council of New Zealand, and in exorcise of all powers and-authorities enabling him in this behalf, doth by his present order institute a decorative distinction to be conferred on members of the Militia. Volunteers, or Armed Constabulary who may particularly distinguish themselves by their bravery inaction or devotion to their duty while on service. And doth, with the like advice and consent, make and ordain the following regulations under which such distinction shall be conferred :— Firstly, the decoration shall consist of a silver cross with the name of the colony and the name of the recipient engraved thereon. Secondly, it shall be suspended from the left breast by a crimson riband. Thirdly, any person upon whom the distinction has been conferred who shall afterwards perform any act of bravery which would, had he not been already decorated, have entitled him to the honour, may receive for every such act a silver bar, to be attached to the riband by which lire Cross is suspended. Fourthly, the distinction shall only be conferred upon those officers or men who, when serving in the presence of the enemy, shall have performed some signal act of valour or devotion to their duty, or who shall have performed any very intrepid action in the public service ; and neither rank nor long service nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or condition whatever, save merit of conspicuous bravery, shall be held to establish a sufficient claim to the honour. Fifthly, the distinction shall be awarded by the Governor only. It 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 to which such person belonged, and the Governor shall call for such description and attestation of the act as he may think requisite. Sixthly, every person upon whom this distinction is conferred shall be publicly decorated before the force or body to which he belongs, or with which ths act of bravery for which he is to be rewarded shall have been performed ; and a roll shall be kept in which shall be inscribed the names of the recipients with a brief description of the special act for which the distinction has in each case been awarded ; and every inscription on the roll shall be published in the Government Gazette. Seventhly, if any person on whom such distinction shall have been conferred bo convicted of treason, felony, cowardice, or of an infamous or disgraceful offence, his name shall be forthwith erased from the roll. Eighthly, constables and privates decorated with this distinction will take command of other constables or privates on duty when no officer or noncommissioned ofiicer is present. Forster Goring, Clerk of the Executive Council. EXHIBIT No. 2. [Extract from New. Zealand Gazette, 18th Mureh, 1898.] Decorative Distinction conferred. Defence Office, Wellington, 26th February, 1898. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to award the decorative distinction instituted by Order in Council dated the 10th day of March, 1869, to Harry Charles William Wrigg, Esq., late Cornet, Bay of Plenty Cavalry Volunteers, in consideration of his having, on the 29tb June, 1867, with Trooper McDonald, voluntarily carried despatches from Lieut.-Colonel John H. 11. St. John, then at Opotiki, to Lieut.-Colonel Phillip Harington, at Tauranga, through country infested by the Native tribes then at war with the British. T. Thompson. EXHIBIT No. 8. Extract from Camp Orders. 8.P.V.C., Opotiki, 28th June, 1867. Cornet Wrigg and Trooper McDonald will proceed to-morrow to Tauranga with despatches to Colonel Harington or officer commanding the district, and await his reply (if any), report themselves to him, and return with all speed, taking two days' rations with him. John Gwynneth, Captain, Commanding B.P.V.C. True extract. —John Gwynneth, Captain, B.P.V.C. Indorsement. Cornet Wrigo and Trooper McDonald- volunteered for the service at a time of great dancer, as the Natives were known to be in forec in the vicinity, and the road they had to travel was that upon which Bennett White and the mailman had been murdered only the day previously, and abounding with every facility for ambuscades. On the evening immediately after their return from this duty—which was performed with credit to themselves—and whilst yet in the saddle, they accompanied and assisted me in a search for the bodies of Messrs. Moore and Begga, who had been