93

I.—2b

Return of the Names of those Persons on whom the New Zealand Cross has been conferred, the respective Dates, for what Service, and by whom recommended— continued.

Akthuk P. Douglas, Defence Office, Wellington, October, 1898. Under-Secretary for Defence.

EXHIBIT No. 30.

Return of Recommendations of Various Persons for the New Zealand Cross which have not been acceded to.

* These seven men were originally recommended for the Victoria Cross, but, as tbe recommendation did not come within the terms of Her Majesty's warrant constituting that decoration, their claims to the New Zealand Cross were considered and rejected. The applicants received a special free grant of 20 acres of land instead. Abthuu P. Douglas, Defence Office, Wellington, October, 1898. Under Secretary for Defence.

Names. Date when conferred Services. By whora recommended. Mair, Gilbert 5/7/1887 In February, 1870, after Te Kooti had succeeded in escaping from the pursuing column under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell at Patetere, and engaged and repulsed that under Lieut.Colonel Praser from Tauranga, he turned to his right to regain the protection of the Urewera Mountains by the way of the friendly settlement of Botofua, which he purposed destroying on his march. Captain Mair was at Botorua, with no troops except a handful of Arawa Natives, when one Baker, a deserter from Her Majesty's navy, who had been residing among the Maoris, brought him intelligence of Te Kooti's intentions. Captain Mair thereupon made every possible preparation, creating a fictitious appearance of force by employing the old men and women to show themselves to represent troops. Te Kooti, finding the settlement apparently so strong, turned towards Kaitiria, and made off towards the Bangitaiki Biver. Captain Mair thereupon boldly assumed the offensive with such young men as he could get, and pursued Te Kooti's force, inflicting heavy loss, closing with the rear-guard and not retiring till after dark, when he was almost alone, and had driven the enemy down to Port Galatea, on the Bangitaiki Biver, which was, unfortunately, unoccupied by troops. During this spirited engagement, which lasted many hours, Captain Mair, by personal example and devoted gallantry, inspirited his men to come to hand-to-hand conflict with Te Kooti's rear-guard, himself killing the notorious Peka McLean, and driving the rest before him in diso~der In consideration of his having, on the 29th day of June, 1867, with Trooper McDonald, voluntarily carried despatches from Lieut.-Colonel John H. H. St. John, then at Opotiki, to Lieut.-Colonel Philip Harington, at Tauranga, through country infested by the Native tribes then at war with the British Colonel Whitmore. Wrigg, Harry Charles William 11/7/1898 Captain Bower.

Names. Date of Claim. Services. By whom recommended. Milmoe, Lawrence ; C°sslett, Johnston ; McLean, Henrv ; Gill, Michael; O'Brien, William ; O'Connor, Michael; Beamish, John G.* Northcroft, H. W., Ensign Nixon, John, Major 15/7/1868 Defence of Turu Turu Mokai Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. 1/4/1871 19/8/1872 Rescuing Sergt.-Major Duff from the enemy Assisting his commanding officer to remount his horse under fire Exposing himself to fire when warning body of men to remain in rifle-pit For bravery at Waipu in 1865, Paraparatu in 1868, Patutahi in 1868, Ngatapa in 1868 Conspicuous bravery at attack of Ngutu-o-te-Manu Gallant conduct at Pangaroa Pa .. ,. Attending on Thomas Lake, wounded on the 3rd December, 1868, at Mangakaretu, when the main force had left for Tauranga Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Major Rookes. Fox, PokihaJParanui, Chief .. 28/8/1872 Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Gascoigne, Major 20/5/1886 Major Westrupp. Scannell, Major 16/3/1898 Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Lomax, H. A., Captain Gibbes, Murray, Dr. .. 15/3/1898 10/4/1886 Major Kemp. Major Gascoigne.