A.—2

8

No. 14. New Zealand, No. 12. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th January, 1916. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a Warrant entitled "The Royal Red Cross Warrant," revoking the rules and ordinances hitherto in force for the government of that decoration, and substituting new rules and ordinances. 2. The award of the Royal Red Cross Decoration will follow upon good work performed and brought to notice by mention in despatches, and in regard to the nurses from the self-governing dominions who accompanied the Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Contingents, the necessary mentions are expected from the Commanders-in-Chief in the field in due course. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. THE ROYAL RET) CROSS WARRANT. George 8.1. George the Fifth, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. To all whom these presents shall come : Greeting. Whereas Her late Majesty our beloved Grandmother Queen Victoria, by a Warrant dated the 23rd day of April, 1883, did institute, constitute, and create a decoration designated " The Royal Red Cross " to be awarded in recognition of special services rendered in nursing the sick and wounded of our Army and Navy, and did make, ordain, and establish certain rules and ordinances for the government of the same, which rules and ordinances were subsequently amended by Royal Warrants dated the 11th day of December, 1897, the 24th day of July, 1902, and the Bth day of September, 1909 : And whereas it is our Royal will and pleasure that further provision shall be made for the recognition of such special services rendered in nursing the. sick and wounded in our Army and Navy: Now, therefore, We do hereby declare that the rules and ordinances heretofore in force for the government of the said decoration shall be abrogated, cancelled, and annulled, and Wo are pleased to make, ordain, and establish the following rules and ordinances in substitution for the same, which shall from henceforth be inviolably observed and kept : — Firstly: The decoration shall be styled and designated "The Royal Red Cross," and shall be divided into two classes. The First Class shall consist of a cross, enamelled red, edged with gold, having on the arms thereof the words " Faith," " Hope," " Charity," with the date of the institution of the decoration; the centre having thereon in relief the Royal and Imperial Effigy. On the reverse thereof the Royal and Imperial Cipher and Crown shall be shown in relief on the centre. The Second Class shall consist, of a cross which shall be of the same form and size as in the First. Class, but shall be of frosted silver, and shall have superimposed thereon a Maltese Cross enamelled red not exceeding half its dimensions, the centre having thereon in relief the Royal and Imperial Effigy. The reverse shall have inscribed on the arms thereof the words "Faith," "Hope," "Charity," and the date of institution of the original decoration, and shall bear in the centre in relief the Royal and Imperial Cipher and Crown. Secondly : The cross in either class shall be attached to a dark-blue riband edged red. of 1 in. in width, tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder. Thirdly : The decoration may be worn by the Queen Regnant, the Queen Consort, or the Queen Dowager of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and it shall be competent for Us, our heirs and successors, to confer the decoration upon any of the Princesses of the Royal Family of Great Britain and Ireland ; also upon the Queens or Princesses of foreign countries who may have specially exerted themselves in providing for the nursing of the sick and wounded of foreign armies and navies. Fourthly : It shall be competent for Us, our heirs and successors, to confer either class of this decoration upon any members of the Nursing Services without restriction as to rank, or upon other persons engaged in nursing duties, whether subjects or foreign persons, who may be recommended to our notice by our Secretary of State for War or by the First Lord of the Admiralty, as the case may be, for special devotion and competency which they may have displayed in their nursing duties with our Army in the field, or in our naval and military hospitals. Fifthly: The number of awards in the First Class of the decoration shall not exceed 2 per cent, of the total establishment of nurses, and the number of awards in the Second Class of the decoration shall not exceed 5 per cent, of the total establishment of nurses, the allotments to be proportionate to the numbers of each Nursing Service : Provided nevertheless that it. shall be