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No. 32. New Zealand, No. 255. My Lord,— Downing Street, 6th April, 1916. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that His Majesty the King has decided that the Victoria Cross Warrant of Ist January, 1867, covers the case of awards of the Victoria Cross to all Native troops forming part of the dominion or colonial Forces. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

No. 33. New Zealand, No. 273. My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th April, 1916. I have the honour to inform Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, that it has been decided to reduce to half an ounce the unit of weight for letters sent from the East Africa and Uganda Protectorates to places included in the Imperial penny-postage scheme. 2. The reduction came into force on the Ist April, 1916. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Plon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

A.-1, 1917 No. 31.

No. 34. New Zealand, No. 282. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th April, 1916. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, copies of a Royal Warrant, dated 28th December, 1.914, instituting a new decoration entitled " The Military Cross," and of a Royal Warrant, dated 25th March, 1916, instituting a new medal entitled " The Military Medal." I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right l Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

Enclosures. Royal Warrant instituting a New Decoration entitled "The Military Cross." George, R.I. • 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. to whom these presents shall come: Greeting. Whereas We have taken into our Royal consideration the distinguished services in time of war of officers of certain ranks in our Army : And whereas We are desirous of signifying our appreciation of such services by a mark of our Royal favour : We do by these presents, for Us, our heirs and successors, institute and create a Cross to be awarded to officers whose distinguished and meritorious services have been brought to our notice. Firstly : It is ordained that the Cross shall be designated " The Military Cross." Secondly : It is ordained that the Military Cross shall consist of a cross of silver having on. each arm our Imperial Crown and bearing in the centre the letters G.R.I. Thirdly : It is ordained that no person shall be eligible for this decoration nor be nominated thereto unless he is a Captain, a commissioned officer of a lower grade, or a warrant officer in our Army or our Indian or Colonial Military Forces ; and that the Military Cross shall be awarded only to officers of the above ranks on a recommendation to Us by pur Principal Secretary of State for War. Fourthly : It is ordained that foreign officers of an equivalent rank to those above mentioned who have been associated in military operations with our Army, or our Indian or Colonial Military Forces, shall be eligible for the honorary award of the Military Cross.