ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

New Zealand Tablet, 25 April 1912, Page 35

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Subscriber.— The statement made by the Hon. C. M. v Luke at Karori — as reported in the N.Z. Times of ancient date— entirely incorrect. The marriage was celebrated in the Catholic Church and as our information is direct from • the priest who performed the ceremony, it may be taken as authoritative and final. Patrick Hartnett, St. Andrews. —The following information regarding the decoration conferred on your father may be of interest. The star wasawarded by the Government of India, 1844. The decoration took the form, as you see, of a bronze . star of six points, 2in. in diameter. side: , In centre a silver star, Igin. in diameter, around the centre of which is a circle in which is inscribed either Maharajpoor, 1843, or Punniar, 1843, and ... centre of circle the date, 29th Deer. Reverse ■ r side: Plain for name and regiment or corps, of recipient. The ribbon is the military ribbon of India. The award of a medal to the troops of the • - Crown and of the Hon; East India Company engaged in the Gwalior campaign of 1843, was. first j notified in Governor-General’s G. 0., dated Camp, Gwalior Residency, January 4, 1844; and the -:J: Queen s permission for it to be worn by Crown troops given June 26, 1844. The force moved in .... two columns, the main and larger under Sir Hugh (Viscount) Gough, the smaller under Major-General -. Gray. Each force fought an action ,on the same day, December 29, 1843, the former at Maharajpoor, the latter at Punniar, and the Star .was inscribed according to which action the recipient was . . engaged in. The Stars were manufactured from - the metal of the captured guns. The : Star given to Sir Hugh Gough had : in the. centre a silver itkx- elephant in lieu of a silver . star, and it was origin-’ a ly intended that all should be the same, but the '/ S VG u- Star was substituted for, reasons of economy. : As this decoration was strictly limited .in number

it is now very rare; and ; would probably fetch .a higher price than that i realised by : , the emblem recently; sold in the Dublin -auction room. .Its value, off course,. will increase with every year. We are returning the emblem by registered packet. - •;•