THE NEW ZEALAND CROSS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1585, 31 October 1912, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND CROSS.

Sir,—ln your issue of October 25 you publish a letter signed "Harry Wrigg," in which he implies that I am the writer of a letter signed "Veteran" in your issue of October 16. I bad no knowledgo ( of the said letter until I saw it in your paper. He 'is, therefore, mistaken. _ I am one of those who first protested against the Cross being awarded to Mr. Wrigg on his own application, and I have joined others in praying that tho stain which has boon placed on it should be removed. If Mr. Wrigg can produce any official dispatch from tho commanding officer of the district where his name is mentioned for -conspicuous bravery in the field (other than the notorious "camp order" on which ho based his claim), I will give a substantial donation lo the Auckland Hospital or the Veterans' Home.

Now, with regard to the misstatements contained in his letter. The matter has never been treated by lis as a political ono. Tho first petition was presented by an Opnosition member; after that, no fewer than three petitions have been presented by Government. members, and it v.-as only after tho most strenuous efforts by two of tho strongest supporters of the lato Government, tint the sworn evidence taken before the Committee iriis a/loired to reach tho tabk> of the House, and could bo com mental on.

1 have no knowledge of Mr. "Wr luh whatever. ITo nni.y bo a most- estimable pevsou for M L know to the contrary, and I can, therefore, have no personal feeling nirainst liirn, but I most stiwdy' object to a dccoration which was intended hi he the highest military order obtainable being awarded to a man on his own statement of a supposed act of valour, til' which ho is his o\Vn trumpeter, and without his name ever having been mentioned hy the officer commanding the district or force at the time, but merely on an irregular document produced hy .Mr. Wr!|rj» lim:ScU', and signed by an irresponsible person who died some three or four years before the document was produced by Mr. ■Wrigjf iu support of his personal application.

Mr. Wriffs eocs 011 to say that I was 2(10 miles away at the time the dispatcher were carried. That is quite corrcct. My evidence before the Committee allowed that; but I also stated that. I was afterwards well acquainted with every part of the district, unci in command of it for thre9 months, aad twice paraded the corps

to which Mr. Wriggh belonged, that I know tho members thereof well, and never heard Mr. Wrigg's name mentioned. I iilso stated -that i was in communication with persons in the district at tho time, that I had hoard nothing of any net of bravery by Mr. Wrigg, but that before I was in the district I had heard of distinguished conduct shown by Lieuts. Whito and Rushton. I am not, however, going into the evidence, the Committee had to weigh that, and they gave their opinion thoreon, and no snno man could havo given any other decision in tho matter. _ Tlio New Zealand Cross was instituted in 18(19; tho Order-in-Council reads as follows :—

. Fourthly, the distinction shall only be conferred upon those officers or men who, when serving in tho presence of the enemy, shall havo performed eonie signal act of valour or devotion to their duty, or who shall havo performed any very intrepid action in tho public service; nnd neither tjink nor loiig 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 bo awarded by the Governor onlv. It sh(ill not be claimed by any individual on his own account, but tho claim must bo made in favour of the person considered to be entitled to it by the commanding Officer of tho force or district to which such person belonged, and the Governor shall call for such description and attestation of tho act as ho may think requisite. Sixthly, every person upon whom this distinction is conferred shall bo publicly decorated before tho force or body to which he belongs, or with which the act of bravery for which he is to be rewarded shall have been performed; and a roll shall bo kept in which'shall be inscribed the names of the recipients with a brief description of the special act for which tlio distinction has in each case been awarded; and every inscription on tho roll shall be published in the Government Gazette-

Now, how were the above conditions carried out in regard to Mr. Wrigg? In June, 1867, Major St. John was in command in.thu Opotiki district, Major Mair was second in command, also holding the position of magistrate—he was invariably put in Orders as Officer Commanding iii Major St. John's absence. On June 27, 18G7, Mr. Bennett Whito and a Native mailman were killed on the beach near Waiotahi River between Opotiki and Ohiwa. A detachment of volunteer cuvalry (Mr. Wrigg's corps) were at once sent to tho scene of tho hiurders, followed by 100 footmen who traced tho tracks of tho rebels who had made tlio raid for some miles. They then camped near Ohiwa "and it was then that the dispatches were sent by Major St. John. There was no danger. Once you were across tho Ohiwa River (which was crossed by a forry kept by a paid Native ferryman living on an island in tho harbour) you were in friendly Native country from thence to Tauranga. At 110 timo wa'r there more than 9 to 11 miles of country between Opotiki and Ohiwa considered dangerous and on this occasion thero were troops in front of the men who'carried the dispatches. Majot St. John was not a man to overlook any special service as evidenced by a certificate he gave to Corporal Haselden in the samo year which reads thus:—

"Opotiki, February 28th, 1867.—Mr. Haselden entered the Ist Waikato Regiment os a substitute in November, 18G6, since which time he has been to the date of his discharge under my command. Ho is a young man of good intelligence, sober and steady in his habits, and possessed of undoubted' pluck. His namo has .been mentioned in dispatches for gallantry. I much regret his leaving the district, but as thero is no opening for him hero I think, he is right to try elsewhere." I ain certain that wherever he tries he will make himself liked and respected ns ho has been in Opotiki. (Sgd.) J. 'H. H. St. John, Major Commanding Opotiki District." '

No mention-was by Major St. John of any special service rendored in carrying the said dispatches. I havo | served myself under Colonel St. John and never' knew him' to Overlook any act of bravery. Is it within.the range of probability that a man like Major St. John, a true soldier and a gentleman, would overlook tho bravo and meritorious conduct of Mr. Wrigg? Nothing was ever heard of Sir. Wrigg's' act of bravery until 30 years after'tho. occurrence when he suddenly produced tho irregular document called a "Camp Order," which he showed to a number of peoplo some' of whom knew nothing of the circumstances; others had their memories refreshed by Mr. Wrigg. 1 may mention that Colonel St. John lived until 1877, and occupied the same buildings with Mr. Wrigg for years. He never recommended him for any decoration. Out of 18 men who gave Mr. Wrigg certificates dated 30 years after the occurrence, only four had any knowledge of the circumstances connected with the case. Mr. Wrigg buttonholed men in all kinds of positions to support him in his selfasserted claim. Should a soldier ask for decoration?

I will now quoto you ono of tho statements made by Mr. Wrigg when ho was endeavouring to procure the Cross, namely: "Captain Bower who wiis adjntant mid sccond in command at tho time, and who has recommended mo the Cross knows the whole circumstances of tho case, nnd I would respectfully point out that, supposing Colonel St. John should have been killed whilst I was away with the dispatches, the command would necessarily have fallen on Cantain Bower." I ■will now quote from Major St. John's dispatch, written on the day following the murdors.: "Under these circumstances, after consulting with Captain Skeen/iny second in command, in the absence of Major Mair." As a matter of fact, Captain Bower was either fourth or fifth junior captain, and it is on such inaccurate statements as this (I could point out many others) that Mr. Wrigg was awarded tho New Zealand Cross. Is it any wonder that tho holders of it are disgusted ? You will observe that none of the conditions t relative to tho bestowal of the decoration were carried out in this case, and it was currently reported that tho officer commanding the forces (Colonel Pols Ponton) considered it such a farce that lie refused to order a special, parade and .it was ultimately presented to Mr. AVrigg by tho Mayor of Auckland in tho Town Hall.

If Mr. Wrigg thinks I went to Auckland to canvass the veterans to sign the petition, he is mistaken. I wa.s there on business, and only asked holders of tho Cross to sign. One refused because he had been brought into friendly relations with Mr. Wrigg in connection with the 'veterans, but this man was ono of tho first to protest against the award. Ho was in the district at tho time.—l am, G. A. PUEECE. Palmerstou North, October 28, 1012.