A.—No. 1b

extension of the grant of the New Zealand Medal to the Local or Volunteer forces employed against the Maoris, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to acquaint you, for Earl Granville's information, that Her Majesty has been pleased to approve that, in compliance Avith the Avishes of the Colonial Government, the medai may be granted to such of the Colonial forces and Eriendly Natives actually under fire, or otherwise conspicuous for distinguished service in the field, as were employed in the several operations for which the medal has been granted to the Regular Army, and survived at the date of the General Order notifying Her Majesty's intention to confer it; and Mr. John Morrison, the Agent for the Colonial Government in London, has been requested to place himself in communication with the R-oyal Mint as to the cost of providing the 5,000 medals applied for, and the machine for stamping them, to be paid for by the New Zealand Government, and also as to the cost of sending them out ; it being understood that the medal is to be given Avithin the limits prescribed by the General Order. Mr. Morrison has also been informed that, should the number of medals applied for prove to be more than sufficient, the surplus is to be returned to this country, and the cost of them accounted for. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. EDWARD LUGARD.

No. 22. Copy of a LETTER from the Under Secretary of State for War to the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir,— War Office, 20th January, 1870. With reference to my letter of the 13th instant, relative to the extension of the grant of the NeAV Zealand Medal to the Local or Volunteer forces employed against the Maoris, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Cardwell to transmit to you, for Earl Granville's information, a copy of a letter Avhich has been received from Mr. John Morrison, the Agent of the Colony, on the subject. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. EDWARD LUGARD.

Enclosure in No. 22. Office of the New Zealand Government Agency, Sic, — 3, Adelaide Place, King William Street, E.G., 15th January, 1870. I havo to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the number and date as per margin, transmitting copies of a letter, and of its enclosures, from the Colonial Office, on the subject of the proposed grant of the New Zealand Medal to tho Local or Volunteer forces employed against the Maoris, and in consequence of Her Majesty having been pleased to approve of the grant of the medal to such of them as survived at tho date of the General Order, directing me to communicate with the Eoyal Mint as to the cost of providing the 5,000 medals applied for, and the machine for stamping them. In reply, I have the honor to state that immediately your instructions were received, an application was made to the Deputy Master of the Mint for the information, and, on behalf of tho Government of New Zealand, I beg to state that I shall be prepared to defray the cost of the medals and the machine. The Deputy Master has been requested to inform me the earliest date upon which the medals and the machine can be ready for transmission to tho Colony; for, if the package be not of great weight or size, I would seek to send them to the Government of New Zealand by the overland mail of next week. I have, &c, The Under Secretary of State for War. John Moeeison.

13th Jan., 1870.

No. 23. Copy of a LETTER from the Under Secretary of State for War to the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir,— War Office, Bth Eebruary, 1870. Having laid before Mr. Secretary Cardwell your letter of the 7th ultimo, with the copy of a Despatch from the Governor of New Zealand, and its enclosures, relative to the gallant services performed by Cornet Angus Smith, of

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DESPATCHES EROM THE SECRETARY OE STATE