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Despatch No. 44.—"Wellington, 3rd April, 1869.—Recommending Colonel George Stoddart Whitmore, of the New Zealand Colonial Forces, for the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Copy of Despatch from Governor Sir G. P. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Earl Gea.xtille, K.G. (No. 44.) Government House, Wellington, New Zealand, My Lokd— 3rd April, 1869. I have the honor to submit the name of Colonel George Stoddart Whitmore, of the New Zealand Colonial Forces, and a member of the Legislative Council of this colony, for the Companionship of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. 2. From an authoritative statement now before me, it appears that Colonel Whitmore was for many years in the Royal Army, having entered the service in 1817 as ensign in the Cape Mounted Rifles. He served through the Kaffir war of that year and of the years 1850-53, and also through the rebellion of the Dutch Boers in 1848. During the above periods he held the appointments on the staff of District-Adjutant for the Fort Beaufort District, Commander of the Body Guard of the Governor of the Cape, and Brigade-Major of the Second Division, and afterwards of the Cavalry. He was also frequently thanked in despatches and orders, and was promoted for his services to a company in the 62nd Foot. 8. During the Crimean war, Colonel Whitmore went to the East as aide-de-camp to Sir Henry Storks, and afterwards entered the Cavalry of the Turkish Contingent, and served in it at Kertch. He was also employed on special service, in conjunction with Major G. Wliyte Melville, in Austria and the Danubian Principalities ; and was left after the army returned from the East to wind up several matters connected with the Turkish Contingent in European Turkey. For these services he was promoted in 1856. 4. Colonel Whitmore was afterwards employed as aide-de-camp to Sir William Eyre when in command of the troops in Canada. After the death of that officer, he entered the Staff College, passing out first at the examination of 1860. He then accompanied Sir Duncan Cameron to New Zealand, as military secretary, and served two years in that capacity. lie then retired from the Army to settle in this colony, and entered the colonial service as Chief Commissioner for the East Coast. Ho was afterwards nominated by Governor Sir George Grey to be a member of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, and to the command of the Colonial Militia in the Eastern District. He took part in General Cameron's first engagement at Katihana, and also in several minor skirmishes. He was present at Orakau, and commanded the Colonial Forces in the successful action at Omarau, near Napier. During the present campaign he has held command of the Colonial Forces on both coasts of the North Island, including several actions against Titokowaru and Te Kooti, and the capture of Ngatapa. 5. It will be seen from the above statement that Colonel Whitmore has served with distinction during many years in the Royal Army and in the Colonial Forces. The zeal and courage with which he lias organized and led the raw levies placed under his command are generally recognized. 6. I venture to express an earnest hope that the Companionship of the Order of St. Michael and St. George will be conferred on Colonel Whitmore; for this mark of Her Majesty's approval, while fairly earned by him personally, cannot fail to be an encouragement to the Colonial Forces, on which has now been cast the entire weight of the active suppression of the formidable rebellion against the authority of the Queen that has been so long raging in this country. Moreover, it will be remembered that the Companionship of the Bath has been conferred during Maori wars on several officers of Her Majesty's Naval and Military Forces, who, meritorious as their conduct was, have not had the opportunity of commanding on such important and difficult services as the capture of Ngatapa, and other services performed by Colonel Whitmore. At the present time Colonel Whitmore has under his command in the Wanganui and Taranaki Districts, according to the "states" of the 31st March ultimo, thirteen huudred and forty-eight (1,348) officers and men of the Colonial Forces, chiefly of the Armed Constabulary, together with four hundred and five (405) friendly Natives, making up a total in all of less than two thousand men. Now, it will be remembered in 1865, only four years ago, General Cameron had under his command, in the same districts and against the same hostile Maori clans, no less than four thousand four huudred and ninety-seven (4,497) officers and men of Her Majesty's regular troops, in addition to detachments of the Colonial Forces, making up in all a total of above six thousand men (6,000) men. It need scarcely be said that these facts and figures are not referred to in any spirit of disparagement of Her Majesty's Army, which behaved with its accustomed gallantry in New Zealand, as in all other parts of the world, but simply with the view of showing the extreme difficulties against which Colonel Whitmoro has to contend with his comparatively scanty, iinperiectlyorganized, and ill-provided Colonial Force. It will further be remembered that Generals Cameron and Chute had at their disposal the material aid of the Commissariat and of the Military Train, and oi a strong detachment of the Royal Artillery ; whereas Colonel Whitmore has no Commissariat Service or Land Transport Corps, and only a few small cohorn mortars, that are carried on pack-horses, or, as happened at the capture of Ngatapa, in the arms of his men over mountains and through forests inaccessible to horses. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Earl Granville, K.G., &c, Ac. G. F. Bowen. 2—H. 39.

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No. 11.