711254-1867-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION-NO-59 — Page 1

THE HONGKONG

Government Gazette.

Published by Authority.

VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 13TH APRIL, 1867.

VOL. XIII.

No. 15.

No. 59.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Circular Despatch from the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, covering Copy of Her Majesty's Warrant for extending the Victoria Cross to the Local Forces in New Zealand and in the Colonies and their Dependencies generally, is published for general inform-

ation.

By Order,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 9th April, 1867.

W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.

CIRCULAR.

*DOWNING STREET, 9th February, 1867.

SIR,-I have much pleasure in transmitting to you a copy of a Warrant, issued under the Royal Sign Manual, under which the decoration of the Victoria Cross may be conferred on persons serving in the Local Forces, which are or may here- after be raised in any of Her Majesty's Colonies.

I have to instruct you to take whatever steps may appear to you most likely to give publicity to this Warrant.-I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor SIR R. G. MACDONNELL, C. B.,

CARNARVON.

&c., $o.,

&c.

VICTORIA R.

VICTORIA, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith. To

all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

Whereas, by a Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual, countersigned by one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, and bearing date at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, the 29th day of January, 1856, in the nineteenth year of Our Reign, We did constitute and create a new Naval and Military Decoration, to be styled and designated the Victoria Cross, which Deco- ration We expressed Our desire should be highly prized and eagerly sought after by the Officers and Men of Our Naval and Military Services, and did also make, ordain, and establish the Rules and Ordinances therein set forth for the government of the same, to be thenceforth inviolably observed and kept:

And whereas during the progress of the operations which We have undertaken against the Insurgent Native Tribes in Our Colony of New Zealand, it has happened that persons serving in the Local Forces of Our said Colony have performed deeds of gallantry, in consideration of which they are not, according to the strict provisions of Our said recited Warrant, eligible for this high distinction:

Now know ye, that We of Our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have thought fit hereby to signify Our Royal Will and Pleasure that the said Decoration may be conferred on such persons aforesaid, who may be qualified to receive the same in accordance with the Rules and Ordinances made, ordained, and established by Us for the government thereof, by Our said recited Warrant, and We do by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, ordain and appoint that it shall be competent for such persons aforesaid to obtain the said Decoration in the manner set forth in the Rules and Ordinances referred to, or in accordance with such further Rules and Ordinances as may hereafter be made and promulgated by Us, Our Heirs and Successors, for the government of the said Decoration, provided that it be established in any case that the person was serving with Our Troops, under the Orders of a General or other Officer, under circumstances which would entitle an Officer or Soldier of Our Ariny to be recommended for the said Decoration, in accordance with the Rules and Ordinances prescribed in Our said recited Warrant, and provided also such person shall be recommended for it by such General or other Officer