Island, which was brought to a head by an attack in May 1847 on a party of the 58th Regiment. A reprisal was made by the British attacking the stockade of Rangihaeata, and dispersing the natives, 600 of whom, however, on May 19th made an attack on the Wanganui settlement, and maintained it for several hours until night fell, when they retired. The place was held by 170 of the 58th, assisted by a gunboat. Early in June an attack was made on a detachment of the 65th; but following a sortie from the block-houses, held by the 58th, the Maori chiefs sued for peace. The regiments engaged were the 58th, 65th, 96th, 99th; Royal Artillery; Royal Engineers; H.E.I. Co.'s Artillery; Royal Marines, and the crews of nine of Her Majesty's ships, the names of which are recorded in the naval section. The medal for the war was not authorised until March 1869. =Medal for Peninsular War.=--It would appear strange that although a medal was so readily awarded for Waterloo, no recognition was given to the veterans of the Peninsular, and that they should have to wait until 1847 before a medal was issued as a record of, and reward for, their services against the veteran troops of France. That they ultimately received a decoration was due to the efforts of the veteran Duke of Richmond, who, on July 21st, 1854, presented a petition in the House of Lords, "requesting their Lordships' recommendation of them to their Sovereign, that they may receive a decoration for the services they had performed." The gallant Duke urged the claims of the junior officers, non-commissioned officers, and men in simple but powerful terms, while the Duke of Wellington, who had previously refused to present a petition to King George, opposed the grant to the survivors of over sixty battalions of the army who had, as he admitted, served under him in six campaigns.