7

H.—l9b

No. 20.

The Adjutant-General, New Zealand Defence Forces, Wellington, to the Officer Commanding Auckland Military District. (Memorandum.) Wellington, 17th December, 1909. Enclosed herewith please find letter addressed to Captain Knyvett containing a letter informing him of the time and date of the Court of Inquiry to be held, and the members thereof, also four chargesheets. Please see that this letter is delivered to him by an officer on Saturday, and obtain receipt for same on attached form. r. j. Seddon, Captain, Staff Officer (in absence on leave of Colonel, Adjutant-General). ■]

Enclosure No. 1 in No. 20. Adjutant-General, New Zealand Qefence Forces, Wellington, to Captain P. B. Knyvett, Auckland Naval Artillery Volunteers. Wellington, 17th December, 1909. A Court of Inquiry consisting of the undermentioned officers has been convened to assemble at the Garrison Hall, Auckland, at nine-thirty o'clock on the morning of the twenty-first day of December, 1909, to investigate certain charges preferred against you : President, Lieut.-Colonel E. W. N.Z.M. ; members, Captain (Acting-Major) Julius Sandtmann (4th Eegiment, Wellington, East Coast Mounted Rifles) ; Captain John Thomas Bosworth, Active List. Please submit to the President of the Court a list of names and addresses of the?]witnesses you desire to call upon to give evidence."' A copy of the various charge-sheets, setting forth the charges preferred against you, are herewith attached. r. j. Seddon, Captain, Staff Officer (in the absence on leave of jDolonel, Adjutant-General).

[Enclosure No. 2 in No. 20.] Charge-sheet. Wellington, 17th December, 1909. The accused, Captain Frank Berners Knyvett, No. 1 Company, Auckland New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers (Auckland Naval Artillery Volunteers), is charged with An act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, in that he, in a letter, signed by him, dated the 10th day of November, 1909, addressed to the Honourable the Minister of Defence, did make use of the following words in paragraph 4 of the said mentioned letter : " Prevent any possibility of a scandal leaking out to thefpublic'|of the"want of tact and the interference, of the Chief of the^GeneralJStafT." |K. J. Seddon, Captain, Staff Officer (in the absence on leave of Colonel, Adjutant-General). E. W. C. Chaytor, Lieut.-Col., President, Court of Inquiry.

L Enclosure No. 3 in No. 20.] Charge-sheet. Wellington, 17th December, 1909. The accused, Captain Frank Berners Knyvett, No. Auckland Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers (Auckland Naval Artillery Volunteers), is charged with^ An act to the prejudice order and military discipline, in that he, in a letter, signed by him, dated day of November, 1909, addressed to the Honourable the Minister of Defence, did make use of the following words in paragraph 4 of the said mentioned letter : " It seems to me that the Chief of the General Staff has personally goneflout"ofjhis way to belittle, discourage, and damp the enthusiasm in the whole Volunteer movement." E. J. Seddon, Captain, siStafi'Officer (in the absence"°on leave of Colonel, Adjutant-General). E. W. C. Chaytor, Lieut.-Col, President, Court of Inquiry.

TEnclosure No. 4 in No. 20.] Charge-sheet. Wellington, 17th December, 1909. The accused, Captain Frank Berners Knyvett, No. 1 Company, Auckland Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers (Auckland Naval Artillery Volunteers), is charged with An act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, in that he, in a letter, signed by him, dated the 10th day of November, 1909, addressed to the Honourable the Minister of Defence, did make use of the following words in paragraph 4 of the said mentioned