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New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers, he having been found guilty of " an act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline," His Excellency the Governor has been pleased'to signify his pleasure, under section 54 (2) of the Defence Act, 1908, upon this officer's dismissal from the New Zealand Defence Forces, and with effect from 31st December, 1909, and you will please inform him accordingly. Notification will appear in the next issue of the New Zealand Gazette and General Orders. H. D. Tuson, Colonel, Adjutant-General.

No. 40. Memorandum from the Chief of the General Staff to the Right Hon. the Minister of Defence. Defence Department, Wellington, New Zealand, 18th January, 1910. The Right Hon. the Minister of Defence. For your Information : Re Visit No. 1 Company, Garrison Artillery, to Wellington. The file shows clearly the company left Auckland without any official sanction. That an application arrived at Headquarters office, Wellington, at 9.30 o'clock on Saturday morning, 30th October, asking to visit Petone Navals. This was returned to Auckland by midday express same day, asking for what purpose was the visit intended, and, as per regulations, what would be the approximate cost; by this time the company were half-way to Wellington, having started on the Friday night, 29th October, without permission of the Officer Commanding the Auckland District. No word of their being en route to Wellington had been received by Headquarters or the Officer Commanding District, Wellington ; neither had the officer commanding Petone Navals any notification of their intending to arrive on Saturday night. On return of the company to Auckland the Officer Commanding the District was asked to inquire into the matter; and the outcome was that those concerned were to be informed that the visit was irregular, and must not again occur, District Order being issued to that effect by the Officer Commanding District, to apply generally; and, further, that as no cost was entailed on the Government, the company having paid for railway transport, the matter could rest there. This act alone should have justified severe punishment, but the Council of Defence considered that as the company had to find the cost of the trip that would be sufficient punishment/] File re Letter to the Hon. the Minister of Defence. The matter was, however, reopened in a much more serious manner by Captain Knyvett when he wrote a most insubordinate letter to the Minister of Defence, forwarding same through the Officer Commanding District. Although the Officer Commanding District returned the letter to Captain Knyvett, pointing out that it should not be couched in such language, he (Captain Knyvett) refused to amend same, and stated he wished it to go as it was. In due course this letter came to hand ; Captain Knyvett was placed under arrest; charges were made ; a Court of Inquiry formed. The papers and their finding were in the usual course forwarded to the Hon. the Minister of Defence, thence to His Excellency the Governor ; and the award was, " That Captain Knyvett be dismissed from the service." I desire to say that as Chief of the General Staff I took no part whatever in the matter, either in the formation of the Court, the charges, the finding, or the punishment, the section of the Defence duties under my charge not requiring me to deal with questions of discipline. The letter on which the dismissal is based is a direct attack on myself, and is unwarranted. lin no way stopped or blocked the trip, as no application to visit Wellington was received until the company was half-way on their journey. The only connection I had with the matter was that the representatives of the Press, by telephone, asked the question, "Isit a fact these men are here without authority ? " (See newspaper , report on file [Appendix No. 1]). I definitely state that I had nothing whatever to do with the writings or articles in the Press, and all the abuse that has fallen on me is most unjust. It has been suggested that officers are prevented from bringing forward any complaint or grievance. This is not so. Any officer can represent any grievance through the proper channel—the Officer Commanding District, who, if he could not deal with such locally, would refer it to the Council of Defence, when every and just consideration would be given to it; but such insubordinate and unwarranted personal attacks on any Government official should not be permitted. I beg to request that a full inquiry be held into any charges made against me. I have no prejudice of any kind against Captain Knyvett, and have only done*my duty, as I would do in the case'bf any officer who was breaking the regulations of the service. Re Claim refund Railway Fares, Wellington Visit. Captain Knyvett forwarded an application for refund of railway fares, under the circumstances already described. Payment of same was declined.