L' AFFAIRE KNYVETT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 720, 20 January 1910, Page 6

L' AFFAIRE KNYVETT.

i||lii|NwAP PE Ai->TO;. C AE?A ■'' ; % fes|!;RetJ"6f,;i-that bizarre incident' K«l;iWhichiifhas..;.'..beco'mev;.pbjulari |*2X;ttroughoutf ; New;Zea!and 'as.^ho; Kny-' ? Kny vett," ; ; depu- 1 fe ; J; ; py.'iSsDickson (chairinan v nf. the.Kriyvett. g.Sj-i' -0. 'Nicholson,'•• Gerald BgSjl'eacbcke,■ and; Wy B: Leyland—interviewed BjigrSir;Joseph .'-. Ward•; official;.capacity > j'Babmitted'. j.«;&f for«his; r cbnsideration ; certain': points. ■ aris|fi.v].iiit^uto'f.the caseTV.-'i ; ~ .'■ :■■'■,';■' : . , i'! fc:'t-V,:The.;'deputation was:'introduced;':by- Mr. te!r.^M;iiiWilford,..MJP. ) lVlio;-in: the-course fea|!of"ajbrieft speech/- raised: the '.question-as; "of'\lnquiry vhad fjj|j\-been;!prop'erly. constituted.■'-< Four; charges; M"':;-.'"had,been preferred;:: one' had "been <;drop-■' \o' jped,'Vandifhe remaining ' three .had ; been fo;;.;;answered:v:.puoting ■■•;from -thet. evidence. fcWSttaken Von" the. second'-day .of .tho inquiry, ; |S§*Hr.;VWilf ords read: ■ %e& ef:;s;-"'.CaptainHKnyyettc.Haye the/officers.and fc:;M?j .tfqn-cpmmissione'd-! officers; given Vsuf-' K'e'--:ficientTevi(lence?vf' :; : .■;;■" '■'.'■"■'.■ : :'':- ■":'•• ?- :i -V:" :rEnough>tb."establish Vthe.; : ypur j-iTdurfc' ; *wit-: |j ;support rybur.J statements -The Court.' kJ.??\ can- only- report ;bn. it; i.The Court \ is; per-', F/'V:/fectly,"satisfied.witli'tlie. statement.';: :'.■'.'-1 pigs; Continuing,'' Mrr; Wilfbrd :said ?that ; ;Cap-■ KiS.tainF'Knyyett': '-was't .clearly'-;.;. 'jfistifiedS'-'.in gfiv-faccepting: the Court's {statement' , that they' ,evidenc6;Vand; in. g£t? ,asTumijdg< that': he:.'need :■ not.. call; f urther; fc■^f?i«WdeJ^M.f^ffi'.•,^'^.' L Wilfo^d).'.■■rβga^dea■thiβ. , . pS : Vv*? •■ an"Simportaiit!'point, , , and: took that,;! fKjv jopporrtntty iof, "emph^ telrJ^EiiWlundei;! , ; Which 'f- \ i?'^i. v lb^^cj&n;': p ''said'VtW:':'dep'njktibn-'ap : ' i-S : pearedi6n ! behajf ; of- : the -citizens of "Auck-;. :!£ Jarid.'v HeVasked* : :whether ; .their English ;>. ;»;5 sTJie'; Prime f Ministeri;?Tlie ; King's .».iegu-: fe (lationa. apply,' and ■{ every volunteer "oiEcer js?;'j iniNew-s&alandnvknowe.'theyl-do.;,'' -V'v--.. w'ofds! -on, f S!;s>liieliS.Captaiii' ~ : Knyyett 'i ■ was'-iebnvicted lljgwere;Wvthe^miUtaiy'law;Vand;npt in : tbi: g.;SsD.ef«nce fok JheH Inquiry" refused 'v, tp ; allow K-,tim"':to:;deferid himself :on.:'that-point: "Mr. , PicksbiVjfurther,;: submitted ■' that-■; there gf^i-iad/'.been'San;,irregularity.' in: "the; : Court' proceedingeiin'v that ;.the:.-president '.refused and; S&Jthe; : iwitnesses,were-; ; not' allowed.; to sign leiaty/iThe 'Auckland.- : peo'ple;had -'cast-"a- cerV ''of;blame:m .Colonel-Eobin; '■■ a?|KJ)ecause'Sof vfive , ;:articles"'-thaf'i.*had v i api 5 jj i!. geared : . • inlcbnnecfion;;/witK? his vtiainefiih 'S?J'-Ttps ■ neiyspaper.:.', Those: inter-' y-s'i'Tiews': (or:, articles had not been - repudiated;. i)'k In Thb «Dommoir of gNoyember 1,; Colonel SiSjJ.Eobin'.v.was laying:.that-he gf vieafdt'iritS'-'-: astonishment.:-': of Vthe''-arnval. - |s;;;ef►(the VA-oekland;:gunners ; i4;|^.They:. ! heldis that: that'~ y as"a>grave\breach, . s"jj.;'*ny■injustice \" to VCoiohel "Eobin ■ they loi^x^o.idd'*J]to,Vo'Uyl , tpq';;ploased : ' to'r'ieotify!. it."-'---:.;

The Court Impugned. [ ' Mr Peacocke, tho second speaker, snbTnitted that the whole conduct of the

! Coort of Inquiry had been so irregular, [ ' and the statements of the Court m meot- » »g Captain Knyvett's argnments and ob- [ jecbons eo ,vaguc and contradictory, that i> l there seemed to be ample reasons for thef euashin? of the proceedings, and ordcrj ' ing a fresh inquiry He did not wish ■■* *to imply that the irregularity complained (■ of was intentional. Tie fact of the I ' natter was—to put it mildly—that tho , Court appeared to be in a fog as to its !- proper coarse of procedure. Captain [ - Jfnyvott had been arrested originally on 'j li certain charges which, hadi boon subsef -i quently investigated and abandoned. |- iWMIe sttU under arrest he had been f bgom indicted on entirely new charges. p 1 ffhe .whole proceeding was in complete , conflict with the'"eßtabiished methodsi i of civil law ' Further, tho section of the l Act 'qttoted in. the order of dismissal—; i Section 54, Subsection 2—did not cover i the offence. Certain offences wore specie f fed elsewhere in "-the Ajct, but Captain [ / Knyvett's was not one o£ them If the [ r defendant stood charged under tho King's j- Regulations, he should liave been perI initted to defend Mmself under the same >,- auspices. Continuing, Mr Peacocke said j that the Court was apparently led to the f conclusion' that ICnyvett absohtely ber, heved in the truth of the charges made \ by him, but he was not allowed to prove f them, aUhough he could only justify j ' iumeelf by doing eo I , Did They Refuse to Parade?

pry.fhing ■■■? eccurred : ; : inv ! ;any ; :"'btlier.■'i'.distnbt' t|^' r therev:.would':'liaye' ; beeii ; a l ':similar i out-; pi, l : burst Oof. indignation.; •:. Discipline would to"^(iabt;>.be [;, mtontained "bj ■; injusticei k: They: Ef:*] : liad; ; an'!instance |j^ c ticXcorps--Gap,taiii , ; EnyjJßtt|6—refusing. to' fri->;.J*ttend parade; i ; H'^t:>--." ? : J ;^^V ;^.'-.: \ ; "^-, ; :p(; 'a . v KNicholsoiif hoped Kthat Mieismatter 5.7; , iWdold ■ if;it\were' shown'•!p'■■';ihatj Colonel : 'Eibinr; had vbeeii rmisrepre- ■ :;-•;;;: 6ented;.in ; ;connection ; therewith, yAuck-' he.felt- sure," be only -too , glad J fe«/ To ; ' honbrable." : j It'i^/nieiPrme'.Ministeri'.in". replyv, said; he: sJ-'j-yestigation ;thatc'riojvbne .connected. ; ; r with: jSithei'hea'd of the. pbfenoe Department: had of any,possible'kind• ov', He was also .of t ; ;",":'opinion(as-the resSlt of "careful inVestiga-, fXi':jtion ; " that■;Captain';Knyvett,; who; , :was re--, ggported ,iby -:i Colonfj.f Epbin V and S; Colonel ', !i^ ; flPnson .totbe-a-keen; and H'tfi'liadtinvjthe; -control/ of .his/ company.'.'.'ja.j 'Auckland been in "some respects absolutely] psi'i disregardfnl- of -; regulations,' which \ every &V.|?stjyith\which^there must.bo serious trouble'., f'piM ,theyywere,"not v respected.'.CHe ; had 'not lrS?l inbwn. in'.his official experience anything- , |y;rfmore; grossly unfair. than th«' attempt- to' jVtf;injure:one;officer--Cblbnel Eobin—in order. [rttito.excujpate" anqtlier.;i-i.Th.ere >iras.'in6 '■ im-, ti ';•:■■^^prop'er^ihterference, ' oh": the'- part 1 of,' Colonel; ! .The. whole thing .was, carried out !|''; ! ;:'l)j;-:ioi'-Imperial officer; jC'olonel.Tusoii, the !tf, l ;'-!Adjutant:Geperal.;v/He,..was sorry'itb I .have, &:";:Vto'".state;.-;thjt; the -hostility '•/ of. p;{-;S Captaih v Knyvett'Vtb ■ Colonel:; Ebbin went jft;;;l)ackvfurther, than this,particular,.trouble; p:'>;iWhile":he: (ffie l ) rinie'-Mihister);-was anxitvii'.ious' to .see;' justice-;done'. to .Captain fKiiy(;iv.'VTett;>;he.' would be 'absolutely : ashamed of [jf-r-'the.position.he, held'if he.allowed:an pfm<.ficer in•'Colonel, Eobin's -position, 'or, in K'iany^lower, -positdbn,. to ; be Unfairly- dealt |-"s - .with Vifor; tfie. purpose'; pfv justifying 'an-' r"':i'other.'man's -'actionit' , '.'.i.'-i'-:-.'-'•' ':-:;"■•■:'. : |< :.y;'. ; ,:The:charges made.againsf Colonel Eobin liiV'-jrere largely drieitb- 'In t|'v/.-!April \last: CaptainVKnyvettv.applie'd', for [riiv-i.prombtibnvto ;thei.rank , ,of maipr. :,Thi6 [s , -vwas'.' xarefully ;/gone'/';into,■ 'and, ';Colonel bir/ITusbn,v :': Adjutant-General,;' 'VreportedlAi'that ivunder.'■; theV ; iOregulatibns;: ; ' this |-jS; could';., not, be \ dbne. ; .-.Colonel', Robin ac-tf-Sfabwledged; the .value .of .. Captain KnyiSW.vetf s' : services,, but 'under', the '■ regulaKf: tibns his seryices ,; in the ! reserve. of■ qfncers ijivicbuld not count for promotion. .This was '$■¥■ ; of -. the; antipathy vof' CappSiitain'; ■ Colonel"' Eobin.

W'i^TKeiVisit--to^'Fort l Kelburne. ;' - ' '-■'-'■ Passine{on to the circumstancesoonnec- '■■ ted with the visit to ■Wellington, Sir. Joseph lead- correspondence, in...-:the. course of. ■.which:.Captain-Knyvett,: writing ■ to'..Cap';'tam;Ellis, on October 7, said, inter.alia, have. ::had-' .the ... utmost 1 , difr

P-'.ficultyi .',. ; : in.'-. gbtting. . : .passes,..;-but P' : ' have:at.-.-:last : :i)een : :assured of -. them." !;®Eeplyiiig':under:.Vdate,■.'October.: 15,. Cap-(;;3-tain: Ellis;, said- that lie ./and his be pleased .-.to entertain S.'.'riho'''.members'of-his : company, but ;pointf/'S«d out that the object of. the visit would \O. -not'be attained -if they came to Wolling|ij! tqn'v'for the;. time suggested; it would . be. better 'if. y they -.,. c0u1d/ arrange.;to -stay >a [s£Week/"asi;..his'company, did. ; iiqt,'commence, Sj^iehootingV'till- , '-'-the , ;'..■■ Mqnilnyj "and;~firing k ;:.would r-extend over.;'several -days..:, ': : .. ;, [jWfft.'.'l'.'appreciato.youi' difficulty, with re'iy. r r to the passes; - and congratulate ••'you': Si! ■-cn-Ahaving" bbtnincd: them," • 6nn|K^tain;:EUisV;':T.S.T;r' delayed'posting: this tf'.ii letter .'pending receipt -of . a '■; reply from IV'.'s the' Befence Department, with whom 1 Et'j.bad" coininunicated i.l'or .' further particufci*;'ef ■. i -y6u.r- , ';'aiithofity'; for:"-•■passes';: aiid that, S.v\ : Jurthermore,: , it-is, most.' unlikely that o¥:Bucli;,an' expensive and 'special privilege

would be granted to an' individual company." No' appUoatioE.'for .passes was received ;:by.:.:the : "..Defence fpepartment. (continued Sir.-Joseph Ward);\until October: SO, when an application arrived' at' headquarters .at; 9.80 a.m.- '. asking for passe.s: to..visit .Palmerston , North. A re-! ply- -wasi. sent:' :by' .the , .express 'that~■' day: asking.' for' what purpose ; the • company, desired.to;go .to Palmerston, and stating that! , this-'regulations required tho approximate cost, to bo furnished. The noxt intimation received by. tho-Department was : that ■ tho"'compahy'yhad;. started 'oh; Friday; October,! 29,>iand : .. had.' received: permission from 'Colonel !;Patterso£-. 4-

Financing the Trip: Some. Wire-Pulling.' fact remained that Colonel Pat, terson ! had; no 'authority to incur-the responsibility for ,a. journey of ;that .sort,.'withnut tlieconsent of'a .Miniiister ofvthe -Crown..! Inr-'fact, 'neither Colonel. Robin nor Colonel Tusou, nor the.; officer commanding the Auckland District,could,incur, the. responsibility for: the ; railway .passes,' for which the..Railway! Department had to be-'paid by the Detence Department..-.. •■'■ '■.■'-.' Mr.' Poacpcke:',:l understand- they paid Jheir- ; owii fares., .;'-.—■:■ .:', ;,'.■.! : ;::

vjfhe Prime!'Ministeri.They'.have claimed JE9O."'. About - 60. members of: the 'company -applied- to".-enter'■ for V.tha:;.Palmerston Ivorth. .military. , '-. tournament.';'. Cabinet, after full consideration, refused to allow volunteer: companies ;rrom -"-r outside.; a limited district to'- : go . theTe,: : on; the ground!bf 'ex'p£nse,v'andauthorised a contribution! ,of,, £\SH) towards the cost'of transporting \ local competitors ■ to the ,-" : ■''..' ;. : -i.! ■..' : . '■-.'-■.. ■..: :'.'! :■ Tho Minister: for, Eairnays'was personally/applied: to by membera of ■ Rirliar ..ment'some';time,before .October 30,; asking him-to issue the passes. He refused, ;and.;.rightly, because ;the.. matter, should h'ave'cpme '■ through" the''"Defence :DepartIment:;;;; On. October!'2S;;::Mr,;f]?>! lawry; to him (the; Prime Minister) asking him:to authorise:the passes. Other! members of '.the'/House had made the: same request, but seeiDg that no formal applicafion had been made, he could not do anything. :The.comjiany-must:have known! that, the/applicabon .refused.'

Coionel" 'PBftterson'e-.>'Respop*lbilityV-^',, : ■.Tie JPHine-llinister'alsb'read. a: letter' 'from the officer ■■ commanding the . Auck- ; land'districtV.(Li«ut-Colonel : Wolfe) to Colonel .Eobin',. stating ..that .-.the -arrange'-; merit;' for.. the company'' to; visit. Welling.ton had , been made .without' his consent; also, a:letter f rpin the:same .officer stating ttat.-the irieri'.; had ■.loft, for,.? Wellington without his -consent, "and- had .committed a ■'.. "grave; breach;', of, discipline}" \.whicu:, would', be ■ investigatedv on'-.Captain' Kny-.: ■vett^s..'retiifn'.VV: 1"e .iriatter'vwas,-cleared :up;:and' ended ■ on' November : ~26, when ' ;Ljeut.-Cql,onel ; Wolfo,. that Cap,-;, tain 2 Jlnyvett !. had;' ■. receryjed'X permission" .■from , ,"' Colo&J,i,Pattersbn;"' who ..Tiad . overlooked the T that .pefmisaon .*. could, only' be' , given >by■':his superior officer! Colonel Patterson '■ had-;. 1 said- .that .-he ■thought it'would be a pity to stand in the'iway. of: ,a c such to'-: improve; itself. Lieut.: Colonel Wolfe furthar.' Buggested'.thiat.'.the matter. should be allowed to'jest.' Colonel Ebbiri, writing to Colonel: Tuspn, said it ;Wfis'.; quite i. clear. that : the i company left 'Auclilahd;without 'au'tnoriiyy but'he suggested' ..that. r the; matter.: should be.!.',alrest : where it, ..was. ' Colonel Tuson .'forwarded, the report 'to Mm..(Sir. Joseph'Ward),-andyhe, .as;Hinister>;for'; Defence, '•■ 'concurred'..in ;therview 'that: 'no, action>as:necessary.. That ended, the .trouble, until;„■ a--.new; ■ was. reached. ■;':-:;'" , ':;.o : i- I ' : >:jv: ; ;^;i^.^' V'".'■■''■'v >; ;k ! Cofoiierßohin and the;; Press. ; ■•:•;'■■;. ■;:: In J regard ■- to. : .Colonel ';>Eobinp. arid? thb press/ that; officer,; was'telephoned-by "a ' .representetive,.of r>The ■ I^ominkjn,' - asking : 'certain questions.* He' gave'a , reply which:. : was' .c'onld, do'that' ito: any representative of any' jplace, , ..and ihadia; perfectvrightj'to. do;EO.: ;it.iwas'no;such , thing■ as- avbreaeh-ofi.re : :. gulations,- and; he , .would ;beVso'rry if Buch; ;a thing were not'to'be allowed. ; : " v ■«« : -'i. ■ : 'Lieutenant-Colonel' .Wolfe'-'./forwaTded ■Captain Kny vert's letter to Colonel Tnson,and;;on November .26, Colonel"Eobin, in .'a-meinorandum referring ..to ,:the letter, ■ observed inter.■ alia' : that the •;officer, com-; 'manding' a'V'di ■Pat&soh),Bad ; iio;p^Wcr/;to'give,permis-' isioni f,6r'troops ;.t0,..m0y.e; , ,&nt I 6f, iltr had aot .beeniifhe'.;ewtpm' : ,- for, .troops, ito'.:travel tournaments,, n.fle.t;.matched ■etc 7 : r';without; .permission ;;.where;-passes • were , entailed. ■ .This'. had ■_; always <: been first given official. , and glasses, then'; issued' ;6r;;leav£• to ..travel ; by. thfe. officers \cpmiriandingA districts Tinder: : sn^.''?Bh'thor^.^;; : Sp^iar^.'as , ,-.iiexPetbne' NaviiJs'; were ,concernedi''. l Coronel. 'Eobin. ''said 'that theVofficer ; cbmman'ding: that' company,..if. referred-, to, would say; that he -had,. undertaken V- to :\ entertain. ] , ; the. visitors; if they obtained official eanction. He'.himself made l no of =ahy kind, VV: "Eβ -the article," 'contirined;Colonel Bobin, : "1 -did.' oiot, : nor!' have ; I ever,., written,. penned,: or.'instigated .any article '' on,this or,"any' otherssubject::to any. ' newspaper,".:'."lHe added that a two-mirinte telephone interview,: which .he had' , granted,, was all': he knew- of the newspaper- matter. - Captains :Knyvetfs opinion- as.Vtp'"Ms,', (Colonel: Epbin's) encouragementj of thej volnnteers was' irrelevant. ■ : ; Ca'pfairi iKnyvett's:. letter ■ was very.insnbotdinate; and, did:riot tend to the;impressibn'"that:that officer, under-. further shown; by -his irisistoice ,tb. forward. the better tothe'fMinisier,' desnite , the,':warning;,- con- ■ veyed■■ by,■ the' ; ;iomp'o^.'.•-: commanding,;; the, ,distnct.'^'v'-'-ji-^H'V''V^rt'',-• ■:■■;:.. rf ■/■>■

':; ■ Colonel ; Tusoh Orders'■; the / Arresi,....,,' ,;There seeinedV'tq he an;.impressibn r in l-'qnarters;-ithat: : Captaiii;',! .Knyyeft, 1 •when 1 , arrested, was'pui. in'gaol,;: continued (i'e Prime; Minister.'-vlt'-was ,; hot rsb.,v:Arvoliinteer. arrestJ.Tiras i a/!yery :. different thing, and it'was, quite .'a mis.take .to suppose that ,'it inyorVed-.anyif'degradation. ; Cblbnel : for': Captain- -Kriyrettv , -to. vbe,: arrested ,on : -the ground that ihe. "was guilty: of, an. act of ' gross insubordination; in upon a .superior .officor.:in ithe;way he-.;did in. •• that letter.' Colonel'' Tusbn was. absolutely bright Sunder': the'circumstances, as : shown iby'. \tne "King's .'Eegulations; ~N.o. 554. : .'•. In 'regard .to , a point raised, by, , .the deputa:;tion;Hhe Prime "Minister ]'. said.'it was , not ! usual. , for. the; evidence : in"'ft; volunteer .or 'military inquiry.'to'i'be.'signed.by .the •witnesses., • He,; had:.no i official > record"' as to" the, .evidence ' 'not .'(beingt'/read .out • :-;;'■■ V;;':;r-':.>:: r~S..: went .on-to, show- , that tie Board of Inquiry: was set up; by Cab : in'et.'■/-• Colonel Eobin had to do ■with it, directly.or indirectly./ Exception had-.been. taken to'-the■;jpersoiuielvpf ■ the .Doard.'.oniUho.- ground.:that \one",member : was*'of foreign birth, and'the other-two Iwere Government servants.-Such inquiries F were v always, /in:;E : mjlind,;':conducted by mppbersi of the"' 1 Gbvernnierit service, "andas .'for. Captain Sandtmann,-. he. had been a '-naturalised-'British'; subjecf'f or : many years.Vwas an ablejand-: responsible vot unteer officer,,. a. prominent; :business man; and in every.'way,(coippetent.fpr:the,posi.b'e'en iiadei ; ;-";:';vX,;'/;;y' ; ;:vj::> : v. 'tfc2?l';~ ■'.'•■

-Mr. Dickson.:Vl regret; it tool ' Nothing of ■.the, sort; was, said' in. v Aucklandi-,.-'/It was- in a: southern ■paper', .f:./^.,;:.;,■. ■': ; ■ Sir. Joseph*'Ward,',continuing,''said'thai Cap.taih'Knyyett.'-'instead ''of : 'making 'general ;statements',';;should',have"'; reported '.whit his were,; and;'. they would have been: investigated, ~ but: he did' not' do : SO." •■'. ~/,:; . ': \ ■■■.■."-■■ '■• ■■■■■. •:■:' . '■:■': :■: ■ Mr. Peacocke: -In. his letter' he. asked for an -inquiry, ■.atvwhich.'ie ,would" substantiate;~ his -charges^-.;■■■'';.'. ;/.■■■?-'.}'■■; ; ; ; v'- ; ; An Offensive Letter. - :'''■'..-■■ -.. The Prime Minister.eaid.that.if.'he.had any: charges: to '.make/-.'against -Colonel Kobin he should have made them, in }a proper manner, and would have becii:' fully; , gone ""'into. '.'He : : had done a -thing which it would be very difficult to justify. - His : letter was .couched in , an impropec tone, and the. writer had declined to alter the'language.:. The humblestranker had .a'perfect right to report' any i superior- officer,,,but- it should not' bo done in an insulting, and insubordinate manner as in the present ■ instance." Such, ai thing would -not bo allowed by. any. : h«a.d of a. business. The Board, of. : Inquiry;, could . not' acquit : or convict Captain Kiryvett -.'. It reported to Colonel Tuson, recommended his dismissal. ■~:"■■•'■■;■'V"-, - '-''A''-' ■'':'.-■'•'■.

. ,Jlr. \W!ford pointed out that .the offi-. cial report of the evidence contained none 'of that which •■ was . given . on tho first I day. It was''on-'.'-thot'" eyidenco that Colonel Tuson.riiade'his-recommendati'on, whereas a sworn Court had produced 23. type-written pages of the first day's'.evidence. , . : .'•'.■■ ";■■'■ .:,_■■' ' : ' ■' ..■• ;:;■:"■'■., ■-■ The : Prime' , Minister, said 'that was a very.important point. ' He would ask the i Board- of. Inquiry for a report on it, and he would also. . bring ' -■ it. before the Adjutant-General, and he would '.. then give ; the .representations of: the "deput'a--tion the fullest consideration,' .with- a

view-.fe seeing , if any further action was necessary.; Sβ had .no.' sympathy with the/demand 'for: a Royal Coinmieskra. The Government .could deal with- the matter- under the law. ■■ In his opiniob the steps that had been taken- were the only steps that could have, been taken,' and were strictly in accord with the law. ...This concluded the interview, Mr. DicksohL remarking, as the : deputation withdrew, that .they were fully convinced that an : injustice ■ had been done to Colonel Robin .in •' connection ■ with the. matter, and that,,.he had: not interfered', in! any. wayas had'been' alleged. .' , /■