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No. 47. The Eight Hon. the Minister of Defence to His Excellency the Governor. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Wellington, 3rd February, 1910. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and forwards herewith for His Excellency's information the further report of the Adjutant-General [see No. 46] with reference to the Court of Inquiry into the charges against Captain Knyvett, together with the papers in connection therewith. J. G. Ward. Seen.—Plunket. 3/2/1910. For Cabinet.— J. G. Ward. 4/2/10. In Cabinet. —4th Feb., 1910. —Previous decision to stand.— J. F. Andrews, Secretary.

No. 48. Memorandum from tke Right Hon. the Minister of Defence to the Chief of Staff. Memorandum for the Chief of Staff. Wellington, sth February, 1910. Referring to your memorandum, the Government will give you the opportunity you desire for inquiry when the new Commandant, who is to be appointed, arrives iii th i Dominion. At present there is no officer whose status is such that he could be appointed to make the inquiry you ask for. I will introduce legislation next session, setting up a permanent Court of Appeal in times of peace, to enable officers dismissed to have the right of appeal, and by this means prevent a recurrence of such a case as this being used to bring outside pressure to bear, and so interfere with the independent administration of the Defence Department, which, in the interests of the country, should be protected against interference of any kind. J. G. Ward.

No. 49. The Hon. G. Fowlds to the Right Hon. the Minister of Defence. Memorandum for the Hon. the Minister of Defence. Wellington, 26th February, 1910. A deputation consisting of the hairman of a public meeting held in Auckland on the 14th instant, the executive of the Knyvett Defence Committee, and members of Parliament, waited upon the" Hon. Dr. Findlay and me in Auckland on the 16th idem to supply us with copies of the resolutions passed at that meeting, desiring us to bring them before Cabinet with a view to the appointment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the administration of the Defence Department. I promised to convey the representations to you, and accordingly forward the following papers herewith :— (1.) A copy of the resolutions referred to ; (2.) The reports of the New Zealand Herald [Appendix No. 8] and the Auckland Star [Appendix No. 9] of the representations made by the deputation, and of our replies ; (3.) A pamphlet entitled " The Whole of the Facts of the Knyvett Case," published by the Knyvett Defence Committee, and handed to me by the deputation [not printed] ; and (4.) A leading article on the case from the Auckland Star of the 17th instant [not printed]. Geo. Fowlds.

Enclosure No. 1 in No. 49. C. H. Poole, Esq., M.P. —Resolution No. 1 (Injustice to Captain Knyvett).—Seconded by Dβ. Stopford. That this meeting of Auckland citizens views with regret and indignation the decision of the Government to adhere to the grossly unjust sentence passed upon Captain Knyvett with respect to charges against which he has not been allowed a proper opportunity of defending himself, which have never been proved, and for which, if they had been proved, the punishment is out of all proportion to the offence.

Enclosure No. 2 in No. 49. F. Mandbe, Esq., M.P.—Resolution No. 2 (Demand foe Royal Commission). —Seconded by A. E. Glover, Esq., M.P. That it is the opinion of this meeting, in view of the disclosures made in connection with the Knyvett case, as well as the general state of unrest and dissatisfaction evident throughout the country, that there are strong and undoubted grounds for believing that there should be set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the administration of the Defence Department, and that this meeting empowers the gentlemen constituting the executive of the Knyvett Defence Committee to place the matter before the Government and request that such Royal Commission of Inquiry be set up without delay.

Enclosure No. 3 in No. 49. F. W. Lang, Esq., M.P.—Resolution No. 3 (Deputation to Hon. G. Fowlds and Hon. Dk Findlay). —Seconded by J. Kneen, Esq. That this meeting empowers a deputation, consisting of the chairman of the meeting, the executive of the Knyvett Defence Committee, and the members of Parliament here present, to wait on the Hon.