AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 12 January 1910, Page 5

AUCKLAND.

Auckland’s Rainfall. During last month rain fell on ten days only, recording only .79in. The rainfall for the past year has not been particularly heavy, 39.11 in, being recorded. The rainfall for the various months is as follows:—January, 1.88 in.; February, nil; March, 4.04; April, 1.20; May, 4.72; June, 3.24; July, 5.46; August, 7.13; September, 3.53; October, 3.68; November, 3.44; and December, .79. The rainfall for 1908 wa 4 44.21., and for, 1907 53.81 in. The highest rainfall for the district was recorded in 1893, when 53.81 in. was registered, while in 1885 only 28.14 in. was recorded, the lowest yet registered. For Theatre-goers. Most theatre-goers have gone through the unpleasant experience of a ticketoffice rush. With a view to reducing to a minimum the scramble for tickets which often takes place in busy seasons, Mr. John Fuller has had installed at the Opera House a new device for the mechanical issue of passes. The attendant in the ticket office has only to sit behind a cage window, and as fast as he can take the money, the machine throws out metal discs which replace the ordinary tickets of admission. It also automatically counts the number of discs sold, enabling the theatre manager to see at a glance how many people the house holds. The machine is the first of the kind tried in Auckland, and has been installed by Mr. H. Edwards, of Wellington. Captain Knyvett’s Case. It will be remembered that some time ago Captain F. B. Knyvett and his company, the No. 1 Auckland Garrison Artillery went down to Wellington as the guests of the Petone Navals, but owing to some friction with the headquarters—it being alleged that the visit was undertaken without the proper authority—the men came back to Auckland next day. An inquiry was held into this matter, and Captain Knyvett was exonerated from any blame. A short while afterwards the captain wrote a letter to the Minister for Defence, making certain c-harges against the Chief of Staff (Col. Robin) —such as interference, want of tact, officialism, and doing things that damped the enthusiasm of the forces throughout the Dominion —and it was out of this letter which the charges upon which Captain Knyvett was arresred, arose. Nothing was done for six weeks, when a Board, consisting of Col. Chaytor, Major Sandtman, and Capt. Bosworth, sat to hear the case, and it was then found that the charges were quite different from those upon which the arrest was made. The first intimation Captain Knyvett received of the result of the inquiry was the following letter, dated on Friday, from the Defence Office, Auckland, and addressed to Lieut.-Colonel Patterson as officer commanding the Garrison Artillery in Auckland: — “Court of Inquiry, Captain Knyvett. “ In connection with the above Court of Inquiry, convened on the 21st ultimo, for the purpose of investigating charges preferred against Captain F. B. Knyvett No. 1 Co., Auckland Division N.Z.G.A., 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, reporting to this office at your earliest convenience having done so. Notification wil lappear in next issue of N.Z. Gazette and General Orders.” The letter was signed by Captain Carpenter in the absence of Colonel Wolfe, ofWer commanding the district. Colonel Patterson, wno sent the letter on to Captain Knyvett, made the following endorsement:—“Forwarded for your information. Please notice that your services have been dispensed with as from December 31st, 1909." The receipt of the letter on Friday

came as a considerable surprise to those interested, particularly in the face of the fallowing telegram of yesterday’s date from ■fir Joseph Ward at Invercargill, to a member of Parliament: —“Re Captain Knyvett’s case: Under the Act the papers require to go to the Governor, and His Excellency’s decision is conveyed direct to the officer himself; until that is done I am sure that you will see I am unable to discuss the matter.” Capt. Knyvett, when seen by a “Star’’ representative, said he would prefer not to say anything on the matter at that stage, beyond that he was surprised. Other officers who were interviewed talked freely on the question. “The Court which inquired into the charges,” said one well-known officer, “was neither a Court of Inquiry nor a Court Martial, as the Court itself said at the outset. It was stated that the Court would not inquire into the truth or otherwise of the allegations contained in Capt. Knyvett’s letter, but would merely inquire as to whether he was justified in asking that an inquiry should be held into the matters he referred to. The letter of dismissal refers to a “Court of Inquiry.” A Court of Inquiry has power to give a decision. This Court, whatever its name was, stated that Capt. Knyvett was justified in sending the letter. They stated that distinctly on two occasions. That was the ‘act’ I presume on which he was charged. He fully justified every paragraph, and the Court said he had brought -sufficient evidence to show his bona fides. The remarkable thing to me is how he can be found guilty of an ‘act’ in connection with which the Court found that he was justified. All officers distinctly recognise that discipline must be strictly’ enforced and maintained, but a desire for common justice is inherent in every British subject, and requires that if a man is not found guilty he should be acquitted. There is no question about it in this case. Capt. Knyvett was found by the Board to be justified in sending the letter, and it is incomprehensible to me how he could afterwards be found guilty. The ordinary rules regulating the procedure in any British Court, military or civil, require that the whole of the evidence of witnesses taken on oath shall be recorded. In this case the evidence by th* witnesses was not fully recorded; in fact, only portions of it were selected and written down by a member of the Court, who was apparently not so familiar with the English language as ona would have wished in a man filling such a position. This was in spite of repeated protests from Captain Knyvett. Also it is absolutely necessary in all British Courts that written evidence, given by witnesses on oath, shall be signed. In this case neither the evidence of witnesses nor accused was signed, nor were the persons giving it asked to sign. This is elementary law, and its non-observance invalidates the whole proceedings. The Court having stated that Captain Knyvett was justified in sending the letter upon which lie was charged and tried, it is inconceivable that any other person could find him guilty of the same charges.” Unique Scene at the Drill Hall. Capt. Knyvett’s Company the No. 1 Auckland Garrison Artillery, the oldest in the Empire with the exception of the Honorable Artillery Company of London, paraded on Friday night at the Drill Hall for the purpose of electing a lieutenant —Mr. Allan J. Moody, solicitor—and at the conclusion of the parade practically decided to “go on strike” as a protest against the treatment that had been meted out to their commander Capt. Knyvett, who was in mufti, said good-bye to the men, and in doing so asked them to pull together and continue to improve under their lieutenants Lieut. Pullen, after referring with regret to the departure of their commander, said he hoped the men would still act for the welfare of the company which had such a fine record. The parade was then handed over to Sergt.Major Hill for roll call and dismissal. As soon as the word came to dismiss there was an uproar, and on all sides men were heard expressing their intention to “Follow the Skipper.” The offiecers had in the meantime left the parade, and the men simply took charge, and held what was really an indignation meeting. It appears that while the men were waiting to go on parade some of the older members had held an informal meeting and framed a resolution expressing their opinions on the matter, and this was then put to the company and carried unanimously in the following form with a remarkable outburst ot feeling:—“That the company absolutely

refuses to attend any mare parade? whatever until Capt. Knyvett is reinstated and a public inquiry is held into the present system of the administration by the Defence Council.” Some strong terms were used in criticising the dismissal of their popular captain—“a gross injustice,” “a second Dreyfus case”— being some of tlie mildest. The scene in the Drill Hall recently when Capt, Knyvett was induced to reconsider hj decision to resign from the command of the company was dramatic enough and quite unprecedented in the aniuti o: volunteering in Auckland, but it was tame compared with Friday’s ebuH tion. The whole proceedings were, of course. not strictly in accordance with military law, but the manner in which the men threw off all restraint showed all the plainer the manner in which the men resent the treatment meted out to Capt. Knyvett. When the men were filing out of the Drill Hall they met Capt. Knyvett, and he was at once carried shoulder-high, and there was another outburst of feeling. There were 173 men on parade, and when they gol outside there must have been quite two hundred civilians who joined in the demonstration with a will, and said uncomplimentary things about the dismissal of the Captain. The position of matters is that the company is not yet disbanded, as has been reported in some quarters, but is practically “on strike,” and will not attend any parades, no matter by whom called, till their grievance is redressed. The company is not only the oldest in the Dominion, but it is also the strong est, and is the only corps that can go into camp at the shortest notice fully equipped, and can man the forts without the assistance of any Permanent Force instructors. The company has its own electric light section and engine drivers, there are eight certificated engineers, and thirty-eight mechanical engineers who are studying electric light and engine-driving as a special squad. Naturally Capt. Knyvett’s dismissal ha» excited considerable feeling among the officers, and a meeting is to be held next week to consider the position. A New Yeari Gift. A number of Auckland merchants have received a pleasant surprise in the way of a New Year's gift from one of Auckland's most respected business men. Several years ago a period of financial stress led to the well-known firm of Donald and Edenborough, ship chandlers and island merchants, getting into business difficulties, and ultimately to making a private composition. Since then Mr. Donald has steadily persevered in his endeavour, not only to place the business upon a thoroughly sound financial basis, but also to make a full settlement of all accounts to those creditors who at the time of the original trouble were willing to accept a composition. Quietly but assiduously Mr. Donald has worked on, having in view this laudable object, and with the close of the year 1909 has attained the achievement’ of his desire, an amount aggregating several thousand pounds being sent out to a number of Auckland merchants who were creditors of the firm when the trouble referred to occurred.