UNFURLING A FLAG.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 247, 21 November 1914, Page 11

UNFURLING A FLAG.

THE RHODES CONVALESCENT 3 HOME. I _____ t i 'ji This afternoon an interesting ecre- 7\ mony took place at the Rhodes Convalescent Home, when a flag, the mone_r for which had been subscribed by the> - \ staff and patients (past and present)] lk '-: was unfurled byJMr A. E. G. Rhodes. • fi A large number of patients, ex* ";? patients, and supporters of the insti- ~j tutiqn attended, and; proceedings wero >'S opened by Mr Geo. Harris (acting- V chairman of the committee) with a- Zk liief speech concerning the institution,. "1; and the benefit which it was, not only %; to the residents- of Christ church, but- ''% to Canterbury at large, -and to other , ,i\ centres as well. The institution had ' i arrived at that period of its history when it was felt that it should have- "| a flag of its own, with which to express- J ] the patriotism and loyalty of those who g controlled its destinies, and of those *■'<. who dwelt within its walls.. The pa- ■'_; tients and staff had therefore subserib- ;"'„ _4 the necessary funds, and the Hon*. ~' Heaton Rhodes (chairman of the com- ■# mittee) had been asked to perform the- '% ceremony of unfurling it. **■ As he was- i\ unable to do so, Mr Arthur Rhodes had Ifbeen asked in his stead, and it was -^ with much pleasure that the speaker .-: asked him to carry out his duties. : ',^ Mr Rhodes expressed his regret at :', the absence of his cousin, the Hon. R- < Heaton Rhodes, although it gave him - the honour of unfurling the first Union •-" Jack in the possession of the Home- '." since its inception in 1885. He express- ['{ ed his thanks to all who had contributed '\ to its purchase, and said that no more- •,'■' appropriate gift could well have been }' x thought of, considering all that the flag" '7. of. England stood for to-day. Wherever '_ the red, white, and blue was seen, it- -§;

ood, firstly, tor justice ana irecuom,. ;: nd, secondly, it'was an assurance that.', Britain would always keep its plighted ;" word. He touched on the war being: ;* waged in Europe, and said that when. \ the troops from the Commonwealth and New Zealand were engaged in actual •': warfare he hoped that the flag would often have to be hoisted to celebrate to their victories. * ;i Be v. J. Leach also made a brief" V speech concerning the colours of the- \i flag, stating that the red stood for war- •'; fare, the white for victory, and blue- 1for the peace that would follow all, « Dr Irving also spoke briefly on the- y\ great benefit the Home was to tho "ill community, d the excellence of the- h site. ' ' : M The ceremony was concluded with the. singing of " God Save the King" by the assemblage, and cheers for the flag,. '. <& the staff of the Home, the patients, and '4. the Rhodes family. • - \ Afternoon tea was served on Co terr„. race and verandahs, and a string band -■.-} played selections. The gathering dis- .-j persed about five o'clock. 'The flag, as stated, Avas jy means of inscriptions from the* m patients and staff, and the pol* wa? ,v d presented by Colonel Bichardson. J