ORDER OF ST. JOHN.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20314, 13 August 1931, Page 6

ORDER OF ST. JOHN.

HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS. In proportion to its population New Zealand was well represented at tho celebrations in London of the one hundredth anniversary of the reforming of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England. According to a letter received from Mr Ivan A. Watkins, .of Christchurch, who, with Mrs Watkins, attended tho celebrations, the members of the overseas associations and brigades present were: 80 from India, 7 from Kenya, 2 from Australia, 7 from New Zealand, and 18 from Canada. Tho celebrations extended from about the middle of June till early in July, and Mr Watkins writes that the visitors had a very entertaining fortnight. Amongst the functions was a parade of 3500 members of the London and overseas brigades, who were inspected by the Earl of Scarborough. At the investiture at Buckingham Palace on June 23rd by his Majesty the King, Mrs Watkins was the only New Zealander to bo invested with the Order of Serving Sister of St. John of Jerusalem. On June 26th there were competitions for overseas brigade members, the result of the competitions amongst nursing sisters' teams being: Africa first and second, New Zealand third. New Zealand teams did well when it is borne in miiul that the members had met only a few days before the competitions.