ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23476, 3 November 1941, Page 3

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

♦ INVESTITURE CEREMONY AT TIMARU Visitors from many parts of New Zealand were present at a ceremony of investiture by the Knight-Comman-der of the Venerable Order of St. John (Colonel the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Timaru, yesterday afternoon. Great interest was shown in the service, which was most impressive, as this was the first ceremony of its kind to be held at Timaru since a branch of the order was established in the district. The prayers of the order were conducted by Archbishop West-Watson. of Christchurch, with whom was associated Archdeacon H. W. Monaghan, of Timaru. In charge of the parade to the church was Lieutenant T. S. S. Rudd, senior district superintendent for Canterbury, of Christchurch. The other principal guests included Dr. A. Falconer (Dunedin), Dr. C. S. Falconer (Wellington), Colonel G. Barclay, of Dunedin, Director of Ambulance for New Zealand, and Mr Pirett, of Dunedin. ' Messrs H. A. Toneycliffe, district superintendent, and C. E. Hooper, corps superintendent, both of Timaru, were invested with the insignia of serving brothers of the Order, and Mr John Heaton Rhodes, of Christchurch, a nephew of the Knight-Com-mander, was made an officer of the Order.

During the service a 12 years’ service medal was presented to Divisional Superintendent J. Lister ,of the Timaru Railway Ambulance Division. Mr Toneycliffe was presented with a district superintendent’s warrant. After the service all divisions were inspected outside the church by the Knight-Commander, Colonel Barclay, and Superintendent Toneycliffe.