AN INTERESTING CEREMONY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1585, 31 October 1912, Page 3

AN INTERESTING CEREMONY.

REGIMENT'S COLOURS PLACED IN ! A CHURCH. | A ceremony unique in the history of i New Zealand took place at St. Mary's' Church, Timaru, on Sunday morning, when, in compliance ivith a recent direc-, tion from the authorities at Home, the colours of the South Canterbury Mounted Regiment were placed on the altar, <pd will henceforth be left in the church for safe keeping. The regiment, headed by the 2nd Infantry Regiment Band, marched to the church, ami ScrgeantJlajor Edgar, who was riding, with two mounted men 011 either side of him, .held aloft the rod, white, and blue colours of the regiment, the flag being attached to an ornate staff with handsome gilt top. The regiment lined up facing the church, on the opposite side of the rood, while the mounted escort with the Hag rode into the church grounds and up to the main entrance, where Archdeacon Jacob received them, ami they deposited the colours at the door. Then riding back, the horsed men. brought up tho rear as the rest of the regiment enteral the church. They then dismounted, and entered-the church also, the flag being borne up the aisle and deposited close, to (he pulpit. The ordinary church scrvioe then proceeded, but a break was made in it, when Captain Howie handed tho colours over to tiie Archdeacon, members of the vestry standing in line on either side of the recipient, who, after acknowledging them as an emblem of righteousness', placed them on the altar, stating that they would afterwards be allotted a fixed place on one- of the walls of tho building. The colours were presented_ to the regiment by his late Majesty King Edward VII, and the honours won by tho regiment in South Africa are inscribed upon them.