CONSTABLE SLEETH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1258, 13 October 1911, Page 6

CONSTABLE SLEETH.

. MERITED HONOUR. GOVERNMENT HOUSE FUNCTION. : An interesting ceremony took place at Government House yesterday afternoon, [ when his Excellency tho Governor, Lord Islington, presented Constable Slccth with i tho Certificate of Honour of the Order of ' St. John for saving, at considerable por- ' sonat risk, the life of a child on Lamb- ■ ton Quay last November. His Excellency, nttonded by Mr. Arthur. Guise, private secretary, and Captain Shannon, personally received each of .the thirty people who had gathered to witness tho presentation in tho ballroom. In awarding the certificate, which bears the signature of tho Duko of Connaught, Lord Islington said: "Police Constable Sloeth,— "In compliance with a command made to me by his Eoyal Highness tho Duke of Connaught, Grand Prior, and the Chapter-General of tho Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England, I have much pleasure in conferring upon you tho Certificate of Honour of the Order, in recognition of an act of conspicuous bravery performed by you on the Gth November in last year. The act in question is set out in full on the certificate which I am about to hand you, and is familiar to all present this afternoon. I "A tranicar in Lambton Quay was travelling towards Willis Street* when li small child ran in front of it. You rushed across the rond and pulled the child almost from under the wheels, and in doing so you ran a serious risk of yourself being run over by tho car. Not only did you exhibit spontaneous courage in your action, but you were successful by that action in saving tho lifo of the small child . from what otherwise would probably havo proved a most distressing deal!'., which would have caused anguish to tho paronts and family. Tho successful result of your prompt and courageous action will doubtless bo a gratifying recollection to you through your life. '"llio Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, in addition to (lie various institutions connected with it for ambulance nursing ami charitable work—all of which are so admirably represented in New Zealand—has established a practice of conferring ' awards of varying degrees for acts of . gallantry in_ saving, or attempting to save, life. These awards aro annually presented by the Grand Prior in London to all who havo earned them in England. But when the recipient is living in one of tho dominions of tho Empire—as in your case—tho Grand Prior asks the Governor, as the King's representative, to present them on His Eoyal Highncsrs behalf. "This I have now great pleasure in doing, and in coupling with tho prosontatio:i my ' sincere congratulations . to you en the action for. which I present it, which may al.vays be regarded with pride and satisfaction by you and your family, and will-add credit '' and honour to tho Wellington pnlico force, of which you havo proved yourself a most efficient member." .After tho presentation those present became his Excellency's guests, and wero invited to tho drawicgioom, whero halt' an hour was spent' in conversation and in congratulations to Constable Sleeth. Afternoon tea was then served : n the drawingrocm.. Lord Islington remarked that at functions in England distinctions conferred by the Order of St. John were given precedence over other distinctions, and ho was pleased to notice that such honours were properly regarded in New Zealand. Among thosa who witnessed tho presentation wero Mr. and Mrs. E. , Balcombo Brown, the latter as i ice-presi-dent of tho Nnrsing Guild, Nnises MacAndrew and Sexton, Miss Coates, Mrs. Corrigan, Mrs. J. P. Luke, Mrs Haeon, Miss Marehan.t, Mrs. Waters, Mi« Jessie King, Mrs. - Preston, Dr. Izard, Eev. James Patterson, Mr. J. 1). Avery, Commissioner AValdegravc, and Inspector Ellison.