A NEW ZEAIANDER HONOURED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 207, 21 May 1918, Page 4

A NEW ZEAIANDER HONOURED

KMGHTHO6D FOR THE HON. C. J.' • "' JOHNSTON. His Excellency the Governor-General ■has been advised that: "The King has been graciously pleased to confer the houour of Knight Batchelor on the Honourable C. J. Johnston, Speaker of the Legislative Council of New Zealand. In view of the Speaker's illness, the King specially commands that the announcement bo made now instead of on His Majesty's Birthday." Sir Charles Johnston was elected Speaker of the Legislative Council in July, 1015. He was appointed a member of the Chamber in 1891, being one of the few surviving life members. SirCharks Johnston was born in Wellington in 1845, the son of one of Wellington's pioneers, the Hon. John .Tohnstone. He began his education in Wellington, but in those early days educational facilities were not so highly developed in the colonies as they now are, and he was 6ent to England to school and college. In England ho attended St. Mary's College. Derbyshire, and Kensington College. Mr. Johnston, as ho then was. took a live interest in tho affairs of hia nativo city, and in his early manhood he sat as re■presentativo for To Aro in tho House of ■Representatives for four years—lßS2-18SI!. In ISM ho was Mnyor of Wellington, in which capacity lie rendered specially valuable service in putting the finances of the city on a sound basis. He was interested in Defonco matters keenly, and when ho oamo back to New Zealand after completing his education he joined the Wellington Navals. .Ho became commandant of tho brigado in duo course, and retired with the rank of commnndant. New Zealand was even less peaceful in those times than it is to-day, and Mr. Johnston served in the Native wars, one of his adventures being with tho ■parihaka expedition.

In the present war the Johnston family have played their part as men, and paid a heavy price—as some men must. Tho youngest aon of the family, Captain 0. R. F. .Tobiiston, was Wiled in tho Tkttlo of the Somnie, 1916. He joined a British regiment (tho Middlesex) at the outbreak of war, as iv subaltern, and was promoted captain in the field. BrigadierGoneml F. R Johnston, of tho Now Zenland Expeditionary Force, was shot dead by a German snipor on tho "West front Inst year. General Johnston was in tho Britieh Army, havin? the rank of major, and ho was in New Zealand on furlouih when the war brnko on tho world. Hβ joined up with the New Zealand Main Body as a battalion, commander, and on Gnliipoli ho became a brigade commander, having served with distinction in that campaign. Other sons of tho family aro still fiervins with tho colours.'