ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 560, 12 January 1929, Page 11

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

ENGLISH DELEGATES ARRIVE TO-MORROW GRAND PRIOR REPRESENTATIVE j ~S ir J° hn Hewett and his daughter, Airs. L. E. Atkinson, the delegation representing the Venerable Order of V ie j.*i ospita * of . J °hn of Jerusalem sent to Australia by the Duke of Connaught as Grand Prior of the British Reiilm, will reach Auckland by the Aorangi from Sydney to-morrow evening. He will be met by representatives ot the local brigade, including Mr. C. J. 1 unks, M.8.E., assistant commisxioner, and Mr. F. J. Hutchinson, senior district superintendent. The programme will be as follows: Monday: Morning, visit ambulance station and Evelyn Firth Home; afternoon, officers and members of the nursing division, to meet Mrs. Atkinson at the ambulance station at 3 p.m. Tuesday: Morning, conference; noon civic reception at Town Hall; afternoon, motor drive; evening, inspection of brigade at seven o’clock, and public meeting in Town Hall at eight o’clock. The visitors will leave Auckland on Wednesday for the South. Sir John Hewett has been a knight of fc>t. John for 24 years, and recently the conferred on him the exclusive title of Baihtf Grand Cross within the ancient category of the knights of chivalry. This grade is restricted to 12 knights, in addition to six Royal members, besides the head. He holds the title of Bailiff of Egle, which dates back to the reign of Stephen. Egle is the name of a preceptory seven miles from Lincoln. It was granted to the Knights Templar by Stephen in 1139, and came into the hands of SL John when the Knights Templar were disbanded. It is understood that Sir John ranks fifth in the order of precedence of the Order. He was a member of the joint war committee formed in London between the Order of St. John and the British Red Cross Society, which controlled the expenditure of £17,000.000 gathered from all parts of the Empire during the war time. Mrs. Atkinson, who is a Dame of Grace, received the insignia and the accompanying diploma signed by the Duke of Connaught 11 years ago for meritorious war service. .