OHOKA QUEEN CARNIVAL.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15871, 10 April 1917, Page 2

OHOKA QUEEN CARNIVAL.

o A SUCCESSFUL EVENT. The Ohoka district Las all along, shown its patriotism for the flag and by concerts and working bees has done much to assist the various war funds, but its supremo effort was brought to a successful'issue yesterday by tho holding of a Queen Carnival and other attractions at the Domain. JVotwthstanding the unpropitious weather there was a large attendance throughout the day, and . all the proceedings were of a most enthusiastic nature. The conocrts and competitions of tho three queens had stimulated a keen contest amongst the supporters of the respective candidates, namely, Hisses Effie Bailey {Ohoka), Kitty Heseltine (Swannanoa), and Riina i' rucr (luahiwi), and' the display made by the Queens and their attendants attracted the largest sh&ro of attention. Tho final result of the Queen Contest was as follows: — . £ s. d. Miss Kitty Heseltine (Swannanoa) . .. 510 14 4 1 Miss Rima Frser , (Tauaiwi) .. .. 443 14 2 2' Miss Effi.e Bailey (Ohoka) 400 2• 7J 3 The total amount xeoeiyed on . the. three queens was £1384 lis 1 |d.

There was a. unique attraction of a number of' Maori performers in powhiri, hAkas, and poi dances, whil-a throughout the day tho 1 various stalls did a brisk business. Music was supplied by the Lyttelton Marine Band. The cooking of a bullock in native style on heated stones within a pit in the earth was a feature of the proceedings. It had been decided that ..tlio receipts from tho Queens' competition should be shared equally amongst the thre® committees of Olioka, Swannanoa, and l'uahiwi, and that a prize of £10 be awarded for the best Queen's display, with one. guinea prizes for the best dressed lady, and gentleman and boy and girl. The opening oeremony began with a. procession on arrival of a special train from the city and intermediate stations at 11.30 a.m. ; . , Well over 1000 people arrived by tho special train, and tl» procession proved a big success, the many and varied costumes attracting muoh interest. The procession, .marshalled by Mr J. H. Power, was headed by the Lytelton Marine Band. Excclient displays were made by tho supporters of the three queen candidates. The Ohoka display included the Ohoka Queen and a traily-decorated gig driven by Mrs A. King, a Red Cross lorry with nurses and soldier patients, a lorry with the tableau . Britannia, decorated bicycles, Japanese maidens, and others in fancy costumes. Poi danoers headed the Maoris' display, the Tua/hiwi Queen and retinue 'being carried in a Maori canoe or: a. lorry deooratod. in Maori fashion, followed by a lorry with the tableau Britannia protecting tho smaller motions, also a Maori whare on a lorry occupied by Maoris depicting Maori domestic life, and a decorated Irish jaunting cur driven oy Mr J. Briggs. An advance guard .of. youthful troopers preceded the Swannanoa display, which included eight ]edy cyclists deoorated in blue and white (their candidate's colours), whilst a wheeled Sedan chair in blue and white drawn by nine sailor boys held tho Swannanoa Queen and her attendants, who were followed by a bevy of Red Cross nurses, Mr R. Grant's decorated motor-float H.H.S. Swannanoa, a lorry holding a large telescene, and several docoiated motor-cars. Tho prize for the b«st. Queen display in the prooc6sion was v,'cn by Swannanoa, the Maori Quoen being second. In tho individual fancy costume competitions, for girls was won by JIIS3 Rim-a Fraer (Maori costume). The ladies' competition was .won by Mm Roberts (Maori coet/tmo). Master Roy King, as a cavalier, won the prize in the boys' competition. with Mr F~. J. King' (Monkey Brpnd Soap) second. The iud«r-s wem Hon. J\ Buddo, M.P., Mr J. H. Blackwell (Mayor of Kaispoi), and Mr R. Evans? (chairman of the Eyre County Council). In making his declaration of the prizo-winneri?, M- Buddo nn.id that the carnival was one of the best ho had sc«en in North C.--nt»rburv, and the costumes and various exhibits iii the procccsion dualled anything tli!»t had ever crtme under his noti"». Excellent busings was done at the stalls, which included rofrrsbmonto, wo-lc, flower. T>rod"c. swMla. balloon. . The Gaiety Strollers and the Warwor.tr* entertainment wero woll ps,t"rni."']. The Mn.-?ri ov-ns were in chargo of Mr W. Momo. who had to supply a great demand for native-cooked Wf. Twentv-two entn?s wore received fo' the evnt. the wirn-r being Mr J. McMullan, Mr J. H. Power • being second. Last evening a coronation ccrcmony was held in the Ohoka Hall.