SUCCESSFUL QUEEN CARNIVAL CANDIDATE CROWNED

Chronicle (Levin), 12 March 1949, Page 2

SUCCESSFUL QUEEN CARNIVAL CANDIDATE CROWNED

Pomp And Pageantry Marks Coronation

A capacity house at the Civic Theatre on Wednesday night saw: the grand finale to a ihost successful carnival effort in the crowning of the winning Queen, Miss- Emmaj Snowdon, who was the Citizens'| can'didate. Just as the carnival was one of i the most outstandingly • suecessful efforts organised in the district, so' too was the coronation, and the arrangements reflected the greatest credit on those responsible, All wh~> had a part to play, juvenile, adolescent or adult, saw to it that the occasion would remain a memorable one. The setting was most effective and very picturgsque. The stage had been tastefully decorated wil'h a castle for the background, withihe castle battlemenls, adorned with flags arrayed at the sides. The soft pastel shades in which the castle had been painted, th£ brighter coloured flags, and the ^ frocking of the Queen candi'dates and their maids, .together wit'h the coronation robes and gay suits of-: the pages, all presented a very de^ightful scene and one that was freely praised. , Thanks to the efforts of a local society which is shortly to present a play, the stage of the theatre had been enlarged and the screen set back some six feet or more, and greater space was •provi'ded than would have otherwise been the case. A large crowd gathered quite early in the evening and some pleasing selections were rendered outside the theatre by the Otaki Brass Band. Proceedings inside opened with the Air Force Band from Ohakea playing a stirring march, followe'd by popular military airs. A humorous duologue f ollowed and also a cornet duet. More humour brought forth much laughfcer, after which the drum corps of the band, .ai'ranged on;1* the; stage, played popular Maori waltzes. A sketch,' ''Easy MOney,1' also caused much enjoyment, as did a further selection by the band and a xylophone duet with band accompanimerrt. More humour followed a pianoforte , duet, after which a female member of tne party accomplished 1 .muph when given an "audition." A further selbction by the band was followed by film star impersonations, which proved deservedly popular, while a stirring march brought the concert ' programme to | fi close. Following a short interval, an air_ ;of expectancy prevailed and it was 'jiot iong before the "big event" of Ihe .-.night - wa& under way. The .

Heralds, MaSters B. Cole and B. Taylor, announced the arrival of the Royal procession with a fanfare of trumpets, four. lancers leading the Textiles Queen, Miss P. Ralph, her pages, Masters F. and G. Moss, and her four maids, Misses V. Bayne, A. Connor, M. Cootes and J. Duncan, all dressed in light blue with white shoulder sashes. ■Next came the Farmers' Queen, Miss Edna Taylor, her pages, Miss Hartley and Master Hazelwood^ her maids, Misses M. Cobb, J. Hayward, !B. Monk and N. Verrant, in their .colours of red and white. The Maori Queen Miss Makulni Ransfield, was next to arrive, her pages Masters Nicholls and Hawea preceding the maids, Misses A. Jacob, B. DaVies, K. Hammond and A. Ropata, their colours of pink and green showing to adv-antage.

rnen ionowea rne sports tqjueen, Miss Maureen Thomas, with Miss N. Cole and Master S. Phegley as her pages,' arid Misses V. Boggs, G. Dickson, B. Gordon and S. Smith aXs maids. Their colours, red and b'lue over white frocks, also toned very effectively. Amidst sustained applause the procession marched round the hall and ascended the steps leading on to the stage. The bugler, Mr. La Greca, sounded the fanfare, and the arrival of the orb, sceptre and crown bearers, Misses C. Cole and P. Edwards and Master B. Roach, was the occasion for a renewed outburst of applause, which continued while the Queen elect, Miss Emma Snowdon, her train b.earers, Miss J. Edwards and Master D. G/ Cole, and her maids, Misses A> Cole, M. McBeth, C. Rekin and F. Scatchard, encircled the hall and mounted* the stage for ithe Queen to ascend the throne. Bringing up the rear of the procession and completing the display of pomp and pageantry were two Beefeaters, Messrs. a. Nicholson and B. Edwards, while the four Lancers were Messrs. G. Carkeek, F. Taylor, M. Merwood and R. Hearfield. The town crier, Mr. L. Moss, read the prociamation, after which the Lancers escorted the Mayor, Mr. C. F. Atmore, to the stage, and the coronation took place amidst prolonged applause. Mr. Atmore read a congratulatory telegram from the chairman of the Sports Queen co'mmittee, Mr. W. Connor, who was away in Stratford and unable to be present. Mr. atmore extended his congratulaiions also, and mentioned that the ;otal sum now In sight for the War demorial was £5500, ' and advised ihat a meeting would soon be >alled to further ithe project. "We

do want to be sure the decision arrived at will be the decision uf the majority of the Otaki people,?'' he added. Mr. Atmore conciuded by thanking all who had worked for and so generously supported the effort. Tiie Town .Crier then commanded all to sing ithe Queen's Nationai Anthem, "For She's a Joi.y Good Feilow," fohowing which numerous decorations and honours were conferred, after which Her Majesty in a very pretty speech tnanked the Mayor, her committee and all who had helped. her effort in any way, and conciuded by offering congratuiations to the other Queens wno had taken part. Mr. H. Brown, chairman of Queen Emma's committee, thanked all for their support, and handed Queen Emma a gift, a small tokeu of appreciation from an e.'4,erly lady of 87 years. Mr. H. Taylor, chairman of the executive, voiced thanks also and expressed the wish that all who had worked so tirelessiy would feel as 'he did, that, after vieWing the happy radiant scene on the stage before them, the effort was well worth while. ' Proceedings conciuded with the ^Mayor thanking the Air Force Band for attending and providing such high class music, and the Nationai Anthem followed. The highest prai'se is due to Mr. and Mrs. L. Moss and Mr. R. T. Mortiboy for such ' a suecessful presentation at short notice. Honours List The following were knighted: Mr. H. Taylor, Lord Welldone; Mr. H. B. Edhouse, Lord Cheeks; Mr. F. Edwards, Lord .Writer's Cramp; Mr. G. McKinley, Lord Dove, Settler of Squabbles; Citizens' Queen, the Noble Order of the Red, White and Blue Dart; Mrs. M. J. McGilligan,. Lady Raffles of ,Cutlery; Mrs. F.1 Edwards, Lady Empty Sugar Bin; Mrs. J. Scatchard, Lady Irish Peach; Mr. H. Brown, Sir Hilary of Chckety-Click; Mr. H. Jensen, Lord Kelly'xseye; Mr. P. Taucher, Sir Patrick; Mrs. C. Gordon, Lady Greyhound; Mrs. B. McLeaVey, Lady Matinee; Mr. T. Hawea, Sir Tama ti, Chief of the Hangi; Mr. E. Taylor, Sir Earnest; Mrs. ,E. Taylor, Lady Picnic; Mrs. W. Ralph, Lady Street of Shop Days; Mr. K. Hager, Sir Kurt of Castle Float.' ; ' Competitions were decided as follows: Wringer, Miss B. Swabey; pressure cooker, Mrs. C. P. Jensen; tallboy, Mrs. Dome, 99 Queenwood Road, Levin; canteen of 'cutlejry, Mrs. H. Fielding/ Otaki Railwai^; budgies, Mrs. E. Smith; doll, Miss N. Smith; cake, Mrs. H. Kendrick.