QUEEN CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2467, 21 May 1915, Page 7

QUEEN CARNIVAL

RESULT OF THE FIRST COUNT MISS LOW IN THE LEAD ALL PARTIES WORKINC AT HICH SPEED. Sir. Collie (treasurer of the Patriotic Society), and his enthusiastio aides, made the first count of vote tickets in connection with the Queen Carnival competition last evening. At least two of the candidates (or the committees representing them) had not forwarded tickets sold up to date, so tho list is not exactly representative of the precise state of the poll, but it gives an idea of how the candidates are polling on the tickets forwarded. The order is as follows:— 1. Miss Low (Combined Drapers). 2. Dr. Platts-Mills (Tramways). 3. Nurse Everitt (Combined Sport 6 Clubs). 4. Mrs. A. M. Palmer (Civil Service). 5. Miss M'Cormick (Trentham Boys). 6. Mrs. A. Williams (St. John Ambulance).

7. Miss .Jessie Lewis (Young Boys' Society). 8. Mrs. AV. H. Smith (Forget-me-not if Overseas Club). 9. Mrs. S. Hempton (Te Aro Residents). , 10. Miss Teresa M'Enroe (West Coasters' Association). 11. Miss K. Doughty (Commercial Travellers' and Business Men). 12. Miss M. Rosengrave (Trades and Labour Council). 13. Mrs. A. M'Vicar (Highland Society). The candidates, whoso committees had not sent in votes were Mrs. A. M'Caig (Manawatn), and Miss M. Senior (Hutt and Petone). , The Scope of the Carnival. The Queen Carnival promises to be the biggest thing of its kind ever i brought about in the history of New Zealand. Many of the public have only the vaguest idea of what it will consist of, and so rapid is the growth of excellent ideas and so ready the response of the public that even those closely associated with it cannot remember the manifold attractions that are to be offered to the public during the memorable season between June 3 and July 3. For the first three days a big gala is to be held in Newtown Park, where unparalleled side-shows and elaborate displays will dazzle the eyes and entertain the mind. Thereafter the Carnival activities will be transferred to the Town Hall, and nearly every evening for a whole month will an entertainment of some form or other be offered to the public—such entertainments which will be too good to miss. One of the latest ideas is two days of competitions—vocal, elocutionary, and instrumental—on the lines of those which have boon found so diverting,in previous years. _ These will in all probability be held in the Town Hall on June 17 _ and 18. The arrangement will be similar to other competitions in respect to the initial stages, which will be taken before judges during the day time in the Concert Chamber. The judges will select two or three of the best in each class, and during the evening the public will have the opportunity of judging the winners. The committee in charge of the Carnival competitions is as follows—Messrs. W. E. Fuller (chairman), J. H. Helliwell, J. M. Clark, Ronald Lyon (secretary). The Commorolal Travellers' Effort. The commercial travellers of Wellington intend to leave no stone unturned in order to place, their candidate on the throne at the coming Carnival. The candidate. Miss Kate Doughty ; was Introduced to the ladies' committee on Wednesday afternoon, and at 3.30 p.m. to-day she is to be formally introduced to the members of the association at the Commercial Travellers' Club. At 3.40 p.m. the decorated car (which the C.T.'s have presented to the Fund) will leave the Royal Oak Hotel corner, and will proceed via Manners Street and Willis Street to Grey Street (Lambton Quay end), where patriotic speeches will be made, and "guess" tickets for the car will be sold at a price to suit the times.

Last evening a lady forwarded to the Travellers' Committee a pearl necklace which has be«n valued at fifty guineas, for disposal in any way to raise funds, and at the ladies' committee meeting on "Wednesday one member presented a ring from her finger, a moderate estimate of its cost being £25. Mr. William Witt, a member of the firm of Witt, Wright, and Dixon (Wellington), has offered the whole of the furniture in his house, which ofier has been accepted. These goods, with others, are to be sold by auction on a date yet to be fixed. Any other gifts to be turned into cash will be received with thanks at tho warehouse of Messrs. Ellis and Manton, in Old Customhouse Quay. Cafe Chantant. Tho combined drapers are on tho alert. They have, in the interests of their candidate, secured the large Town Hall for Thursday and Friday evenings of nest week, ana aro going to give the Wellington public an idea of what a cafe chantant is like. An orchestra is to be placed on a circular stand in the centre of the hall, and-round this paviliou there will be a circular space of ample dimensions for the dancers. The space under the balconies will be divided up into stalls, which will vie. with one another for attractiveness, at whioh will be sold all manner of fancy work, books, sweets, flowers, in addition to which there will be an "old curiosity shop" and numerous raffles. The charge for admission mil be oue shilling, and the fun will be worth at least a pound. The Queen candidate will bo in attendance to receive the homage of her subjects each evening. West Coasters Enthusiastic. That the West Coasters, in keeping with their traditional loyalty, sre heart and soul with the object of tho Carnival in raising funds for the wounded soldiers was evidenced by the large and representative meeting held last evening; to promote the candidature of their Queen, Miss Teresa M'Enroe.

Mr. R. Vinsen presided over an attendance of fifty ocfd West Coasters and supporters. Much enthusiasm ' was shown, and several splendid offers were forthcoming, which, in addition to those already in hand, ivere distinctly encouraging. The committee announced that it had secured a site on Lambton Quay, opposite Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, 011 which would bo erected several tents for the purpose of providing amusement and entertainment for the public during the day and evening. The committee is proceeding with this work immediately, and it is hoped that the public will patronise these entertainments liberally and help on the good cause. Donations in the form of gold nuggets to the valuo of approximately £300 were received. Arrangements were mado for the production of a photograph of the Queen candidate, in company with a party of .West Coast miners pursuing their calling in their native surroundings, for exhibition at the various picture theatres. A strong executive was set ua to promote tho interests of the .Coasters' candidate, and an office sot aside in one of the tents adjacent to tho side shows, whore books of tickets olid all information may be obtained from the secretary. COMMITTEES AT WORK. If any pessimistic person had any misgivings as to the probable success of Wellington's first Queen Carnival, he need have only been present at the

Y.M.C.A. last evening to be reassured. Inside the building the whole place simply teemed with Carnival. In one room the Sports Candidate's Committee were holding a large- and enthusiastic meeting; in an adjoining room an overflow meeting of the Side-Shows Committee was being held, whero all manners of means were being organised to extract tho surplus cash out of the public's pocket; across the passage tho Hall Committeo were hard at work arranging detail concorning the Royal Ball on Juno 30, at which Her Majesty tho Queen of Wellington has signified her intention of attending, and finally as one left tho building tlicre were the Boys' Committee busy selling shilling tickets for their motor-car.

At the mooting of the executive held yesterday it was resolved that if the number on any ticket is found to have been altered such vote shall be declared invalid. It was reported that ballot boxes have now been distributed throughout tho City. It was resolved that Captain Macfarlane be appointed to supervise the work of tho Boys' Committee, and to see that the control of their cash is run on proper linos. It was resolved that, with the exception of tlie Mayoress's, lots be drawn for the position of stalls. Authority was given to print a further 4000 books of voting tickets, the demand having already exceeded all expectations. Professor Cardsten reported ! that the Tramways Committee were arranging to hold continuous vaudeville entertainments for the three days at the park. MEETING AT LOWER. HUTT. In connection with the Queen Carnival a most enthusiastic meeting was held in the Lower Hutt Council Chamber yesterday evening. The Mayor (Mr. Baldwin) occupied the chair. Mr. D. M'Laren, and later Professor Cardston, addressed the audience, nnd .'idvised in respect to the work to be undertaken. A resolution was adopted endorsing the establishment of a National Fund. Great enthusiasm was shown on behalf of the Hutt Valley's .candidate, Miss Senior, who was introduced to the audience by the Mayor of Petone amidst hearty cheers; £100 was collected to advance the lady's candidature. The meeting resolved itself into a General Committee, and sub-committees were appointed for stalls, entertainments, canvassing, etc. HOKITIKA'S CARNIVAL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Hokltlka, May 20. Great interest is being taken in the local Queen of the Carnival election, and a substantial amount has already been raised by this means to swell the Belgian Relief Fund. =====