QUEEN CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2475, 31 May 1915, Page 7

QUEEN CARNIVAL

RAIDS ON THE PUBLIC PURSE

UNPRECEDENTED ACTIVITY IN THE CITY A DAY OF PROCESSIONS ALU FOR OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS There was no avoiding the general and particular demands that were made for money in the City streets throughout Saturday. Most of the efforts made were in favour of tho candidates in the ''Queen" election. It is highly probable that Wellington has never seen so excitable a day as Saturday last. There wer.e no fewer than three processions each flanked by a small army of skirmishing collectors, who dashed into hotels, offices, and among the waiting crowds of spectators bold and confident of a response through the nature of the appeal that was at the back of, and lent spirit to, tho various displays. Civil Service Frolic. The first crowd to startle tho still air was the adult Civil Service procession, which consisted of a noisy motorwagon load of fancifully dressed young men and women, with a long straggling tail of money-catchers behind, who had little regard for processional form or order. Among this lot were pierrots, golliwogs, Zulus, clowns, harlequins Dutch girls, pseudo-policemen, red-nosed Ally Slopers, and weird hobgoblins, whilst there were some who would have been at a loss to describe themselves if put to the test. One very comical person was ■ a crimsonnosed parson with a copy of the "Winning Post" protruding from his pocket. All concerned displayed a restless energy with the donation boxes and the sum collected must have been considerable. Burlesque Justice. A feature of tile procession was a burlesque court which was kept busy with mock trials throughout the circuit sittings, owing to the tireless capacity of JudM (Mr. Jas. Dykes) for work. The Chief Messenger of the Government' Buildings, who was the first to be arrested, was charged with allowing his chili whiskers to trail on the street, thus obstructing the traffic." Alter the laughter had subsided counsel for the prosecution asked for a heavy penalty. The "accused" was find Is., which he willingly paid. Mr. James Hislop (Secretary for Internal Affairs) was the next "culprit," and in order to get through pleaded guilty before any charge was laid. It appeared that he had committed thfi grave offence of entering his office before SJ a.m. The judge was horrified at such conduct, and reminded the prisoner that he had been convicted fifty-eight limes before for this offence. He was fined 10s. "Give me time to pay," pleaded tho distressed Under-Secretary. ''You'll get time if you don't pay," returned the irate judge. "Next business!" The Curator of the Dominion Museum (Dr. A. Thomson) was lined for stealing a whale from the ocean, and Mr. W. G. lliddell, S.M., was arrested on the Quay and charged with being constantly consorting with bad characters, to wit, prisoners. The judge said that it was a most deplorable offence, that could only be met with a substantial fine, in the hope that the prisoner would turn over a new leaf—fined 10s.! Paid. Dr. Fitchett (Public Trustee) was haled before the Court, and charged, with persistently shotting credit balances when he knew tho .Government was averse to that kind of thing. The fine of 10s. was paid in court. Others who were forced to appear before "blind justice" were: Councillor John Fitzgerald, Mr. J. W. Macdonald (solicitor to {"he Public Trust), Mr. B. M. Wilson (general manager of the Tourist Department), Mr. Victor Dimock, Mr. M. O. Barnett (Public Trust Office), Mr. VV. Perry, and Mr. T. Dwan. A police constable was arrested "for loitering on the footpath," but escaped lightly. "Seeing that he is a policeman," said "His Honour," "I will fine him Is."

"Oh, the Children!"

'Oh, the children!" was the glad greeting that was heard on every hand as the children's procession came Cityward a few minutes after the Civil Servants had trekked southwards. This procession, which was also organised in tho interests of the Civil Service candidate, was really a splendid turn-out, marked by definite ideas skilfully carried out, and it made tho adult display appear rather tawdry and garish. Oh, tllie children! How sweet tlioy looked as little nurses, and how they enjoyed being the cynosure of all eyes. First came tho chairman of the Patriotic Society (Mr; H. G. Hill), driving a car-load of clean-looking, white-frocked nurses in miniature, and not far behind was a burlesque band, consisting of two trombones, a circular bass, and a big drum. Its tone was something to flee from, and never by any chance did tho bandsmen march in step. Futurist music only was played—something strangely subtle, that consisted of a drum solo, with occasionally a heartbroken blare from the trombonists. Somebody said that it had been written by 'Richard Strauss after hearing a Korngold symphony. That band was certainly a feature—all the more so because it did not realise how funny it was. Then there was a car full of tiny grey-gown-od nurses with Red Cross bands on their arms, and aftor them came an ambulanco section, carrying wounded soldiers from the battlefield, tenderly waited on by the ynall "ladies of the lamp." After tragedy tripped comedy. The Sultan of Turkey pulling, and the Kaiser ( in prison clothes and wearing an enormous Iron Cross) pushing a barrow in which a miniature British "Tommy" reclined at his ease. On a huge lorry were set up the model workers' homes which are being disposed of in aid of the fund, also supported by a crowd of jubilant youngsters. Following came a replica of "Falstaff's ragged army," or it might have been a. column of stragglers after Mons, little boys in battle-strained khaki —the halt and the maimed—showing in their small persons that gaiety of disposition common in our forces 011 the field. Tho rear was brought up by the gallant Engineers, who had erected lofty monuments of engineering skill by the aid of meccano sets. At the Palais d'Allles. Somehow or other the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and the Mayoress bad got mixed up in this procession. His Worship had been sent for to open tho West Coasters' Palais d'Allies, 011 Lambton Quay, and with typical humour tho committee had dispatched a dray to bring tho Mayor down to the new theatre (which had been built in fivo days) on tho Griifen estate. At the Town Hall tho Mayor, Mrs. Luke, Mrs. Teresa M'Knroo (the West Coasters' candidate), and Mr. T. V. Soddon, M.l', for Westiand, mounted the dray, but in coming down Willis Struct wr.ra drawn into tiio vortex of the children's procession together, with tho National Pieservo Band, which was In have pla.vod the Mayor down to the Palais. Arrived at the spot, tho dray was drawn up before the entrance of the tarpaulin theatre, and then and there Mr. Luke expressed the pleasure he felt in opening the theatre, which had for its ultimate object the raisins of funds for our wounded soldiers. It was the work nf the , West Coasters' Association, and 'U.

credit was duo to that body for the good work it was doing in giving these entertainments to buikl up tlio fund. It was a. pleasure for the City to bo officially associatod with tlio carnival, and he was glad of tlio opportunity of expressing Wclington's good will towards the enterprise and to givo all credit to tlio committee which had dono such effective work in so short a time. (Applause.) He congratulated the West Coasters on what they were doing. They had been tlio bono and sinew of a considerable part ol Now Zealand and had had a great deal to do with the general advance of tho Dominion. (Applause.) Ho welcomed their charming candidate Miss M'Enroe, and was quite sure that she would figure prominently in the competition, and that everyone would work well for the boys who wero fighting our battles at tho front. Three cheers for them; three cheers for those who were going; three cheers for the nursesthree for tho women who were working day by day for the boys; three ror Miss M'Enroe—the West Coasters' candidate. All were given with great heartiness und zest by a crowd which now blocked the traffic of Lambton Quay. After that cheers were given for toe Mayor and Mayoress, and Mr. T. Y. Seddon thanked the Mayor for opening the Palais d'Allies; explained that every person who visited the theatre stood a chance to win a handsome prize in the art union, and added that ui Miss M'Enroe they had a candidate worthy of support. Mi's. Luke was then presented with a bouquet of chrysanthemums, which she at once disposed of by auction to Mr. Maurice O'Connor for £2, amidst great rejoicing. The Mayor tlien said that though the Association had broken all by-laws in not having obtained a permit until the last moment, he had much pleasure in declaring the Palais d'Allies open. (Cheers and applause.) The Mayoral party then partook of tea in the adjoining marquee and subsequently witnessed the first performance in the litflo theatre. Good business was recorded on Saturday afternoon and o- ening. The Khaki Workers. Khaki cloth is actually made by machinery, but that machinery has to be tended carefully, and when the cloth is manufactured it has to be cut into lengths, then into patterned pieces, then machined, and "fitted" in every detail before the uniforms can be given out to the men. All this work takes many hands, and a great deal of it has been turned out by the staff of the Wellington Woollen Company. It is also a coincidence that on? of the millgirls (Miss A. M. Senior)' is the Hutt and Petone candidate for the Queen Carnival. _ So it was fit and proper that the khaki workers from Petone, and also from the Wellington Woollen Co.'s town factoiy, should have a procession on Saturday. It was a capital display from end to end, showing the boundless enthusiasm for the work in hand and the ultimate object of the passing show. The procession was headed by a corps of scarlet-coated burlesque veterans who displayed many medals. In command was General Whiskerandos, who Jed his tottering troup like a performing bear. Following the "vets." (a; someone called the veterans) came the National Reserve Band on a motor lorry, and behind them a company of wounded soldiers (girls in trousers and puttees), each attended by a nurse—a charming picture. Close following was another motor-lorry equipped with sewing machines, showing the girls at work making uniforms for our country's defenders. Then followed a further £quad of khaki-clad "girl-boys," a group showing representatives of all the countries comprised in the Allies, in which tho Hindoos, Maoris, Senegalese, and Turfcos were represented with the governing nations. Mr. W. H. P. Barber, with n car-load of khaki girls, represented tho directorate of the company, and behind him wero about a dozen handsomelydecorated motor-cars, including the neat "Overland" which has been presented by Messrs. 11. Palmer, A. Co'es, and Dr. Ross, of Petone, to forward Miss Senior's candidature. The procession was accompanied by dozens of lively collectors in khaki and fancy dress. The Carnival held sway all day, and at night it was continued with renewed vigour. CAFE CHANTANT. t A BRILLIANT CONCLUSION. The Cafe Chantant of the Combined Drapers concluded in a blaze of glory on Saturday evening. That is to say the big Town Hall held as many as it conveniently could, and business appeared to be as brisk as on the first evening the Chantant burst upon tho public. There was only one possible drawback from a managerial point of view, and that was the. unusually large number of assistants, who seemed to bo more numerous than the members of the public, which of course did not make for the best results, and is a factor that should be borne m mind when any other entertainments of tho kind aro being mado. On the other hand it must bo conceded that the presence of so many fancifully-dressed assistants made the scene one of unforgettable brightness and animation, for tho competition was so hot for business that the girls had to strain their every art to catch the public. Still it was a great effort, very well managed and capitally sustained throughout, and should yield a handsome sum for the "Queen" 'Fund. The usual procession took place through the town before 7.15 p.m., and an enormous crowd blocked the city streets to watch the merrymakers go by. At the hall a capital little concert progranimo was submitted at 8.45 p.m., under the direction 9f Mr. Theo. Queree, who was indefatigable in his efforts to make the Cafe Chantant a success. Owing to the buzz of business the singers were not heard to the very best advantage, but steeling themselves to the disabilities of the situation they gave pleasure to many within hearing.. Songs were contributed by Messrs. T. Queree and Meates; Mr. Hamilton Hodges sang with appealing robustness Escamillo'g "Toreador's Song" from "Carmen," and in response to an emphatic encore "The Boys of the Old Brigade," in which the crowd assisted in the chorus. Wellington possesses a very charming mezzo soprano in Miss Lottie Barry, whose full round voice has a warm timbre and is used with marked discretion. On Saturday evening Miss Barry sang "Love is a Slave" (Squire) with admirable taste and good poise. Miss Nellie Driscoll was heard to advantage in "Waiata Poi," and with Mr. Hodges sang in duet form the übiquitous Barcarolle from Offenbachs' "Tales of Hoffmann."

At the conclusion of the evening most of the goods that were_ left wero cither sold by auction or disposed of at a sacrifice to the lucky few who remained until the end. By midnight the whole of the stalls had been dismantled, tho fittings packed away, and the tired assistants who had done such good work smiled wearily under the smear of paint and powder, thinking only of bed and the restful to-morrow. The secretary (Hiss Taylor) stated that there was too much to do to draw all the raffles on Saturday evening. They would bo drawn on an evening to be announced during the present week. Mention would be mado of the capital assistance rendered by M'liiinghlan's orchestra each evening. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS" CONCERT. Them must have been approximately 3000 people at the Town Hall last evening, when a very enjoyable concert was given under the auspice? of the Wellington Commercial Travellers' Association, in. the interests of their candidate in the "Queen'' competition, connected with the Carnival. Not only was the ordinary seating accommodation n*» cupied, but «v«y choir seat as well, aad

then there was not room for all who would have preferred to be seated rather than stand. Tho progranimo was of a miscelaneous character. It opened with an organ solo, "Coronation Maroh" (.Tschaikowsky), a flamboyant composition studded with rrumpet fanfares, and here and there a suggestion of the Russian National Hymn, played by Mr. Norman Collie. Mr. Collie also played a "Serenade" by (Joss-Custard, unci a spritely "Gavotte" by Elgar. Miss Janio. l'etrie reciied with plenty of spirit and ripe intelligence Henry Ohappell's "The Day" and "Tlio Coward." Miss Mina Oaldow gave especial pleasure by her sympathetic and linislied reading of Franz's lino ficng, "Out of My Soul's Great Darkness," and was equally satisfying in tlio ballads, "i Hear You Calling Mo" (Marshall), and "If" (Novello). Mr. Reginald Blow sang with good expression Gounod's "There is a Green Hill Far Aivay," and Mrs. J. F. Woodward exhibited her sweet soprano in the pretty villanello, "With the Swallows" (Eva del Acqua). Mr. Hrrry Phipps's contribution was "The Dream of Paradise" (Adams), in winch was given a 'cello obbligato by Mr." Frank Johnstone. The instrumental items included a selection from "Massaniello" (Aubcr) by the Working Men's Club orchestra, the 'ccllo quartets "Nocturne" (Markus),and "Gavotte" (Klengel) by Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Johnstone and Messrs. Norm;ui Martin and Cecil Smallbone, and a trio for piano, violin, and 'cello (Gade) by Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Johnstone and Mr. Harry Ellwood. Mrs. Fred. S. Montague and Mr. Russell acted as accompanists. Tile receipts from the concert totalled £55 17s. 10jd. AMBULANCE "FLOWER DAY." The result of "Flower Day" in the streets of.Wellington on Saturday when supporters of Mrs. Algar Williams (St. John Ambujance) for Queen sold freshly cut flowers from the Hutt proved most successful, the flowers realising over £150. Airs. Williams's committee desires to thank the following for their generosity in placing their cars at the committee's disposal:—Lady Kelburn, Mrs. Ferguson, the Wellington Gas Company (2), Mr. Frank Newman, Miss Grabham, Mr. O'flalleron, and Mr. E. Johnston. The committee also heartily thank Miss Cooper, florist, for her gift of buttonholes. THE "TRAMWAY BOYS." The "Tramway Boys" (Dr. PlattsMills) have opened a central depot and committee rooms opposite the G.P.O. main entrance, Featherston Street. At this depot (which will remain open all day) any gifts to be sold in the stalls will be received, and here ticket and vote-sellers may replenish their supplies. Two meetings of the committees will be held to-day. The Ladies' Central Committee are asked to attend a meeting at 11 o'clock this morning, and at 4 o'clock this afternoon, all committees to meot Professor Cardston at the Y.M.O.A. rooms. The business is stated as urgent. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. A start will be made to-day to sell by auction in the big corner shop in the Hotel Windsor Building, articles that have been donated through the Wellington Patriotic Society to the Fund for Wounded Soldiers and Sailors and t'heir dependents. At the Central Club on Saturday Mr. A, Jacobs, acting as auctioneer, sold a bunch of violets presented by Messrs. Orr Bros., of the Hutt, for £120. Needless to say the sale was conducted on strictly patriotic lines, and the flowers were purchased over and over again without finding a permanent owner. The Chinese of Wellington held a meoting at the Chinese Association Rooms on Wednesday night, when a sum of about .11150 was subscribed. This money will be used as capital to open a stall in the Newtown Park during the Carnival for the sale of fruit and sundry articles, proceeds of which will so towards the Hospital Ship and the lied Cross Society.

At the conclusion of the ladies' football match at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon the whistle used by Mrs. Fred Roberts as referee was sold for £9. in aid of the Fund for Wounded Soldiers. Mr. A. Jacobs, of Geo. Thomas and Co., was the auctioneer. There are plenty of people with jewellery trinkets stowed away in drawers and jewel cases which tliey never wear, or are ever likely to wear. These trinkets, writes a correspondent, can do something for the Empire. The St. John Ambulance want them now, to provide cash for the supply of hospital comforts. Any such odd or old-fash-ioned or not-wanted articles of jewellery should bo sent at once to Mrs. Moorehouse, opposite St. John's Schoolroom, Dixon Street. They will never do more good than at present. Dr. Edith Huntly has presented one of her St. Bernard dogs, aged thirteen months, to Mrs. A. Al'Vicar, Queen Carnival candidate, for disposal. Tho proceeds of the sale aro to be given to the Carnival Fund.

Tho United Order of Druids (in full regalia) are to take part in the big Carnival • procession on Thursday, nest (King's Birthday). Messrs. Symonds and Co., butchers, of Courtenay Place, have decided to donate the whole of to-morrow's cash takings to tho Fund for the AVounded Soldiers and Sailors and their dependents. In connection with the candidature of Nurse Everitt, tho nominee of the Combined Sports Bodies of Wellington, a pleasant gathering took placc on Saturday afternoon at the residence of Mrs. Melville, Majoribanks Street. Tbis_ was an afternoon entertainment, consisting of games, guessing competitions, afternoon tea, etc., and each one attending paid Is. fee for admission. Some very successful amateur auctioneering was also done, and a beautiful bouquet, presented by Miss Murray, was several times sold and resold, and was afterwards presented to Nurse Evoritt. CARNIVAL FIXTURES. PROGRAMME FOR THE MONTH. .At Filday^night's meeting of the General Executive the following draft programme of the Carnival was adopted;— June 2.—Pianoforte recital, large Town Hall, Baxter Buckley. June 3. —Procession to nark, commencing at Government Buildings at 10 a.m. Sports programme, ltugby football match and national dances, etc., at park during aftornoon; side shows and stalls. Grand entertainment at park in evening, including Darktown Fire Brigade, picture shows, and vaudeville. June 4.—Children's Day at park in afternoon, and Grand Carnival in park at night. June 5. —Procession repeated and great Brass Band Contest in park during afternoon. Carnival at park at llight. Juno 7 and 13.—Various entertainments on behalf of Queen candidates. Juno 14 to 21.—Carnival Bazaar, large Town Hall, every evening, and special entertainments in the Concert Chamber, including throe nights of musical and elocutionary competitions. Juno 22 and 23. —Grand Maori entertainment. June 24.—Candidates' addresses. June 26.—Closing of tho poll. June 28. —Coronation of Carnival Queon in Town Hall in the evening. June 20.—Coronation ceremony repeated, and special matinee performance for school children. June -'10. —Royal ball. July I. —Combined schools' concert. July 2.—Combined schools' conceitJuly 3.—Coronation repeated at. Newtown Park in afternoon and ai Town Hall in evening.

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