ONEWHERO.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 620, 1 April 1921, Page 5

ONEWHERO.

THE CORONATION OF THE CARNIVAL QUEEN. MRS J. LIDDLE ELECTED. Long before eight o’clock on Monday evening, March 28th, the Upper Hall, Onewhero, was crowded to the utmost extent of its capacity by an expectant throng waiting the final result of the voting for the rival Queens. '

Mrs J. Liddle Miss Cathcart were soon declared 'the popular favorites, and it was interesting and amusing to watch their supporters walk up the hall at intervals depositing good coin of the realm in the respective boxes of their Queens. At the fii’st count of the votes, Miss Cathcart displaced Mrs Liddle, who was leading Queen at the commencement of the evening, and from then until the voting closed first one and then the other would occupy the leading place. At 3 o’clock one stroke of the gong indicated there was only a quarter of an hour before the voting closed, and at a quarter past 12 strokes on the gong signified the voting had closed, and it only remained for the scrutineers (Messrs Cheeseman, Kane and Thompson) to complete the count and to officially announce the winding Queen. The stillness of the waiting crowd was only broken when Mr' Cheeseman came 1 foi’ward to proclaim that Mi’s J. Liddle had been elected Queen of Onewhero with a- majority of over 19,000 votes, her total count being--42, 400, Miss Cathcai't being second with 23,000.

The coronation procession then commenced, the Grand Marshall (Mr P. Riley-Taylor) marching to the foot of the throne-room steps. Next followed the State Trumpter (Rangitira Potawa) in full native costume, attended by the Heralds, in red and old gold-quartered and charged with the Onewhero Royal Coat of Arms. As they descended the steps into the hall the first Queen Princess (Una Becroft) entered the Throne-room, attended by her two little Maids of Honour (the Misses Becroft and Cathcart). Princess Una was dressed in white and silver, with red velvet train, and wearing a jewelled coronet. She was followed by the bearer of the Sceptre (Mr James Cathcart) in Court uniform; of red and gold, and white knee breeches. Then came Princess Rita Fogerty (who kindly acted as proxy for Miss Shiress), who was unable to get back from Auckland. Princess Rita wore a fawn-coloured crepe de chine, with Oriental train and coronet and earrings of Bedoin silver-work. Her Maids of Honour were Miss Daisy Williams and little Miss Meryl Liddle ; next came the orb-bearer (Mr Sydney Revell) in black velvet court coat, relieved with cerise silk and white knee breeches. Princess Kathleen (Mrs Riley-Taylor) followed, dressed in pale green silk net, wearing a coronet of gold, set with diamonds and emeralds, a train of yello%v silk, which was carried by the pages (Miss Zoe Atteweli and Master Rex Atteweli) in white, with yellow ties, shoes and sashes. She was attended by the Keeper of Privy Purse (Mr W. Parsons) in full court uniform. Then came Princess Muriel (Miss Cathcart) in cream silk dress and train, relieved with pale pink roses, with a coronet of platinum, set with pearls, emeralds and rubies. Her pages were the • Masters Floyd, in white with pink sashes and ties. She was attended by the Organiser (Mr Scoble Cornish) in black court suit, with crimson facings. A trumpet call heralded the entrance of the Queen (Mrs J. Liddle), robed in white ninon, trimmed with silver. Her

coronation robe of ruby plush, bonded with minwer, was supported by hei young sons in white and pale blue. She was attended by the Mistress of the Robes (Mi’s Scoble Cornish), in black silk, with heliotrope silk train, trimmed with violets, and followed by the Crown-bearer (Mr Claud Cathcart) in a gorgeous costume of whyte and royal blue satin, with surtout of scarlet silk. The Processional March was played by Mr and Mrs Floyd (violin and piano), and the ceremony was conducted with most impressive dignity. The coronation of the Queen was followed by the presentation of the Princess by the Mistress of the Robes, succeeded by the giving out of vari-> ous titles of nobility.

Much amusement was caused by the introduction of the young sons of Queen Mai’ion, as theif Royal Highnesses the Prince of Ales and the Duke of Cork.

Dancing, interspersed with musical items, contributed by Miss Geraghty, Miss McCann, Miss Short, , and Mr Rider, to say nothing of a plentiful supper, made up a most memorable and interesting evening’s entertainment.