CARNIVAL RAISES £350

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 13, 30 January 1937, Page 9

CARNIVAL RAISES £350

Miss M. Chadwick Crowned A 3 Maori Queen CEREMONY IN HASTINGS A total of about £350 was s^sed in the Maori Queen Carnival whifh concluded last night in the Assembly Hall, Hastings, when the Ooronation Ball was held. When the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt* Rev. F, A. Bennett, made the announcement from the stage of the hall there was a prolonged burst of applause from the large crowd gathered there, both pakeha and Maorij who were gratified at the success of the carnival. This money will be devoted to the marae and church building at Kohupatiki. • The ooronation ball commenced shortly after eight o'clock, and the • large gatherirtg of daneers spent avery happy evening dahcing to Bunny Otene's oi'chestra. At 10.30 o'clock the _proceedings were halted to enable th'e picturesque coronation ceremony to be carried out. Bishop Bennett extended the thanks ' of the comniittee to all who had assisted in bringing about the succeas of the carnival and said that 23,777 votes had been recorded, which meant | a realisatioii of £298. When the amount taken at the ball was included, fchis total would reach approximately £350. The curtains of the stage were fchen drawn aside, to disclose a welcoming pax*ty of Maoris, all attired in traditional costume, outside a Maori meeting-house. The procession of the Queen and her attendants^ the maids and warriors, advanced down the eentre of the hall. Here the welcoming party, with hakas, poi dances and songs, did honour to the Queen, Miss Myrtle Chadwick, who then advanced to the throne. ^ The actual crowning was performed by the deputy-Mayor, Mr A. I. Rainbow t who was mtroduced to the assemblage by Bishop Bennett. After apologising for . the absence of the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, Mr Rainbow expressed his apprecdation of the compliment paid to the pakehas in that a representativ© of the white race had been asked to perform thb ceremony. Mr Rainbow briefly traced the friendshxp that existed between Maori and pakeha and expressed the hope that this friendship would long oontinue. "I congratulate all who have worked to bring this carxxival to such a successful lssue," said Mr Rainbow, "and I would suggest that you try to make it an annual event for bringing. Maorx and pakeha together. Besidea having its social side, such a function fulfils a useful part in the raising oi funds for such a worthy cause as tha present one." Mr Rainbow then placed the crdwn on Miss Chadwick's head, and, after investing her with , the. powers of a sovereign over the people in the carnival district, called for three cheers. which were freely given. • Bishop Bennett extended his thanks to Mr Rainbow, and said that he

thought Mr Rainbow' s suggestion W;as an excellent one. It could be a 'fuilction where the Maori people all rouhd the district might get together to raise funds and enable Maori and pakeha to forgather. Bishop Bennett then made presentations to the Queen, Miss Chadwick, and the other candidates, Mjsses H. Nepe, Georgina Chadwick, J. Waikani and Harriet Aubrey. At the ;onclusion of the ceremony the daneing w&s resumed, oontinuing until the close of the hall.