CORONATION BALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5451, 22 July 1929, Page 2

CORONATION BALL.

CARNIVAL AT WAITAKARURU. PLUNKET SOCIETY’S EFFORT; The Waitakaruru Plunket Society’s “Baby King and Queen Carnival” was brought to a very successful conclusion last Friday evening, when a monster ball was held in the Waitakaruru Hall for the purpose of crowning the successful candidates. Over £l2O was raised by the society for general maintenance purposes of the branch and as the nucleus of a fund for the building of a Plunket room in Waitakaruru . The effort had been entered into wholeheartedly by everybody in the district, and, as Mr C. W. Parfitt expressed it, the men of the district had reason to be proud of the way the women of the district had gone about putting the finances of their institution on a sound basis. Just over £lO4 was secured as votes for the three sets of candidates. The Waitakaruru West pair, Charles Fagan and Eileen Stretton, topped the poll with £4O. The Pipiroa Road candidates, Pamela Poland and Lloyd French, were the means of raising £34 Bs, and the Canal Road settlers contributed £3O in votes for Joan Donaldson and James Gordon.

Friday evening’s ball was a very pleasant one. The attendance was very large, and the hall was tastefully decorated, coloured paper' streamers, coloured electric lights, and green foliage being used with effect. Mr J. Neate was M.C., and the music was by the Ngatea orchestra. The coronation ceremony was spectacular, and extremely well carried out, particularly considering the fact that only one rehearsal could be held. It was arranged by Miss B. K. Walker, who is to be commended on, her work. The music for the ceremonial was played by Mrs A. Henderson. The Coronation. A fanflare of trumpets by two Heralds (Masters R. Christian and I’. Wyllie) announced the arrival of the royal procession. First came the Lord High Chancellor (Master S. Parfitt) and High Chamberlain (Master T. Quinn), and then two pages (Masters G. Beaver and B. Caie) bearing the crowns and insigna of royal office. Two flower-girls (Misses B. Scurr and R. Douglas) preceded the King (Miss Leila Bemey) and Queen (Miss Betty Fagan), whose trains were carried by two bearers (Misses Lorna Harris and Grace Wilson). Maids"of Honour followed. When the, Royal couple were duly seated on the Throne the Lord High Chancellor reaa the proclamation proclaiming the Prince Plunket and the Princess Elizabeth, King and Queen of the realm of Waitakaruru. The Sword and Sceptre, emblems of the King’s might and of his kingly office, were received by the Lord High Chainb’n'laki from a page and handed ' to the Lord High Chancellor, who forr-qlty presented them. With the sar.-. j elaborate formality the orb and the emblem of the Dove were presented. Homage wn: then paid by the loyal subjects of th? realm of Waitakaruru and the Prince and Princess were called to 'the respective officers of rulers, receiving their crowns from the I.ord High Chancellor. Homage to the King and Queen wa? then paid by the other candidates or by substitutes in the cases where the actual candidates .were too young to act. Fjrst came the Prince Noel (Paton) and the Princess Jqan (Donaldson) ; and then the Prince James (Gordon* and the Princess Ngaire (Gordon), followed by the Duchesses Lorna Harris, Grace* Bates, Leslie Hudson, Teenie Wilson, Betty Wyllie, and Betty Douglas. The Honours. ' The following honours were then conferred :— Charles Walter- Parfitt, Knight Grand Cross of the* Ancient and Odious Order of Rates and Taxes. Archibald Hendersonj Knight .of the Press. Harold Lionel Berney, Knight of the Avoirdupois. Charles Watson Harris, Knight of the Corporation. Alexander Wyllie, Earl Attem and .Stoppem, of the Ancient Order of Automobiles. James Donald Fagan, Baron Shell of the Order of Concrete Ideas. The Fancy Dresses. In comparison with the previous children’s fancy dress ball there were few fancy dresses, but the judges, Mesdames Coppins and Barriball, of Ngatea, had a difficult task to select the prize-winners. Their ; awards, which met with popular approval.were as follows :—

Girls, under 7 years: Best costume, J. Sydenham, Bride; most original, A. Paton, Chicken. Over 7 years : Best, D. Hayes, Cupid ; most original, B. Wyllie, Powder Puff. Boys, 7 and over : Best, S. Parfitt, Lord High Chancellor ; most original, K. Laing, Boxer. Under 7 years : Best, D. Cocks, Bridegroom ; most original, M. Henderson, Jackie Coogan.

Among the others in costume were ' Misses H. Irwin, Archer; C. Bird, Spaniard \ M. Irwin, Greek Torch Bearer ; M. Warner, No More Strike ; I. Warner, Christmas Cracker; G. Wilson, Danger Signals; M. Bates, Columbine; 1.. Hudson, Dorothy Perkins ; A. Levers, Gipsy; D. Evans, Japanese ; M. Laing, Hawaiian; T. Wilson, League of Empire ; L. Harris, Gipsy ; B. Scurr, Flower-girl; S. Hudson, Maid of Honour ; R. Douglas, Flower-girl ; ; B. Fagan, Victorian; T. Quinn, Lord High Chamberlain ; T. Willie, Robin Hood. Masters K. Preston, Father Christmas ; T. Hurinui, Indian ; S. Scurr, Pierrot; G. Beaver, Page ; H. Henderson, William Tpll; B. Caie, Page ; R. Christian, Herald.

The prizes of some few of the * numerous competitions organised for the different candidates were present* . ed during the evening to the follow- * ing lucky ones :— Mr T. Brocklehurst (socks), Mrs Beaver (dress length), Mrs, Greathead (suit), Mi’ Parfitt (knitted suit), and Master H. French (cot)