QUEEN CARNIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24419, 3 October 1940, Page 10

QUEEN CARNIVAL

“OLD ENGLISH FAYRE ” CENTRE OF CITY TO BE OCCUPIED SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS An event, which will involve the use of Dunedin's main street from Moray place north to Moray place south, including the whole of the Octagon, will be held on Saturday, October 19, when this portion of the city will be transformed into an “ Old English Fayre,” with stalls, side shows and amusement attractions of all kinds. One of the unusual features of the fair, which is being staged- as part of the campaign to raise funds for the rehabilitation of soldiers, will be the closing of Princes and George streets, from the Stock Exchange to Frederick street, to all tram traffic from 8 a.m, till 11 P-m., while between the same hours no other wheeled traffic will be allowed on the portion of the main street between the Moray place intersections. . , At its last meeting the City Council granted permission to the organisers to hold the fair, and since that time elaborate arrangements have been put in train to ensure Its success, The erection of stalls and side shows in the middle of the street in the Octagon presented difficulties as regards traffic on that day. but the City Transport Department has agreed to close the street to tram traffic from the Stock Exchange to Frederick street, not only during the afternoon and evening, when the fair will be in progress, but also in the morning while sta P®-' e trio lighting and all amusement devices ■sro beins placed m position. T" e Normanby-St. Clair and Anderson s Bay-Gardens services will be inter rupted in the centre of the city. Trams from the south will go only as far as the Exchange, and those from the nor th only to Frederick street, returning then to their respective termini, though the normal service on the Castle street .line will he rnmntamed The organisers stale, however, mat there will be little, if any, inconvenience to travellers and shoppers : a * dav. A bus service will mamlaln ® full schedule between the Exchang and Knox Church, so that no one will nave to walk the long stretch that will be closed to tram traffic. The organisers, too, have thought of the shop-keepers, who will be trading in the morning, and have so arranged the stalls that there will be no interference with business. All the stalls will be erected in the middle of the street, leaving the footpaths completely clear for pedestrians and shoppers. .. . As for the fair itself, the preliminary arrangements indicate that it wul be both novel and entertaining. The whole of the Octagon will be floodlit and Maypoles on the grass will allow of some old English dancing, Stalls, which will bear all kinds of produce and goods for sale, will be arranged up one side of the Octagon,-amusement devices and sideshows will fill another, and trade displays will be featured in yet another section. An archery contest will be held on the green, a bathing beauty contest will be one of the main attractions, wrestling, boxing, and weight-lifting contests will be staged in special rings placed in prominent positions, and all manner of amusements for children will be included. Bands will supply music from special stands. The City Corporation Reserves Department has taken steps to see that the (flower plots and borders are protected from the public with wire fences, while everything is being dpne to ensure that citizens are not inconvenienced by the necessary closing of the main street. The effort, which is to be made on October 19, is not without precedent in New Zealand. Queen street, Auckland, Was roped off for a similar function during the recent Queen Carnival effort there.

AIR FORCE CANDIDATE

When the Air Force Queen (Miss Mary Pratt) commenced her South Otago tour on Tuesday afternoon her first stop was at the Milton District High School, where she was welcomed by the Mayor and Mayoress of Milton, the chairman of the School Committee, and the headmaster. The pupils were lined up and gave Che queen a rousing reception. She afterwards delighted them by singing to them. Here Miss Pratt also met Miss Joan Cochrane, who is a teacher, and is the Country Queen in the minor queen carnival being run at Milton. Her next stop was at the Bruce Woollen Mills, where a director, Mr R. M. Rutherford, and the members of the staff conducted the queen and her party through the mills. Miss Thornton, who is the Borough Queen, and her maid of honour were presented to Miss Pratt. Tn the evening a large crowd attended the concert at Milton, and the queen was welcomed officially on behalf of the borough by the Mayor, Mr W. J. Cockburn, and the chairman of the Bruce County Council. Mr W. J. Sheat.

An appreciative audience heard an excellent programme provided by Mr Ernest Drake. The door takings were £35, and in a flag collection for one of Miss Pratt’s songs an additional £2O was raised. At Balclutha yesterday morning the queen’s first visit was to the Balclutha Primary School, where she was met by Mr R, R. Grigor. chairman, and members of the local Patriotic Committee as well as by the headmaster, Mr A, Hall. Th pupils, under Mr S. McGregor, sang delightfully in honour of the queen, and she was afterwards shown examples of the children’s war effort in the form of knitting and a collection of scrap metal. The party then went on to the South Otago High School, where the reception was a real inspiration. The queen inspected the guard of honour Under Captain Jolly, after which an address of welcome ‘.'as read and presented to the queen by Ron. Grant. This was followed by the principal, Mr J. Garfield Anderson, giving a short address and by two excellent items by the pupils—one by the Verse Speaking Choir under Miss Cruickshank and by the Glee Club conducted by Mr A. R. Dreaver. Miss Pratt then sang “ Lords of the Air A bouquet was presented to Miss Pratt by the head girl. The Air Force Queen Co-ordinating Committee wishes to express its appredation for the transport provided by two Dunedin stock and station agents’ firms for the concert party which travelled to Milton. Beaumont The Beaumont Patriotic Committee held a “Bring and Buy” sale recently. when produce and cakes were on sale. One or two competitions were also held. The amount raised during the afternoon, exclusive of raffles, was £l2 ss, and this amount will go to the Air Force Queen Fund. The raffles are to be drawn to-day at 8 p.m. in the Beaumont Hall. A Magnificent Response The stock drive in connection with the Air Force Queen appeal has just been completed in the Waikouaiti and Palmerston districts, and the sum of £IOOO has been realised. Taking into consideration the fact that neither district is regarded as a purely sheep raising area, this contribution by the farmers is a really fine one and is much appreciated by the committee. Air Force Ball One of the traditions of the Royal New Zealand Air Force—like its parent the R.A.F.—is attention to detail, and intending patrons and spectators of the carnival ball to-morrow night should see abundant evidence of the organising ability of the officers and men from the Taieri Station. Novel attractions, good music and excellent supper arrangements should provide a splendid foundation for the -happy carnival

spirit which will be further enhanced bv the planned flower decorations in the capable hands of the Gardening Circle of the Otago Women’s Club. The music is to be supplied by Jim Murray’s Swing Stars, and the alliipportant catering is in the hands of Mrs Campbell, Novel and spectacular ballets by Miss Constance Potts should prove to be one of the highlights of the evening, whilst the exhibition dancing of Mr J. Hall Greene and partner will undoubtedly be an inspiration for “On with the Dance.” The Air Force Queen (Miss Mary Pratt), sunported by her Countesses, will be officially received at 9.30 p.m., and although only a brief ceremony, should be one of the attractions of the evening. Dancing will be from 8.30 till 2 a.m., and spectators will be afforded opportunity of viewing this bright gala from the gallery. ARMY QUEEN ACTIVITIES To-morrow morning the army lank will be driven down to Port Chalmers, and local residents will have an opportunity of examining the attractive Army Queen float. Much interest has been aroused in the announcement that to-morrow night there will be a full-dress parade of the National Reserve Battalion, under the command of Lieutenantcolonel McPherson. The parade, which will be comprised of over 600 men, will pass through the Exchange about 7.30, and will march to a saluting post in the Octagon, where the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) and Queen Airini will be in attendance. In connection with the Army Queen shop which is being opened to-morrow in South Dunedin, next McConnel’s grocery shop, it is announced that the shop will be open for the receipt of donations daily between 2 and 4 o’clock. On Fridays and Saturdays it will be open for the sale of goods to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.. and from 9 until noon respectively. To-morrow afternoon at 2.45 there will be a big meeting of wives of civil servants in the Chief Post Office building to set up' a ladies’ committee to organise functions in support of the Public Service Princess. A special army night will be featured to-morrow, and arrangements have been made for the visiting troops to be present. The two halls will again be used—the Concert Chamber for all old-time dancing, and the Main Town Hall for all modern dancing. The music for the old-time dancing will be supplied by Wright’s Band, and for the modern dancing by Mat Delaney’s Radio Rhythmics, with the vocalists Miss Daphne Jordan, Jimmy MacFarlane and Arthur Waller. Spectators will be admitted to the circle for a small charge.

WOMEN'S RUGBY MATCH The following are the teams for the women’s Rugby match which is to be one of the features of the Olympia at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday:— Basketball Team.—Mavis Silver, Winnie Black. Gwen Perriam, Rene Werner. Reta Berghan, Betty Trevathan, Enid Simpson, Sylvia McDonald, Ray Quaid, Rose Treacy, Betty Vorrath, Pearl Parkhill, Peggy Neiper, Maisie Foote, Sylvia Jolly; emergencies. Clara Simon, Violet Pollock. Hockey Team—Greta Taylor, Agnes Watt, Nancy Fookes. Etta Webb, Lorha Gillies, Winnie Fea, Alma Saxton, Jean Hore, Lorraine Casey, Ida Duncan. Hilda Sonntag, Isla Niven, Agnes Laney, Lorna Voselagai, Eva Slyfleld; emergencies—Matilda Procter, Patricia Duncan, Cynthia Cavanagh,