THE QUEEN CARNIVAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 95, 13 October 1915, Page 2

THE QUEEN CARNIVAL.

Local Organisation Instituted. For the purpose of instituting organisation in the Pukekobe district in connection <*ith the Queen Carnival promoted by the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Association, a public meeting, convened by the Major (Mr H. G. K. Mason) and the chairman of the County Council (Mr J. Flanagan), was held last evening in the Premier Hall, Pukekohe, Mr Eliot Davi°, vicechairman of the Auckland Executive, btirg present to give particulars of the Executive's arrangements.

Considering the importance of the occasion the object of the gathering the comparatively meagre attendarce was disappointing, the hall not being half tilled, although lidies formed a goud proportion of the assembly. The country districts were represented ty Messrs A. Willis, W. Crawford and D. W. Jones, from Papakura; H. Wilcox and Appleby, from Buckland; R. Dynes Fultor, from Tuakau; J. Henry and E. C. Cuff, fmm Patumahoe; and B. E. R L. Wily, from Mauku.

The Mayor presided, and wss supported on the platform by (County) Councillors J. Flanagsu, J. Henry and H. Wilcox,

Mr Eliot Davis slated that as a delfgate from the Auckland Exrcu : tive it gave him great pleasure to visit Pukekohe for the purpose ul explaining the Queen Carnival arrangements. 'I h 3 Carnival was simply a scheme tor raising money for wounded soldiers and their dependents. He had thit day seen some 500 men leaving Aucklard tor the training camp at Trentham. and the departure of troops ought to make everyone realise that those gemg away deserved to be assured and comforted by knowi g that if anything hsppened tn them tbeir dependents woul 1 be looked after. (Applause). Similar carnivals had been highly successful in Southern towni—Giaborne having raised £37,000; Dunecin, £76,000; Wellington £73,000 and Chrutchurch £56,000. It was sn unpleasant fact that although Auckland had sent away more men than Iha other provinces the?e had been less money for the Wounded Solaieis' Fund in Auckland collected pro rata based on the population than in othar parts of the Dominion. Consequently after car. fully considering the question of the best means of securing additional lunds the Executive had adopted the Carnival idea. Although th? scheme was only launched on September 16th, the £BO,OOO that formed the tital of th> previots subscriptions for tha Wour.ded Soldiers' Fund had already been swollen by some £50,000, and the objective was to increase the £BO,OOO to £250,000. The carnival was a healthy competitive form of raising money and there was no reason why anyone who might be opposed to the holding of art unions cr raffles should not assist the laudabe object of 'ha Queen Carnival. Twelve different ladiei had been selected for the Que?n competitions, and the candidate receiving the greatest numter of votes wculd be crowned Queen of the Carnival, the other candidates then becomirg Maids of Honour. Each Queen had her own district and a par icular following, all classes of the community th'iß bein* embraced. Ever; 3d subscribed represents one vote. Pukekohe had been attached to the Queen of the South district, for which Mrs R. F. Bollard was the candidate, and thus every £1 raised in the district r* presented 80 voles for Mrs Bollard. Hamilton was the headquarters for the southern part of Mrs Bollard's district, and Pukekohe would be the hadquarters for Ihe northern end. A carnival week, from Monday, November 22nd, to Saturday, November 27th. would be held to close the competition, and during that period all kinds of amusements would be provided, and (he following week the winning Queen would be crowned. That event would be carried out on a scale of magnificence never previously equalled in Auckland. Mr Davis conclud2d by stating that thorough organisation was the keynote oi success, and it was for the meeting that evening to form a main executive for the district, who should meet ia Pukekohe once h week, and also to appoint a local executive for the borough. On the motion of the Mayor, the Chairmen of all the local authorities in the Franklin and Manukau counties, together with the members of the ridings for the northern area of Raglan County, were constituted the District Executive, with Mr J. F. Deane (Town Clerk) as secretary, Messrs H. Bockett, A. lirigor and Alan P. Day were appointed as the Finance Committee, and Mr Petchell as Auditor. The following were elected as the Local Committee, with power to add to their number, viz., Mesdames P. (J. R. Mason, Grigor, F. Brown, Townson, McArthur, James Ronlatun, Baxter, Webb, I. A. Motion, Mills, Barter, C. Clarke, Nixon, and the Misses Webster, Graham and Kennelly; the Mayor and Dr Wake and Messrs Woollett, Webster, James Roulstop, C. Clarke, H. Dell, McArthur, M. Wright, C. Roadley, Barter, J. Patterson, I. A. Motion, Hubbard, Townson, Baxter, Perkins, W. T. Jones and Matthews. In answer to Mr H. E. K. 1.. Wily, the Mayor stated that it would be for the members of the main Executive to attend to their own particular districts and to convene meetings. A vote of thanks to Mr Eliot Davis for his address concluded the proceedings