QUEEN CARNIVAL.

Shannon News, 11 December 1923, Page 3

QUEEN CARNIVAL.

CROWNING CEREMONY

Tiie crowning ceremony at the ' Theatre on Thursday evening, as a. finable' to the Domain Queen Carnival, Was carried out in a manner most suitable to the conditions of Shannon, the whole ceremony being very impressive, though simple and pretty. Stage arrangements and, details were in the hands of Mesdam.es Terry and Laurvig, Mrs Terry also acting as Mistress of the Rohes. The rise, of the curtain found the Executive seated at each side of the stage, with the. raised pedestal and throne occupying the centre, A stirring Coronation March was played by Mrs Butler and on the appearance of. the Queer!, leading the procession, 'the large audience rose and remained standing until the Queen Was seated. TWo tiny pages followed 'Her Majesty, acting as train bearers. Closely behind 'the.pages came the chief Lady-’ in-waiting’ (Miss ,M. Gireedy), then followed the second and third jadies-in-waiting, Mias E. King bearing on a - crimson velvet cushion the sceptre and Miss L. Kohika bearing the crown on a white, satin cushion. As the stage space was very limited), the procession was enforcedly very short,, but the Queen took advantage of all available space ! and came to the front of the stage where she turned and mounted the steps to the throne. • As the wee pages dropped the train, the chief lady-in-waiting stepped forward, assisting the. Queen to 'be seated and then artistically draped the train of the Coronation robe'and • of the Queen’s frock. The 'chief lady then stood 1 at the right of Her Majesty, the second .and third, ladies ranging themselves on her left. Mr Linklater then came forward to crown the Queen. Miss Kohika stepped behind the throne ’and Miss/ Greedy took the ‘ crown Which she presented to Mr Linklater: Miss King handing the sceptre to Miss Greedy, who later presented it toi -Mr G. Mitchell. Mr Linklater, addresing the Queen said he esteemed It an (honour to perform the crowning for to reach the high position she was in hours and nights had been spent in (hard work. He went on to say that the Farmers’ Queen represented men and women, who in recent years had gone through a very trying time, but he was l pleased to say they had once again turned the comer towards prosperity. ‘ He pointed <>nt that when > tihe farming community prospered it meant prosperity to the whole Dominion. : He was pleased to hear of the harmony that existed throughout the contest, andl .the whole community was to he congratulated on the -effort made, and he felt sure everyone appreciated , the effort to raise funds for Improving the Dom’ain. In years to- come our queen could look back with pleasure to the important part she had taken towards raising, funds for the fl rst' improvements to th e Domain. He then thanked those who had worked so hard to get such splendid results, after which he mounted the steps to ■crown the queen and addressing her, he said that it gave him great pleasure to prowii her Queen of the Shannon Carnival, congratulating her Very heartily on the high position she had attained in the realm.

/ After the crowning of the Queen and the presenting of the sceptre by ■Mr Mitchell, the enthusiastic audience rose to/ their feet with “She’s a Jolly Good Fellow” arid cheers. The Queen then rose and graciously acknowledged I their congratulations, the ladies-in-waiting came forward 1 in turn and kissed the hand of the Queen amid enthusiastic applause from the audience. , After which the Queen and ladi.es were presented with beautiful bouquets.

When the cheering ceased Mr J. T. , Bovisi, on behalf <of the Executive, addressed the Queen and gathering. He said everyone, he was sure, was well acquainted with the exertions of the committees in support of their vari'oius 1 Queen - candidates and the. labour and time that has been entailed upon them,, but in view of the satisfactory results achieved, he was equally sure that the committees and workers must feel well repaid for their efforts. On behalf of the execu- . tive he thanked the candidates, each and all having done -exceptionally well. He said before closing, be - had a very pleasing duty to perform and that was a presentation of small tokens to- the Queen and her ladies-in-waiting, as an appreciation of their ' acceptance as candidates of the Queen Carnival. . In presenting the Queen with a beautiful gold neck pendant he'said he felt sure she would cany out her duties to the entire satisfaction of the community. (Loud applause) .

To the ladies-in-waiting he. said, , though possibly they were disap- - pointed at not attaining the coveted position he hoped that -their disappointment would not dampen their ardour for future Queen contests. He then presented to-each, a gold neck pendant,-the pages receiving a box of chocolates. (Applause). He then thanked the -public as a whole, for the hearty support given the contest-. Mr S. Henry, gecretay of the Far. mers’ Queen Committee, said it gave him great pleasure to represent the winning Queen and] he heartily thanked all who had assisted in placing their Queen in the premier position. He congratulated the other commit-, tees on the splendid fight they had put up. Mr H. Greedy, on behalf of the Fibrje Q)ueen 'Committee,, said! the splendid result of the Carnival, reflected great credit on all concerned, and the crowning ceremony Was a splendid ending to such a successful carnival. All the committees had worked hard, no stone being left unturned to-obtain .the best results. Now that they had been so- successful in j * raising such a large sum of money he hoped that it would be spent judici-1 . ooisly and-a good lot be spent in making a pleasure ground for the benefit ~ of the children, 'even if they, had to

make another call on the public -so as to secure another section for recreation purposes. (Applause).

Mr J. Crowther, representing the Sports Queen Committee, s’aid it gave him great delight to congratulate the successful queen and offer congratulations to her committee. He said his parity Were not down (hearted* and referred to the harmonious manner irt .which, the contest had been carried! out. To their queen (Miss E. King) he extended the thanks of their committjee. , Mr J. Beard, in. the absence -of the Chairman of the Maori Committee (Mr W. Murdoch), extended the congratulations; of his committee to the Queen ■and her committee. He referred to the chivalrous nature of- the Maoris, staling that he was pleased to represent them. They had fought a clean fight 'and been- defeated and were now pleased to congratulate the successful Queen of the Shannon Carnival. Miss E. Easton, who made a charming Queen, was/attired in white oharmeuse and lace profusely trimmed with beads, with train lined, with palest shade blue; her coronation robe being of crimson velvet, trumped with ermine ; Miss M. Greedy’s frock was of whitp silk stockingette, beaded, with train.; Miss E. Kingfs white crewe-d'e-chine with train; Miss L. Kohika, native dress; the two little nnges. Master L. Easton and _ little Miss V. Easton., in suits of white and pale pink. Prior to- the crowning ceremony, items Were, contributed 'by the following -Maori String Band; violin duet, Miss Pickles land Feetham; dance, Phyllis, Patton; songs by Mrs Kopuru, and Messrs L Linklater, Quarrie, Bovis and F. Main; recitation, Mr S. Henry; all of which were Well received.

AFTER THE CARNIVAL.

A, QUESTION

(To the Editor). Sir,—l desirie: to congratulate- the Farmers’ Queen on gaining the majestical position of Queen of the Carnival and all the other Queens. and their, respective committees who took such good part in raising the sum. of over, £550 for so* noble a cause. I also wish to congratulate those responsible for the carrying put of the Coronation ceremonies, which was a credit not only to themselves but to our little toym.

During the ceremony I did not see our worthy fellow citizen, His Worship the Mayor,, on .the stage. With, such a- successful carnival as this one has been, and which was for the good. of the town as a whole, one naturally looks for our Chief Citizen to take some part in the proceedings. He was not there to speak, on behalf of the 80-rouigh Council, nor . was he there as- one of the executive of the Maori Queen;-committee of which I believe he is chairman. Was His Worship indisposed? If not, I am . scry that he could not possibly find it, convenient to attend such a, function, for T doubt if a bigger carnival has been in Shannon- before. Surely, sir, there could he nothing in the proceedings which did not meet with his approval.—l am, etc., QUERIST.