The Carnival Queen

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 269, 14 April 1914, Page 5

The Carnival Queen

MISS HILDA BISHOP ELECTED. BY A LARGE MAJORITY. Miss Hilda Bishop, the "Country Girl," nominated by the Taranaki Agricultural Society, has been elected Carnival Queen of New Plymouth by a majority of 2422 votes over the second candidate, Miss Annie Hawke. THE VOTING. The following arc the details of the voting:— Miss Hilda Bishop (country candidate) 42,624 1 Miss Annie Hawke (Sportsmen's) 40,202 .: 2 Miss Madge Henriclis (East End) 32,805 3 Miss Eileen McGuirc (Revellers) 12,327 * 4 Miss Glory Harrison (Band)

10,118 5 Miss Elsie Bennett (Friendly Societies) 7531 6 Miss Veta Gilbert (Musical Societies) 5723 7 Miss Pansy Popplcwcll (Moturoa) 405 8 Total votes 151,735 THE CLOSING SCENES. It is long since any event aroused so much interest in New Plymouth, indeed in Northern Taranaki, as the election of a Carnival Queen has done. The fact that over one hundred and fifty thousand votes were polled alone shows both the energy of the comtaittces whith supported the various candidates and the support accorded them by the general public. For the last few days it bad been known that the "Country Girl's" candidature was being strongly supported, and those who had all along predicted a victory for her were more than ever confident of success. All day on Saturday country people were to be seen in the streets of New Plymouth eagerly discussing theiii candidate's chances, or actively canvassing votes for her. From eight o'clock fn the evening the streets Were crowded and animated. The East Enders, with their "Strolling Troubadours," had 0 good hearing, the Empire Theatre, where results were screened, filled rapidly; crowds gathered outside the Imperial Hotel, from the balcony of which the position of the candidates was made known, and the "Strolling Evangels," at the corner of Brougham street found few to convert. At an early hour it became known that the concert in the Good Templar Hall and the monster procession in the streets could not take place. It had been intended to screen the results in

the hall, making a charge for admission, and much 'dissatisfaction was felt there-

at. A somewhat stormy protest wag made, and it was decided to screen the results from the balcony of the Imperial Hotel, and to postpone the procession until the crowning ceremony. The results were also screened in the Empire Theatre and at the Red Post buildings. At about 8.30 the first count was screened and there was vociferous rejoicing from the sportsmen when' it was seen that Miss Annie Hawke led, followed by Miss Madge Henrichs, with Miss Hilda Bishop third. The crowd began to thicken, and the photos of the candidates, as they flashed on the screen, were greeted with something of the enthusiasm of a Parliamentary election. The sportsme* yelled a chant concernmg '.No 8," the country people cheered for their candidate, and supporters of the East Bnd candidate vigorously canvassed votes. At about 8.50 Miss Bishop had reached second place, Miss Hawke leading and Miss Henrichs keeping third place. Miss Eileen AlcQuire at 080 stage began to creep up, and when she occupied second place, with Miss Bishop-first. Miss Hawke third and Miss Henrichs fourth, the "revellers." were vociferous in their demands for a screening of her photo. , After the count at 9 p.m., Miss Bishop led throughout, the only movement being in the positions of Miss Madge Henriens, Miss Annie Hawke, and Miss MoCiuire, and Mfiss Glory Harrison. At 9.30 the polls closed, and just before 10 p.m. the result of the final count was screened before a dense crowd. An uproar of cheers and a babel of chatter, Mr. J. H. Hill made a jubilant speech from the balcony, and the crowd dispersed. The election of'a Carnival Queen was over.

The crowning ceremony will take place on riiumtov next in the Coronation liall.

TIIB GUOWNING CEREMONY.' The coronation ef Miss Hilda -Bishop as Qneem <of ,tlie Carnival" will take place iu Puskekura Park on Thursday next wutii all honours. Dr. Pomare will be lnviteu to perform the ceremony. A programme lias -been planned on lines seldom seen in New Plymouth l)?iore.. A xrocessign of the queen elect, lier maids -of honour, and attendants will loavo the Railway Nation at -.10 p.m. sharp, passing trough the J rmcipal streets en route to the Park where the ceremony will take place. Novelties m tl.e -shape of -roto.s<,uo I ends, giants and animals of prehistoric •lays win be present on tile grounds and pi ovule amusement for the masses. On entering t,.« grounds, every person who pays lor admission wll receive *i popular queen voting paper. Ballot box™ will l,e stationed inside the gates, oi l ilf r UI " IT P°P" kr f i uee " will l,e Of' a™n T' curt performance •ii i revels the popular nueen will be crowned and receive t«e tfift of alcmsts. .-lute and. Sons, a Indv's costume. Air R. ,|, llaj T „' ( , s( , )lt( , (I

A I'ItOTKST WITHDRAWN. I liv oxcitcnifiit connpcU'iV with t|u> closing of i.l,p p o l| s wns b y elis]>ut(>. tvluth arose at -tho'W mom'Lt n)„,onunß' ti* nitration of roi," or the leading- committees were til" !•!at n £> 111 Ol'JlT (,0 put in a t v01,.i f\ mm ' U } 11 nm,,!,,,. )rf of tile j u ' Ju n>rosent-;itivi's tin J.ast Ijkl Committee tlie Si)nrKmens C oimnittoo, an<i ti,V. . rnmsMi SH&SZ&p amicably settled. lis to' 1"