WEST END SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1922, Page 4

WEST END SCHOOL

THE QUEEN CARNIVAL. CROWNING CEREMONY. The Kawaroa Bungalow, New Plymouth, presented a very animated scene la'st night, when the crowning of the queen in connection with the recent West End School queen carnival took place. A fancy-dress ball was held in connection with the coronation of the successful candidate (Mary Garcia, the Westown queen). The throne had been erected on a dais at one end of the room. The ceiling above the throne was prettily decorated with colored streamers, studded with red, white and blue electric bulbs. The queen was attired in coronation robes, vyith a golden sceptre in her hand. She was preceded by two dainty little tots, who acted as flower girls, whilst her long train was held by two diminutive page boys, who were dressed in red, with touches of white on their dresses and hats. Maids of honor were also in attendance; The crowning ceremony was performed by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), who afterwards addressed an appropriate speech to the children.

After the crowning the chairman of the school committee (Mr. Jas. Garcia) thanked the Mayor for officiating at the crowning ceremony. Expressions of thanks were also accorded the Kawaroa Park Committee, the organisers (Messrs. J. Hoskin and J. Lobb), the staff of the school, the ladles and gentlemen who had assisted, and all other helpers.

Those in attendance upon the queen were: Flower girls, Marjorie McGill and Raeburne Jones; maids of honor, Hiki Koti, Gladys Hill and Jean Smart; pages, Jas. Harper and Jack Anderson. On behalf of the school committee the Mayor presented to the queen a gold bracelet, whilst the maids of honor were the receipients of gold brooches. Several trophies won by the school were also formally presented, these including the Weston shield (girls’ lifesaving), McHardy memorial shield (boys’ life-saving), Whittle shield (won by the boys’ cricket team), and a trophy won in the tug-of-war competition at the Kawaroa Easter picnic. The procession of over 120 children was a striking feature of the evening. Here could be seen a diminutive old English gentleman in mid-Victorian garb, rubbing shoulders with La Belle France; there a dashing Mexican cowboy side 'by side with a Dutch boy. Britannia, a girl footballer, nurse, a complete nigger minstrel party, Maori girls, poster costumes representative of many well-known commodities, fairy princess, Cupid, even Wee Willie Winkle with his candle—all these and others too numerous to mention were there in that gay throng of happy children.

The judging of the fancy costumes, a particularly arduous task, was performed to the entire satisfaction of all by Mesdames C. H. Weston and E. A. Walker. Their awards were as follows, the prizes being presented by the Mayor:— Best dressed girl.—Jean Charters (Butterfly); boy, Elric Cox (Robin Hood). Best original girl.—Maida Jones (Billiard Girl); boy, Jack Hoskin (Folly).

Best national girl.—Polly Keenan (Maori Girl); boy, Cora Tozer (John Bull). The winner of this prize was really a girl.

Best poster girl.—Marjory Cliff (Ford Car); boy, Lloyd Charters (Cocoa Tin).

Best comic (boys only).—Gerald Hoskin (Clown) 1, Roy Charters (Green Golliwog) 2.

Special prizes were awarded as follows: Colin Whitehead (Snowflake), Pattie Durdle (Cupid), Mavis Bailey (Reckitt’s Blue), Mavis McKay (Blue and Pink Powder Puff), Mavis Smart (spider Web), Olive Ericksen (Fairy Tale Princess), M. Carey (Swagger), and Basil Jury (Sundowner). The children were given the floor for dancing till 10 p.m., when supper was dispensed, after which a dance for adults was held. Altogether the function was most successful, and reflects great credit on all those concerned, particularly the organisers, Messrs. J. Hoskin and J. Lobb.