QUEEN CROWNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 10

QUEEN CROWNED.

SPORTS NOMINEE.

CORONATION AT TOWN HALL.

COLOURFUL CEREMONY,

A Court scene—nine magnificently arrayed young women, whose different trains made a multi-coloured carpet round their feet, all grouped round one who sat enthroned among them; a Town Hall packed to the doors with loyal subjects for the purposes of the court, and an impressive background of solemn music from the great organ —the contest for the *queensliip of Prosperity Week had been fought and won, and this was the coronation of the victor, the Sports Queen, Miss Shirley Watkins. The ceremony was the climax to a concert held in the Town Hall last night. The first section of the entertainment was made up mainly of items by Jasper's Merrymakers; then came the fine pageant, "Heart of Auckland," by Madame Baird, and finally the climax of the evening, the coronation of the triumphant queen.

The Entrance. At the back of the stage, clad in shining armour, stood the Knight of Prosperity, keeping guard, as it were. Then, as the organ whispered from afar off, increased in volume until it thundered, there entered from the back of the hall the first of the regal cortege. Gaily clad heralds announced that after them came Her Majesty the Queen of Sport, to be enthroned. Slowly stepping, as befitted the occasion, regally apparelled and of queenly carriage, the Sports Queen, Miss Shirley Watkins, followed her announcers, while the organ rendered homage on the greater pipes.

The Queen of Prosperity Week was attended by two train-bearers, wlio displayed, their care to the best advantage, a train of royal, splendid red. They were dressed in slashed doublets of blue and white, the colours of the queen, and the representative colours of the Auckland province. Behind, again, pattered tiny girls, clad most daintily, in the part of attendant fairies, one supposed. In line behind their mistress, for the nonce came the other nine, each attended by two train-bearers, each clad in doublets of their particular mistresses' colours. The Queen of the Week ascended the stage, and the throne prepared for her. The other nine grouped themselves round her.

A Gorgeous Scene

Under brilliant lights the scene was a gorgeous one. One might have thought that eo many different colours would have clashed; but no—the impression was one of colour, colour and colour again. The many trains rippled out from behind the queens and on to the stage, like rivulets of flaming colour. There were scarlets, there were blues and golds, there were reds, whites and other- blues. Under the brilliant lighting all were the more offset against the -dead white of the dresses proper of the queens. A final crescendo of thunder, and the organ ceased.

Two chamberlains, in black knee breeches, read the coronation scroll, the right of the Queen to reign over the city "bounded on the north by the Whau bridge and on the south by the Harbour Bridge;" 'One of them placed the'brown on the head of the queen. ■/

From by her side a lady-in-waiting stepped forward and craved leave to present to her Majesty their "Royal Highnesses" the other queens. Each stepped forward as called, and made obeisance; and their queen responded with regal grace. The organ pealed again, and with their Queen in the lead the splendid cortege filed again up the other side of the hall and away.

Just as impressive as the crowning was the pageant, "Heart of Auckland," presented prior to the coronation. Its theme was courage in a time of adversity, for "prosperity would come again." From the heart of Auckland, at the summit of a flight of sharp, rocky stairs, there issued forth the figure of returning prosperity, or of hope, who descended the steps. Below, in the depth of depression, crouched figures miserably clad. The spirit touched each, and uhen turned to lead the dejected up the rocky stairs with the golden thread of renewed hope.