QUEEN CARNIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 156, 3 July 1940, Page 14

QUEEN CARNIVAL.

Spectacular Crowning

Ceremony Held.

W itii impressive ceremonial and all the pageantry befitting the occasion, the coronation of the Queen of the Carnival took place in the Town Hall la*; night, thus bringing to a close t!ie recent campaign for the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund. With Westminster Abbev as a background, and with the grandeur of the organ music as accompaniment. the Mayor, Sir Ernest as Lord High Chanceilor, crowned the Southern candidate, Mrs. Gordon Matthews, as Queen of the Carnival.

The hall itself provided a magnificent setting for the ocea-slon. A drop scene of Westminster Abbey, complete with stained glass window, transformed the back of the stage, this being particularly impressive before the proceedings commenced, when it was diffused with a dim blue lighting. Later illuminated figures of history appeared at the back, before the organ. 'Flags and bunting and strings of coloured lightprovided a gay contrast in the main part of the ballroom. A crimson carpet lay stretched the length of the hall, and along this came the various processions taking part in the ceremony, witnessed by the public gathered along the sides of the hall and in the galleries.

Shortly after eight o'clock the court began to assemble, a guard of honour composed of men of the Army and Xavy being first piped in by the S't. Andrew's Pipe Band. These drew up on either side of the carpeted approach to the stage, and they were followed bv band of the Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, in their scarlet coats, and the ambassadors of the various carnival queens, these being the chairmen of the respective committees.

Heralded by a fanfare of trumpets and announced by Mr. Ernest Thomas, as Grand Lord-in-Waiting, the candidates and their retinues then moved up the hall to the accompaniment of applause from the spectators, and the strains of martial music from the band. Each queen was preceded by two tiny flower girl* and attended by six maids in waiting and two pages. All wore graceful gowns in white, with their chosen colours forming sashes across the corsazes of their gowns, and appliqued in the design of crossed fern leaves on their trains. Ostrich feather fans also carried out their colours and coronet head-d-vsses were worn. The pages provided an original touch of colour in each retinue, being dressed in rich satins and velvets. Maori Queen's Reception.

A great oration was extended ir> tbe Maori queen, Ramai Te Miha. and her attendants, who were djessed in the traditional ceremonial regalia. The queen herself wore a magnificent kiwi feather cloak which had been lent by a Maori chieftainess. of high rank, while in her hair was a huia feather, possessed by the late Mere Paora, of the Orakei tribe, and handed down to Mrs. Maungat*i Babbington. Also of interest were the priceless greenstone tiki worn round the queen's neck, and the mere which she carried, both of which were the property of Mrs. Hugh Colwill.

On arrival at the stage, each queen waa greeted by the Lord High Chamberlain, represented by Mr. John Goidon, and escorted to her chair, her ladies-in-waiting grouping themselves at the back of the stage.

Renewed applan.se greeted the appearance of Mrs. Matthews, and her attendants, who. heralded by a long roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets, moved slowly to the red-draped throne. She was preceded by a number of flower girls carrying garlands of flowere and making a charming picture in their white frocks, and the bearer* of the royal emblems, clad in brilliant costumes, each of a different colour. The guard etood at the salute as she passed, while the spectators rose and cheered their welcome.

The crowning then followed, the ceremony being impressive in it« simpl'city. The public again rose in response to the Mayor's cry of "Long Live the Quoen," after which Sir Ernest read telegrams from the Prime Minister, the Hon. Peter Fraser, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, conveying their thanks to the Auckland district for its efforts on behalf of the fund, and congratulations to Mrs. Matthews on her success. Sir Ernest also expressed his own gratitude and then asked to be allowed to retire "on ministerial affairs."

All the candidates were presented to the queen, each promising allcr'ance from her people. Gifts of flowers and fruit, "gleaned from the fertile land," , were offered and accepted, the bearers striking a Golden Age note with their 'Grecian gowns, in different colours, and curled heads, adorned with laurel leaves. An emissary from the Royal Treasury, clad in blue satin tunic and sweeping cape, then arrived bearing the "Privy Purse." and it was announced that the amount raised for the fund in the Auckland district at present stood at £183,547. Coronation "Honours." A note of levity now slipped into the solemn dignity of the occasion, when the coronation "honours" were conferred on those who had taken a leading part in the queen carnival. Short speeches, appropriate to the deeds of those being honoured were made, evoking much laughter from the spectators. The '-hairman of the citizens' committee in :-harge of the carnival, the Hon. Eliot R. Davis. M.L.C., thanked the public for it- support.

It was fitting in this, our Centennial year, that the Maori people should play an important part in the proceed : ugs. and they were enthusiastically received when they presented a series, of hakas.

At the conclusion of the ceremony. Miss Jean MacFarlane sang "Land of Hope and Glory," while the court in all its splendour rose, and the audience joined in the fhorus. Mr. Trevor Sparling officiated at the organ, and during the ceremony, the St. John Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr. C. Hellriegel,' played soft' appropriate music. Mr. Alan McElwain acted as stage manager. The coronation was produced by Mr. J. W. Bailey, assisted bv Mrs. Bailcv and Miss Cecil Hall.

A ball followed, the first be?l;g danced by the court party, at the invitation of the Queen.

The coronation ceremony will be reproduced to-night and to-morrow night in conjunction with concerts. There will "be a matinee for children on Saturday afternoon.