CHEVIOT QUEEN CARNIVAL.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15453, 4 December 1915, Page 16

CHEVIOT QUEEN CARNIVAL.

2IISS 31. SAUNDERS ELECTED. A SUCCESSFI'L GATHERING. OVER L-mu REALISED. Yi'.-tcrclav :i icd-Icttcr dav for Clicviot. J-'roiii iar anil near over tho ".Xortli Omterfniry district men, women, snrl cliildren caine to'enjoy the fun of 11 ir* lair organised by the Cheviot i'ed Cioj-s Carnival Committee. Fetv* t-outiirv 'arnivals have been organised uiili such ihorouyhnoss to extract money iroin tile pockcts of liolidayina!;er~. The committee had the assistance of jncml)cr~ of tlie Commercial Traveller-' Association, who motored up lroni Christchuirh in the morning, anil within a very short space of time had transformed themselves into pierrots, harlequin?*, prehistoric men, Ited Indian's, etc.. and were organising .sidc.show.s with thc-ir usual energy. Hoop, la, box-hall. Punch and Judy, all came jii for their share of patronage, and a substantial sum was realised from these source--; alone. Special mention must bi. made of the mock court. This was a great source of revenue, realising over .L'lo during the day. .People were haled before tho bench—Messrs F. W Johnston and T. Cowlishaw —and lined 011 the most ridiculous charges. liven a ••Press" representative was not'exempt. lie was charged with the lCflcnce of being a "Press" reporter and fined os or - I hours.

Shortly at tor. 10 o'clock the day's proceedings commenced in earnest with a grand procession." The Cheviot Brass JJtind, under Conductor Ogden, led off, followed by a troop of Hoy Scouts. Then came the principal feature, the Queens. with their retinues eaeli it omited in state oil beautifully decorated turnouts. Commercial travellers, school-children, footballers ill fancy dress, decorated cars, bicycles, trap?, etc., and the general public made up the rearguard. On reaching the Show Grounds, the scene of the clay's icstivitics, a ring was formed, and the v.holo procession was photographed. It was arranged that the Queen presenting the best display in the procession should he accorded an extra 1000 votes, and tins honours wcro given in Ihis case by -the judges (the Mayor of Christ church and Air F. "\V. Johnston) to tho Fanners' Queen, Miss M. Saunders, whose triumphal .cpr, decoratod with wheat sheaves and pnrplo and gold and drawn by threw magnificent horses, constituted a work of art. Tho-four other Queen-s' turnouts were riot far behind' in the matter of decoration, as well as of originality. The Dardanelles Queen, Miss N. Jackman. was a good example of the latter. Enthroned in the centre of a "trench" made up or sand-bags. through which the models guns protruded, a most effective turnout resulted. The other Queens were Miss M. Sullivan. Queen of Commerce (green and cream), Mif(s It. Brown, Sports Queen (tangerine and white), and Miss H. Clark. N.Z.-Queen (white). After the judging of the Queens' displays, patriotic songs were lustily given by the school* children, who had been specially trained bv JUs3 llitchie io'r the occasion, and needless to siiy, they were heartily' applauded. This was followed by a very amusing fancydress football match-. Tho antics of the players as they turned somersauits and broke every known rule of the game, caused much merriment. The xest. of tho day's programme resolved itself into the' "various competitive events, the results of which are as follows: —

Deeorated Motor-cars: A. E. Edmonds 1, Mrs Winskill 2. Decorated .Motor-cycle and Sidc-car: A. Hinds 1, N! Wilkinson 2. Decorated Motor-bicyclcs: H. inccnt 1, W. Elliott 2. ■ Ladies Tug-of-War: "Dardanelles" (Mrs Dentou's team). Motor-car Slow Race: J. A. Pritchard 1 0 A. E. Denton 2. Motor-cycle and Side-car Slow Race: J. Hine i, IT. Ritchie 2. Draught Horse Race: Warstep (J. Dalton) I, Desert Gold (IV Redmond) 2. Turkey Trot Raeo (slow trot): Our Thorpe "(T. Redmond) 1, Ariadne (J. .Dalton) 2. Children's Tony Raco: Andrew Robinson. 1, Emily Robinson 2. .Tilting in the Ring, for Cars: W. J. Scott 1, 0. Blako 2. Cheviot Championship, ICOyds: C. Fleming 1, E. I.ochhead 2. lOOvdVßovs' Handicap: H. Webster 1, A.'Sloss 2. ' •> 410 yds Queen's Relay Race: Farmors' team 1; Commerce team 2. 75yds Boys' Sack Race, under lu: J. McLaughlin 1, T. McLaughlin 2. Ladies' Stepping Competition: Mrs Skinner 1, Mrs W. Hughes and Miss Hughes (equal) 2. 75yds Rovs' Siamese Race: C. Martin and H." Webster 1, R. Burns and M. Swajds 2. •30yds Girls' Handicap: Miss E. Ashworth 1. Men's Pillow Fighting: L. Pain 1, F. McPherson .2. Boys' Pillow Fighting: P. Barns 1, rA. Sloss 2.

Towards the close of the afternoon ■the result of the poll wa£i announced by the Mayor of Christchurch, who in a neat little speech, congratulated Choviot and district on its efforts on behalf of the Red Cross' Fund. The announcement of the winner, Queen Marion, tho . Farmers' Queen, was greeted with prolonged chcering. Miss Marion Saunders, as she is known in private life, is very popular, and- has given her best services to every patriotic movement organised in the district since the war started. She is a daughter of Dr. A. M. Saunders. Her victory in tho contest was confidently expected. The votes recorded were as_follows: — Farmers' Queen ... 71,785 Dardanelles Queen ... 55.270 Commerce Queen ... 30,069 New Zealand Queen ... 28,330 Sports' Queen ... 1(5.989 The total sum realised from the contest above by tin: sale of twopenny Totes amounted to £1729 Us 2Jd. In the evening the grand coronation ceremony wa> performed by Mr Holland. in the Town Hall, before , a crowded gathering. Tho crown, orb. and sceptre used at the coronation of Nurse Maude were kindiy lent for the occasion. Alter the crowning ceremony several honour* were conferred, and, judging by the applause received, the recipients were very popular men in the district. The honours list was follows: —

T. Gee. K.C. of Public Bodies. T. Fletcher, K.C. of Urbanisations. \V. Cottrell, K.C. of Money Bags. J. Hiutt, K.C'. of the Dardanelles. A. Allan, K.C. of Ceremonies. J. Gibson, K.C. of IXjcorations. AV. Payne. K.C. of Auctioneers. V*'. Bruce. K.C. o! Art Unions. T. Suliivnn, K.C. of Commerce. .1, I lagan, K.C. of Bachelors. }l. Gee son. K.C. of Toil. C. Barnes. K.C. of Geniality. R. Blackley. K.C. of Workers. 1.. .l:tfksoii. K.C. of Liberality. A Denton. K.C. of the Broad Smile. W. Hyde, K.C. ot Ford Cars. Ronald Opie, K.C. of Sports. ' Sollv Solomon. K.C. of Storekeepers. Alter the crowning ceremony, Mr Holland and Mr G. W. Forbes, member for Htirunui. delivered short addresses. A concert- organised by tho commercial travellers followed, and the day's festivities were concluded bv a dance. The total takings are expected to exceed £2000.