METHVEN CARNIVAL.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15464, 17 December 1915, Page 3

METHVEN CARNIVAL.

+ MISS McKKNDR Y ELECTED QUEEN. Tlic Methvcn district's efforts to "oiltribute u liberal quota to the £'2~>J«;<l which is now being raised in the Ashburton district as a whol<> was crowm-d with a big suceesr. yesterday, when the Methvcn Caledonian Society and tlu» -•.ount Hutt Oueen Carnival Committee combined and had a highly successful and most enjoyable gathering on tinracoeour.se. The joint, secretaries. Messrs W. J. Percy and J. F. Stone, the chairman of the General Committee (Mr | Win. Morgan). and a very strong and j enthusiastic committer, had working hard tor several week-, and vlm-h the procession started from tiie Road .Hoard office at about 10.30 a.m. ii was at once obvious that they '.iad n-jt laboured in vain, and that their efforts were going to reflect the highest credit on the prosperous district ot Met ncn and the adjacent localities. A tierce nor'-west wind raged all the morning, but this did not prevent the largest Gathering ever seen in the history of .Methveu. 'I'he wind died down somewhat early in the afternoon, and as ample shelter was given by a thick i»'!t of trees on the nur'-west side ol ihi; ground, the weather conditions generally were by no means unpleasant. I'iio procession, which was headed by the Ashburton Pipe Rand, included thirty - four most tastefully decorated motorcars. a lorry drawn by four hands'.mc: greys, a striking tableau of the village blacksmith, and various other decoratjd vehicles. The procession was abo it a mile in length, and was one which reflected very great credit indeed on all tlioise who had had the arrangements iu hind. The various Queens, with tlier.escorts and supporters, occupied promin'nt positions in their respective mni.n'enrs, and they included Queens representing tlic various districts as iinde,-: -LLaurist in. Miss 'McCormick ; L.vndhMi'cit. Miss MeKendry; Highbank, Miss R. Moffat t; Methven Farmers, .Miss M. •>. : ce; S[H)|-ts, Miss 31. Twoniey; Trades. Miss Livjngston. The crowning ceremony of the successful Queen took i>!a.o at 4 p.m.. Mr W. Morgan, chsiirman of the General Committee, officiating. There were numerous side-shows on the. ground, such as one lias now become quite accustomed to sec at similar patriotic gatherings, and all did a b'g business. The net proceeds of theeoubined gathering will go to the Sick nnd "Wounded Soldiers' Fund. During the afternoon the Caledonian Society carried out an interesting programme of .sports up to 4.30 p.m., with the following results: — Mile District Maiden Cycle Race: A. MePhail, 90yds, 1; C. J. Moore, 90yds, o 100 yds District Race: J. McGili. oyds, ,1; L! Mangin. scr, 2; A. Laurence, 3yds, 3. 100 yds Open Handicap: li. McCormiek, 3vds, 1 ; T. Coleman, scr, 2; H. L. Mangin, 3. One Mile Boys' Cvcle Race (under 16): McWally 1; Bennett 2. One Mile Open Cycle Handicap: .J. "Welch, 30yds, 1; C. Patching, 10<3yds, 2; AV. H. Jary, scr, 3. 220 yds Hurdle Handicap (open): H. L. Mangin, loyds, 1; D. J. Gordon, 21yds, 2; W. Burrows, scr, 3. Highland Reel in costume: J. licovcs, 1, J. Evans 2 . Highland Fling, for boys and girls under 18: Cavanagh ]. D. Ford 2. Marches, for Jocal pipers: P. McKay 1. Nieoll 2. The money value of the votes recorded for the respective Queens was:— £ s. d. 2. Miss McCormack ... 178!) 2 1 1. Miss McKendrv ... 1841 1 G. Miss 11. Mofl'att ... 0 3 3. 3L'ss M. Mcc . ... 840 0 7 4. Miss M. Twomey ... 443 17 3 o. Miss Livingston 313 0 0