QUEEN OF THE CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2499, 28 June 1915, Page 7

QUEEN OF THE CARNIVAL

MISS DOUGHTY WINS

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' NOMINEE QUEEN

BIG MONEY FLOWS IN

ENTHUSIASM AT THE TOWN HALL

Perhaps tie most exciting month Wellington has known was concluded on Saturday night, when tlie "Queen" Carnival campaign in aid of tho Wounded Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund, which has agitated a very large section of tie community, both in the City and the country districts, culminated in tho election as Queen of the Carnival of Miss Kate Doughty (No. 8), the nominee of the Commercial Travellers and wholesale business houses of the City. The weather was far from being? propitious. Probably it rained during the afternoon because the Sports'candidate's committee had arranged to hold a meeting on the Basin Reserve. On every occasion when that ill-starred committee had arranged anything the weather played a marring hand. Still, though many longed to see the sun out, helping to loosen the pockets of those whose moods are influenced by the meteorological conditions, no one lost heart, and throughout the day there was a fine money-rais-ing animation manifest among the various committees. Bafflers still raffled anything and everything under the sun. Everybody plunged giddily for motor-cars and .£IOOO nuggets, diamond and opal rings, rose bowls, boxes of cigars, and what not right up to the last moment. Flower girls sold flowers, hands and J pseudo-bands paraded the streets; money, boxes were rattled vigorously under the public nose, and not without the desired effect. Probably the calmest retreat during the afternoon was the shop in Willis Street (in the Windsor Hotel Buildings), where a number of cool-headed, capable men were assembled to sort and count the votes as they came pouring in. Here at all events there was no excitement. The staff made short work of the mounds of vote-tickets, and kept level with the inflow right up till the last. The Count. The count was conducted by a large «taff of skilled clerks, who worked in relays, nnder the supervision of the returning officer (Mt. E. J. Colley) and the deputy -retaining officer (Mr. A. T. Wells). The ballot boxes from the outlying districts were brought in at about midday on Saturday, in order to facilitate the work of counting the vote-tickets, but boxes at the principal tramway stopping places in the City were left until the evening in order to give everyone the latest opportunity of recording votes. The suburban boxes alone yielded two sackfuls of vote-tickets, which were vigorously attacked at about 2 p.m. Having emptied the sacks on to .trestled tables, the modus operandi was that the tickets were sorted into two sets of boxes, two of which bore the number of each candidate." This work entailed some delay, as ii addition to the numerous cards of sis tickets (one shilling's worth) there were thousands of single tickets to sort. Having sorted the tickets, each member of the staff was given a dox to count, and having counted their share, the tickets were: parcelled up, the contents noted, and tlie 'result was handed to the deputy returning officer (Mr. A. T. Wells), who handed the figure slips on to the returning officer (Mr. E. J. Colley).. Inside the Lines. The placid atmosphere of the afternoon did not extend into the evening._ After the evening meal the interest in the election began to quicken. Large crowds assembled in Willis Street to note the position of the candidates, but there was really veiy little change until the last sensational move engineered by the Travellers. On Saturday morning Miss Dori9 M'Cormack (Trentham Boys) was leading, vritH Miss A. M. Senior (Hutt and Petone) second, and Miss A. M. Palmer (Public Service) third. The first "reading of the tape" at 3 p.m. showed no change in tho positions of the two leading candidates, but Miss Low (Combined Drapers) jumped from the sixth to tlie third position, Miss Palmer receding to fourth place, and Miss M'Kegg (Manawatu) to fifth. At 4 p.m. Miss Senior had' topped Miss M'Cormack's total, and Miss Doughty (owing to the visit of a silent person with an envelope) leapt from the sixth to tlie third position. The Travellers were making their run for position, and had got on to the rails, just behind the two leaders. Three-quar-ters of an hour later it was dark outside, but light was coming to those.within. Mysterious men in khaki had dropped in with some heavy cargoes of coin, and once more the "Soldiers' Girl" was in the lead, whilst Petone's horde in the streets redoubled their efforts in order to put Miss Senior ahead once more, but there was no further alteration up till 8 o'clock (after which no further announcement was made to the public) when the positions were:— Miss Doris M'Cormack 1 Miss A. M. Senior a Miss Kate Doughty 3 Miss Low 4 Miss A. Palmer 5 Miss J. M'Kegg 6 Mrs. A. Williams 7 Miss T. M'Enroe 8 Dr. Platts-Mills 9 Nurse Everitt 10 Mrs. A. M'Vicor 11 Miss M. Roseingrave 12 Mrs. W. H. Smith n j 13 Miss .T. Lewis I t Mrs. S. Hempton 15 After 8 p.m. the money began to roll in. Piles of boxes, jingling with coin, were passed over the counter, the contents to be credited to tlus or that candidate. Trentham money in cheques, notes, gold, silver, and copper came along with such a rush that Miss M'Cormack became a hot favourite. The atmosphere, thick with smoke, became electrical. At 5.50 p.m. Mr. H. G. Hill (chairman of the Patriotic Society) warned all those not thero by right to leave the room before 0 p.m. Husky fellows were planted at tho doors. Mr. Hill, with his watch in hand, warned everyone that all cheques had to be placed in the box before 9 p.m.—none would be accepted after the stroke of nine, even if they were in the room. Immediately half-a-dozen men having no apparent interest in the proceedings became active, and moved towards the fateful box with envelopes in their hands. "Shut the doors With these words Mr. Hill at 9 p.m. exactly closed the Queen Carnival election. Big Cheques. At that hour the staff was going at top, counting little hillocks of vote tickets and mounds of copper nnd silver, but the interest was centred in the big box that each ene knew now contained the fato of the candidates. This was considered to be so important a matter that three scrutineers were appointed to witness the opening of the bos and the envelopes. Those appointed were Miss Taylor, Me.—ts. F. W. Manton and S. Geo. Nuth.in. Argument then arose as to whether tha amount of the cheques should be announced as they were revealed. The scrutineers favoured the idea, and Mr. Hill announced the amount of the cheque and to. which candidate it was to he credited. Tho announcements, inters

apersed with bursts of applause and exclamations of surprise, were as follow:— £ s. d. Public Service (Miss Palmar) 520 0 0 Commercial Travellers (Miss Doughty) 500 0 0 Commercial Travellers (Miss Doughty) 2,500 0 0 Commercial Travellers (Miss Doughty) 2,500 0 0 Commercial Travellers (Miss Doughty) 2,500 0 0 Trentham Girl (Miss M'Cormack) 100 0, 0 Trentham Girl (Miss M'Cormack) 5,077 0 0 Hutt and Petone (Miss Senior) 422 0 0 Hutt and Petone (Miss Senior) 488 0 0 Hutt and Petone (Miss Senior) 2 10 0 Hutt and Petone (Miss Senior) 48 11 7 St. John Ambulance (Mrs. Williams) 302 0 0 St. John Ambulance (Mrs. Williams 13 0 0 St. John Ambulance (Mrs. Williams) 13 0 0 Hutt and Petone (Miss Senior) 76 15 7 Tramways (Dr. Platts-Mills) 1,000 0 0 Tramways (Dr. Platts-Mills) 2,500 0 0 Hutt and Petone (Miss Senior) 35 12 6 West Coasters (Miss M'Enroe) 775 0 0 Total .£11),890 9 2 At the Town Hall. ' After Mr. James M'lntosh (treasurer) Had carefully noted these figures, and Mr. Colley had credited each candidate with the votes (at 2d. each) due to them—a work that took some little time—and all the late moneys and votes had been accounted for, the executive set out at 10.15 p.m. for the Town Hall, to announce the result. At that hour there was still a big crowd, numbering several thousands, in Willis Street, and on reaching the Town Hall a large crowd were found- to have assembled. Some had remained behind from the organ recital, and others had timed their arrival thero at 10 o'clock. As soon as the officials took the platform Mr. Hill asked the doors be opened aud the public admitted. In a few minutes there were over 2000 people in the hall. "I'm sorry to say," commenced the chairman of the Patriotic Society, "that I have no information for you (pause and "O'h's" of disappointment from the audience), but the returning efficer, Mr. Colley, has." (Applause and laughter.) "Ladies and gentlemon," raid Mr. Colley, stepping forward, "the winner of the Queen Carnival is Miss Doughtythunders of applause)— Miss McCormack is second—(applause and cheers)—aud Miss Senior—(here the applause and enthusiasm of the Hutt and Petone contingent was so prompt and continued that Mr. Colley never finished the sentence). "The difference between Miss Doughty and Miss M'Cormack is approximately 38,000 votes." (Applause.) A voice: "What about candidates 4, 5. 6, and 7?" "The final figures will be published in the Press on Monday. The figures are not quite complete, but the result will not be affected." Mr. J. Lewis (secretary of the Patriotic Society) referred briefly to the splendid manner in which tho society' 6 efforts had been supported, and referred particularly to the great efforts which tad been made by the Commercial Travellers, and thoso supporting Miss M'Cormack, who deserved every credit for the good fight they had put up. Mr. Hill then called for three cheers for the winner, which were heartily given, and three cheers for the rest of the candidate. He called on Mr. F. W. Manton to resnond for Miss Dru.ghty, but Mr. Manton had disappeared clubwards immediately on hearing the result of tho election. Somebody called for three cheers for Miss M'Cormack (which were given), and then three rousing cheers were given for "the boys at the front." Petone not Downhearted. Outside the hall Jlr. J. W. M'Ewan (the Mayor of Petone), speaking from "H.M.S. Petone," said that they were proud of the position their candidate had won in the great contest and wore not in the least downhearted at the result. Their candidate had not the advantages of some of the others, but nevertneless all. had worked well for the good cause, aud they were all satisfied. (Applause.) The Official Figures, Tho following official declaration of the poll was handed in yesterday:— Candidates. Votes polled. Miss K, Dioughty 1,753,251 1 Miss Doris M'Cormack 1,703,475 2 Miss A. M. Senior 986,919 3 Miss J. M'Kegg 589,614 4 Miss A. M. Palmer 585,478 5 Miss Low 579,793 6 Dr. Platts-Mills 557,612 7 Mrs. Algar Williajns 295,540 8 Miss T. M'Enroe 260,155 9 Nurse Everitt 169,430 10 Mrs. A. M'Yicar 39,615 11 Mrs. S. Hempton 34,563 12 Miss J. Lewis 30,206 13 Miss M. Boseingrave 29,155 14 Mrs. W. H. Smith 24,211 15 Grand Total :.. 7,639,047 (Sgd.) E. J. Colley, Returning Officer. Checked by (Sgd.) H. G. Hill, Chairman. (Sgd.) E. T. Doddrell, Vice-Chairman. The votes cast for the candidates repre. sent tho following amounts:— £ Miss Iv. Doughty 14,610 Miss M'Cormack 14,195 Miss A. M. Senior 8,224 Miss J. M'Kegg 4,913 Miss A. M. Palmer 4,878 Miss Low- 4,731 Dr. Platts-Mills 4,612 Mrs. A. Williams 2,462 Miss T. M'Enroo 2,167 Nurse Everitt 1,411 -Airs. A. M'Vicar 330 Mrs. S. Hempton 288 Miss J. Lewi3 251 . Miss Boseingrave 242 Mrs. W. H. Smith 201 Contest Yields £63,653. The nbove figures show that the sum of ,£14,610 9s. 6(1. was collected or donated on behalf of the winner, and .£14,195 12s. Gd. on behalf of the ruuner-up, a difference of only .£ll4 17s. The whole of the votes polled for everv candidate represents tihe sum of .£63,653 Ms. 6(1. That total has not been received by the Patriotic Society, as some large sums were forwarded direct to the Mayor with the request thai they should be credited to candidates, and certificates to that effect are held by I he soeipty on account, of such moneys. The figures nre easily a record for Queen C'ariiival contests" in ; New Zealand, and will form tho nucleus of a solid fund for tlm wounded and their dependents. 'Phis amount quoted does not, however, represent the whole of the money misiv) by the Carnival, which is still a li"e movement in full swing. The .EK.'i.B.s.l h*. 6d. is only the "Queen" contest monejr! Othor moneys have been raised hv devious methods for the fund'direct. The society*! present holds on amount a-pproxjnmtisn" ,£60,000, and with tho monevs held by tho Mayor (in trust) aud othae motive to

come in it is anticipated that a total of about X 75,000 will result.

The Travellers Rejoice. At the conclusion of the election, subsequent to the announcement there was a joyful assembly of commercial travellers and the ladies' committee in the club's social room, when the "Queen" nnd her willing army of vassals were congratulated by tho Primo Minister, the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Sir James Carroll, and Mr. H. G. Hill (chairman of the Patriotic Society), the flon. Br. Pomaro, Mr. D. Buick, M.P., Dr. Platts-Mills, aud Messrs. F. W. Manton, E. J. Fitzgibbon, and M. A. Carr. All the Parliamentarians made capital speeches appropriate to the occason, and congratulations wero heaped upon the Queen (Miss 'Doughty). Jlr. \\. R. Doughty responded on behalf of the "Queen -elect, Major A. M. Samuel on behalf of the Trentham Boys also tendered congratulations. The Ladies' Committee. headed by Mrs. 11. Wilson, and the executive, Messrs. I\ W. Manton (chairman), E. Phelps (secretary), S. Jacobs A. Jacobs, K Wilson, A. Campbell, F. Rush T. Cuthbertson, E. A. Batt, D. Craig, and K. Brew, according to the committee, deserve the greatest credit for the result of their efforts on behalf of the fund. A special word of praise is due to the "Judge" of the Mock Court, Mr. E. J. Titzgibbon, wlio waa assisted by Messrs. A. Newton and M. A. Carr as "Crown Prosecutors," M. T. Tuxnbull "Registrar," and T, Inglia "Clerk." A special vote of thanks to the Wangaimi and Palmerston North Committees was carried amidst cheers. Hard Luok for Trontham. Lieutenant Nimmo, organising secretary of the Trentham Girls' campaign, speaking about the result of the election, saya that the Trentham boys will be sorely disappointed over the lowering of their colours. They have been heavily handicapped in the contest, starting in the first place three weeks behind the otters, and so missed several gifts which were ear-mairked in otber directions. Again, their organising oommittee was a band of mere youths, all under twenty-three, who were faced with the combined intelligence and trained resources of experienced campaigners like the commercial travellers and other veterans of similar efforts. Lieutenant Nimmo 6ays that the boys at Trentham, and he and! his committee, cannot sufficiently thank the Wairarapa people, and particularly Mr. G. E. Sykes, M.P., for their whole-heart-ed support and practical help. Wellington city, he say 6, did very little for their candidate, and had it not been for their country friends they would have fared badly indeed. As it was, they finished only a short way behind the winner, and had their organising resources been adequate, several of their outstanding books would have been got in in time to have turned the scale in their favour. Lieutenant Nimmo also adds a word of gratitude for their lady helpers, and especially Mrs. Haile, and the girls of the T. and G, Mutual Office, under Miss Sissons. CORONATION CEREMONY. A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE. The crowning of the Carnival Queen to be performed at the Town Hall this evening promises to be the most unique and imposing affair of the kind ever held in Wellington. For a week past all the Queens aud a host of clever children have been rehearsing the pageant almost daily, until every unit knows exactiy his or her' duties and position in the august ceremony, arranged by Professor Cardston. The dresses to be worn have been specially designed by Mrs. James Hannah, and are on a particularly sumptuous scale of splendour, and the decorations, in the capable hands of Mr. E. T. Doddrell, promise to be majestic to tho last degree. The Coronation Chair will bo a replica of the real thing, and a glittering background of gold pillars, screened together, and hiung with scarlet velvet curtains will dazzle the eye. Twenty feet above the throne will be suspended a canopy in the form of a huge crown the apex of which will be a' facsimile of the Royal Crown. 'l%e hall will be festooned with coloured streamers in a most original and artistic manner, worked out in a harmonious colour scheme. The public are requested to take their seats as early as possible, as at five minutes to 8 p.m. the doors are to be closed to enable the Coronation procession to form up in proper order in the corridor. CORONATION HONOURS. The folowing coronation honours will be conferred at to-night's big gathering, and the full titles will then be fully explained:—Messrs. H. Gladstone Hill, K.C.8., 1.G., R.S.; Joseph Lewis, G. 8., P.M.S.; Elworthy Doddrell, A.D.8.W.; James M'lntosh, K.C.P.P.; Edwin Colley, L.H.C.C.; J. P. Luke, K.C.C.A.M.M.; David M'Laren, G.K.L. and P.L.; Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C.; Hector M'Leod, 8.G.8.5.D.M.; Albert Corrigan, M.N.; James Dykes, 5.5.C.1.; D. C. Bates, A.C.W.R.; S. Kirkcaldie, K.G'.C.C.Q.; L. 0. H. Tripp, li.P.T.; H. Gilmer, K.P.C.H.M.C.A.S.; John E. Fitzgerald, R.C.; E. J. Righton, K.C.F.G.U.C.C.; W. E. Fuller/ 8.E.F.E.; Ronald Lyon, R.C.C.K.8.; T. M. Wilford, L.H.P.S.S.P.; C. P. Skerrett, G.C.C.H.L.; F. W. Manton, A.D.C.H.M. and G. 8.; E. A. Phelps, B. of S.; L. Blundell, L.H.G.B. H.M.C.P. SCHOOL CHILDREN'S CONCERTS. Carnival attractions are still far from being exhausted. One of the most elaborate entertainments in which school children havo figured in the history of Wellington will be the combined schools' concerts to be given at tho big Town Hall on Thursday and Friday next. A rehearsal was held at the Town Hall on Saturday moruing, under the direction of Mr. Robert Parker, when some 300 picked children from tho State schools raised up their fresh sweet voices in patriotic song. Tha effect of this wonderful choir, backed by an organ accompaniment, was very thrilling, and the public can confidently anticipate an uncommon treat. The soloists will be Miss Phoebe Parsons, Miss Doris Hall, Mr. John Prouse, and Mr. E. J. Hill, with Mrs. E. C. Cachmaille and Miss Dorothy Mills as accompanists, and Mr. Norman Collie as organist. Several of the headmasters wars present on Saturday, and expressed themselves a3 delighted with the result of the rehearsal. MISCELLANEOUS. So successful was the Baby Coronation ceremony on Saturday afternoon that- Mr. D. M'Laren states that arrangements are being made for its repetition on a date to be announced. The Commercial Travellers made a fins last effort on Saturday afternoon. The mock court, which had been responsible for raising nearly ,£301)0, 'finished up in Parliamentary Buildings, and at the conclusion of a lucrative sitting its members were entertained in Bellamy's by the Hon. W. H. Herrips. At tho club there were numerous auction sales of gifts and a jumble sale. Special praise is due to the fine staff of clerks who applied themselves so enthusiastically to tho counting of tho voting tickets on Saturday. There wero about fifteen present during Saturday aftoriioon, but Saturday evening saw ihirty of them working at toji speed to keep up with the avalanclic ol tickets that poured in at intervals. On being tumbled out of the bags on to the tables the first business was to sort the tickets, and as every ticket or card of tickets hud to be overlooked the work was considerable. Occasionally a surprise was effected. On one occasion the deputy-returning officer staggered in with a sack" of voting tickets. When it wm tipped up a sigh of relief went up. Every ticket was numbered

"8" —tho bag was from tho Commercial Travellers' Club, and the blessing of the counters went forth to the travellers. Still every batch of tickets had to bo overlooked, but it was an easy matter to defect any other number than "H." because they simply did not exist.

C Company, Ist Battalion I'Trent.s"), ■came to light on Saturday morning. During "smoko" (10.30 a.m.), Sorgt.-Mnjor Cassidy went round with the hat, and in fifteen minutes collected JJ'JC for the Trentham Boys' candidal? (Miss Doris M'Corni.'ick), which was paid during tho afternoon to the Returning Officer.

The news of the return of Miss Dousrlity as Carnival Qinwn eamc a 5 a surprise to tho large crowd awaiting lor the result at. Petone, says niir rflrresp'inrlenl. .Apparently M'Cormack was "tipped" to win, wilh the Flut.t Valley candidate second. nevertheless cheers were driven for the first and second candidates, and when MiSenior nur, rinnrmncpd tliirrl mtire--heatti chests. were siven,