IMPŔESSIVE SPECTACLE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 4

IMPŔESSIVE SPECTACLE

Queen Crowned In Carnival For War Effort

A spectacular culmination to the Auckland provincial queen carnival for the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund was the coronation ceremony, which took place before a large audience on Tuesday night in the Town Hall. The winning queen, Mrs. Gordon Matthews, and her section, collected more than £40,000 for the fund.

Beautiful gowns of silk and velvet and .the .rich dignity of the Maori costumes formed a brilliant kaleidoscope of colour as the whole fensemble was grouped on the stage ..with the. winning queen seated on her throne in the •centre. A large drop scene ,of Westminster Abbey in the background, a deep crimson carpet upon which walked all who formed the procession, and'- the strains of martial music, gave a further: touch of realism. The winning queen’s lovely frock or soft white satin was panelled With silver lace and lightly embroidered with seed' pearls. Over her shoulders fell the long regal train of purple velvet. The gold and jewelled crown was placed on her head by the mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, as Lord High Chancellor. C > Eight of the other queens wore frocks of white, fashioned in various styles in which simplicity of line was the keynote. Colour was given by the sashes in each queen’s chosen_ colours worn across the corsage, and in the design of crossed fern leaves appliqued on to their long white satin trains. Lach queen carried an ostrich feather fan, and their headdresses, though d'ffering in material and design, were all of the coronet style. . The Maori queen, Miss Kamai re Miha, wore, instead of the white gown of the other queens, the traditional Maori ceremonial dress. This comprised a magnificent kiwi feather cloak of great rarity, which was loaned for the occasion by a Maori chi'eftamess of high rank. Worn in her hair was a genuine hula feather, possessed by the late Mere Paora of the Orakei tribe and-handed down to Mrs. Maungatai Babbiugton. Miss Te Miha s attendants were in Maori ceremonial dress, all of which: had ..been loaned by Princess Te Puea.

Following the coronation ceremony a ball was held, the queen first inviting the Court Party to dance.