Southern Girls Meet Judges

Evening Star, Issue 19411, 20 November 1926, Page 5

Southern Girls Meet Judges

The Auckland Queen Miss Sutherland Elected Scenes of Wild Enthusiasm [Special to the ‘ Stab.’J AUCKLAND, November 19. " ; ; The round'of pleasant excursions which the beauties have been indulging in was interrupted to-day, when' th& six southern representatives were asked to attend-and meet the Judging Committee. The gathering took place in the lower lounge of the Hotel Cargen, and'the girls, who are now quite accustomed to being scrutinised, were quite at ease. The judges—Mr L. Cohen (Wanganui, chairman), Mr G. Wycherley (Otago), Dr Jessie Scott (Canterbury), Mrs J. A. Tripe (Wellington), and Mr A. J. C. Fisher (Auckland) — took careful note, and will again meet the girls, together with Auckland’s choice, at luncheon and afterwards tomorrow. The proceedings this afternoon concluded .with a cup of tea and a chat, during which all the eight finalists declared that they would not have missed the experience of the past few weeks for anything. Strangely enough, nearly every girl has lost weight .since leavmg home, and is anything from four to eight pounds under the published weight at the time of election, this in spite of the fact that they have had little exercise;and much feasting. “Miss Otago” delightedly stated that she'had been able to have two good games of tennis since arriving in' Auckland. Misses M'Millan, M'Cubbin, and Pycroft are having their portraits painted by a well-known local artist, Miss Jaoohsenv who intends presenting them to these girls as mementos -of the historic occasion. • , ■ In the evening the theatre was crowded to hear the announcement of the result of the voting in the “ Miss Auckland” contest. Mayor G. Baildon it was who made the announcement, and when he made it known that Miss A. Sutherland had won the house roared its approval. Streamers by the hundred linked the audience to the stage, and youths in the gallery made the air hideous with screeches, hooters, kazoos, and the like. The announcement that Miss E. Ford had finished second, and so become Maid of Honor, was also received with warm approval. Miss Sutherland is a small brunette with a sweet, smiling expression. Miss Ford is also small, but she is a blonde. Both the defeated candidates are tall girls. ■ The mayor invested the winner with a black and gold ribbon, and handed each of the four many wonderful bouquets and other gifts. An enormous crowd waited outside the theatre to greet the winners. To-morrow’s announcement of “ Miss New Zealand ” is awaited with tremendous, interest. Another Account Remarkable Scene In Theatre [Special to the ‘ Star.’] ’ AUCKLAND, November 20. .Unparalled in the history of His Majesty's were the scenes that took place last night when Anita Sutherland; a popular candidate in the local section of the New Zealand Beauty Contest was vested with the title .” Miss Auckland,” with Miss Ellen Ford as maid of honor. The demonstration- of the public, both inside and outside the theatre was terrific. It was overwhelming; and outbursts of enthusiasm given in the past to various notabilities paled into insignificance When compared with the homage meted out by Aucklanders to-Auck-land’s Beauty Queens. The Southern girls paraded first in the usual order, and .were each accorded wonderful receptions from a house that was awaiting its own representatives. When the curtain rose again to disclose ' the four Auckland finalists (Anita Sutherland, Ellen Ford, Distin Strange, and Queenie Grahame) lined- on the stage before a great dais covered with flowers and a motley of presents, a roar like an avalanche went up from the audience, and hundreds of streamers came down from'the gallery. ■ ■ •; ■ : When Mayor Baildon, walked on to make the announcement vociferous applause was continued, and h$ was forced to wait for some time before he was able to speak. At last the noise died, down, and the audience waited in dead silence for the announcement. He wasted no time in giving .out', the news: “Anita Sutherland has topped the poll.” -'-A mightier roar than ever went up, and increased as the mayor placed the “Miss Auckland” ribbon on Miss Sutherland, -who stood smiling and bowing as the-streamers fell about her, ‘ ‘ Ford was second,” announced the mayor, and the outburst • was renewed and continued as the dainty little lady stepped forward to receive the congratulations of Mr Bqildon*

An Hour among the Sick GIFT-LADEN BEAUTIES VISIT HOSPITAL. ■“ Miss Otago ” and her Maid of Honor, together with other candidates for the “Miss New Zealand ” honor, visited the Auckland Hospital the other-day. The Auckland 4 Star' gives the following account of the visit: — Joy was taken into the wards of the Auckland Public Hospital when, in response to requests by patients, and with the permission of the superintendent (Dr C. E. Maguire), the visiting queens of beauty and their maids of honor, with two of the Auckland finalists (Miss A. Sutherland and Miss Queenie Grahame), visited the institution. The, girls arrived laden with dozens of balloons and books for the children in the Princess Mary building; while Miss Marie Osten, of Otago, carried a huge bunch of flowers, which she distributed in some of the adult wards. The party, in the charge of Mr A. E. Shepard, was met at the main building by Dr Maguire and the matron (Miss Taylor). The children’s hospital was visited first, and the kiddies were delighted with their fair visitors, who made a great fuss of them and handed out the balloons and books. Then followed a tour of the various buildings, where young and old were waiting to see the girls. Dr Maguire's jovial manner made the girls feel perfectly at ease in the wards. He introduced the girls singly, and, to use a theatrical phrase, “ got a laugh across ” in each ward by presenting Mrs Law,; the aunt and chaperone of “ Miss Wellington,” as “ Mrs New; Zealand.” The girls went from bed to bed, passing a few cheery, words here, asking a question there, and gaining many smilea and encouraging remarks from the sick, to whom their visit was a wonderful event. All the girls were asked for at various times by name.- “ I should like to see Miss Sutherland,” said one, and another in a different ward •wanted Miss Grahame. Bequests were also made for Miss Ellen Ford and Miss Distin Strange, who were unable to be present. Others wanted “Miss Otago,’* little “Miss Canterbury,” and “Miss Wellington,” while the maids of honor, too, were similarly honored. One old lady of eighty-six, who had the misfortune to break her leg recently, lay back and gazed at all the girls, who spoke to her in turn. “Do you think I’m one of the beauties ” asked Dr Maguire. “ You’re a beauty, and I’m a beauty, too,” said the old lady, to the huge delight of the cheerful superintendent. At the conclusion of the tour the party was entertained at afternoon tea by the matron, after which the nurses’ home was inspected. Dr Maguire, who characterised the day as a red lette* one in the history of the hospital, and Miss Taylor were thanked most sincerely for the very kind manner in which they entertained the girls, who will long remember their 'visit to the largest public hospital in Australasia.

Jamuna’s Jaunt SOUTHERNERS RIDE THE ELEPHANT. *' Jamuna, Auckland’s own elephant, donned her finest livery on Tuesday,” says the Auckland ' Star.’ ‘‘lnstinctively she knew, when summoned rather late in the afternoon, that it was an exceptional cause. The beauties were awaiting her. Tull of pride, she ambled up to the landing stage, playfully flapped her ears, and, when the girls were mounted in picturesque array, threw her trunk in the air and regally showed them round the Zoo.” The northern paper publishes a picture of Miss M‘Millan, : Miss Osten, and others on the back of the magnificent elephant, which was beautifully accoutred for the occasion. ‘‘At the conclusion of their tour round the park,” proceeds the account, “ the girls visited Jamuna in her home, and saw the keeper put her through her tricks, which she performed with exceptional brilliance, due, no doubt, to the distinguished company watching her. When it was suggested that the girls would like to ride Jamuna, the obliging keeper led her out and saddled her up. She gave one long, lingering cry when led to the mounting platform, and, with many shouts and cries of alarm when the elephant ‘ got a list on, ’ the girls clambered aboard. Jamuna commenced to amble about, with her valuable-cargo of beauty shrieking and laughing, and hoping she wouldn’t take upon herself to roll over. Miss Isobel Wilson, of Wellington, had pride of place on the animal’s neck, and the keeper told her with some pride that she was the first girl ever allowed to guide the beast. Jamuna. agreed to stand still while ‘ Star ’ photographers ■ did their work, and then she shuffled back to the stage, where more merriment marked the dismounting process. The girls were all delighted with the city’s fine Zoo and the manu®c ife Irhioh they were treated by the officials*’-!