Miss New Zealand’s Return

Evening Star, Issue 19699, 28 October 1927, Page 4

Miss New Zealand’s Return

Dunedin Opens Its Heart

’Tis beauty calls and glory shows the way 1 Beauty called and glory paved the n ay for a superb welcome home to Miss Dale Austen, Miss New Zealand of 1927, in Dunedin yesterday afternoon. Otago’s elected beauty lor this year had charmed the public in the preliminarv voting, and thousands were joyfnl 'when the talented 17-ycar-okl girl won the title of Miss New Zealand. Her triumphant tour through the dominion completed and capped with tho crowning ceremony, Miss Austen’s return to her home town was a further triumph.

Dunedin citizens are not sparing in the sincerity and heartiness of welcome to those representatives of the province who distinguish themselves in other centres and bring renown to Otago. Few will forget the welcome home to last year’s Queen of Beauty, and the 1927 winner’s heart must have fluttered when she looked out of the carriage window as the train steamed in and she saw tho crowd tightly packed round the big iron gates at the southern end of the railway station. Slowly the express moved along the station to the enclosure where the car in which Miss Austen was travelling was to stop. “Miss New Zealand, 1927,” was painted across the front of tho engine by enthusiastic railwayman, and those who had taken a stand bn tho railway bridge -wore the first to send up a cheer. It was carried along the bridge to tho crowd of 1,000 or 2,000 packed outside the gates. Any girl save one who had been accustomed to crowds and feteing would have been deeply embarrassed and conscious if she had stepped off a railway carriage and been so loudly cheered as Miss Austen. Emharrgsed? Not she! Three months of touring, receptions, theatres, and crowds had given her composure. As New Zealand’s “ ambassadress to Hollywood,” radiantly beautiful in a black crinoline hat, a black frock, and a brown fur coat, stepped on to the platform she bowed and smiled her acknowledgments to the legion of Dunedin friends and_ supporters. her travelling companion was her brother, Murton, who quickly disappeared irom the scone. “Isn’t she beautiful?” The words were on a hundred lips. The crowd pressed round the enclosure in an effort to have a glimpse of the beauty. And they say hero worship is unknown in New Zeeland! Why, Dunedin’s reception to Miss Austen was a pocket edition of New York’s reception to the “ flying fool ” Lindbergh. On tho platform were Mrs Austen, relatives of Miss New Zealand, her personal girl friends, Miss Thelma M‘Mll- - (last year’s winner), Miss Vera Hod"e (Miss Otago’s maid of honor), Mrs'S. Pitt, Cr R. S. Black, and Mr Stewart Pitt. The station master had anticipated a big crowd, and so that the formal reception could he conducted without a hitch he had marked off an Personal welcomes over, the group was photographed, and then a number of beautiful bouquets were presented to Miss Austen. Those in Lower High street could not obtain a very good view of Miss New Zealand, so she was lifted on to a table. A happy, short speech of welcome was made by Cr Black. A e do love beauty at first sight,” write the poet. “And wc do cease to love it it it is not accompanied by amiable qualities.” The Dunedin public could not cease to love Miss Austen’s beauty, for as she stood before tho admiring crowd her presence was that of a girl unspoilt by her success, and her smile was sincere. She was a. happy a oung lady, and really glad to be hack in Dunedin. The boucpict which Cr Black piesented to Miss New Zealand was comprised entirely of New Zealand blooms, and it was reallv a gift from tne whole of the people of‘Dunedin, as the flowers had been obtained from the Botanic Gardens. Cr Black declared that Miss Austen was as "beautiful and as liesii as tho flowers, and Dunedin loved her. The citizens were exceedingly proud ol her success, and he assured her at .a hearty welcome to her native town. The people felt that when tho time came for her to enter upon her film career she would not only distinguish herself and cam honor for New Zealand by her histrionic capabilities, but aLo hv the strength and deepness of her character and her common sense.

Dale Austen a Great Favorite

The tour through Now Zealand has been wonderful, hut Miss zlisten said she was glad to be back in Dunedin. At no time had the trip been tiring, as tbe stay in the various places was short and the train journeys were broken. The girls in the competition had all been great friends, and a better chaperone than Mrs Shepard could not have been found. While she was away she had continued her studies in elocution and acting, and tho experience on the stage had been excellent. “I was so excited to got hack home that I was Jumping round in r.y seat when the express passed Port Chalmers,” she said. She had to thank all her supporters throughout New Zealand for placing her at the top of tie poll in the contest. But particularly had she to thank the people of Dunedin, who had elected her Miss Otago, and thus given her the chance to compete against the elected beauties ■ of tho other provinces. She knew in her own heart that it would not be all fun to hold the position of Miss New Zealand, but she would do her utmost to uphold tho honor when she reached Hollywood. One who she had to thank deeply was Mr R. S. Black, who had taken a deep interest in her activities.

“Yes, it will be a busy time,” remarked Miss Austen when the i reparations necessary for her trip to America were being discussed, “1 understand 1 will be sailing on or about December 6 to fulfil my film engagement with tho Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr studios, although nothing definite has yet been fixed.”

Aliss Austen does .not vet anew what class of acting she would like to take up. Tho selection of her roles is in the hand of Ihe directors, and without doubt they will give her characters which, will suit her qualities and personality. All the finalists in the Aliss Now Zealand competition were photographed in Dunedin by the Art Lite studios, and the photographer declares that Aiiss Austen was by far the most suitable for film screening. Her face was Leo of defects, and a photograph could be taken from any angle and give a beautiful proof.

Three hearty cheers were given for Miss New Zealand, and then she had to almost force her way through the crowd to her car. Policemen endeavored to hold tho crowd hack, but women, girls, and children broke the ranks, and the other members of the official welcoming party had considerable difficulty.

Misses Austen, Hodge, and M'Millan were seated in the first car, and tho thickly-pressed crowd in Stuart street had an excellent opportunity of comparing tho types of beauty which had earned admiration throughout New Zealand. They were, indeed, a bevy of pretty girls, and the public gave them a wonderful reception. Comparisons wore made, and “although in beauty faults conspicuous grow, the smallest speck is seen on snow,”_ few would deny that this trio of maidens was fully representative of the beauty of Dunedin. The Duke of York’s passage up Stuart street was a joy ride compared with Miss Austen’s journey. Barricades made the course clear for the Duke, hut the beauty’s car had to move slowly through tho big crowds. Young hoys apd girls and women “ whipped behind ” the car and packed so closely about it that at least K) minutes passed before the Octagon was reached. There the roadway was a sea of faces, hut once into Princes street rile cars had an easy trip. The scenes in Stuart street were memorable, and they showed the tremendous interest taken in the beauty competition and the popularity of Miss Nov/ Zealand. The adage that the prophet has no honor in his own land cannot be applied to competitors in a beauty competition. Tho welcome home indisputably proved that Miss New Zealand is honored in her native city. She is tho “ people’s sweetheart,” and tho people took her to their hearts when she drove through tho city. At tho Grand Hotel another big crowd was waiting to see Miss New Zealand, who was hurried into the hotel. Tho official party were entertained at afternoon tea by Mr and Mrs Arthur Pan pc, and later Miss Austen was tho guest of honor at a dinner party. After dinner she broadcasted her thanks to the public of New Zealand from 4YA.