MARIST CARNIVAL

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1938, Page 8

MARIST CARNIVAL

SPECTACULAR CORONATION CEREMONY Marking the culmination of the recent successful carnival to raise funds to erect the new home for the Marist Brothers in Greymouth,-, last night’s spectacular coronation ceremony drew a packed house at the Regent Theatre. Under the capable direction of Mrs J. W. Hannan, ,th e whole production was an outstanding success, and the big audience was loud in its praises of the work or the artists and organiser. The proceeds are to be devoted to the Greymouth Dental Clinic which should benefit substantially. , ,■ Miss Quita Hassall, who topped the poll in the recent carnival, , was crowned “Queen of Gteymouth”, the coronation being preceded by a procession from one of the side entrances of the [theatre through the aisles to the stage, enabling patrons to secure an excellent view of the beautiful frockings. Miss Hassall was attired in a beautiful frock of cream brocaded satin, with a wide gold floral panel at the front. Her long red velvet ti?ajn was edged With white. The princesses wore white satin frocks, cut on classical lines, with silver girdles falling from the waists. Their short trains were 'of velvet lined with satin, and they wore jewelled bandeaux. The trainbearers of the queen were Dorothy Jones and Margaret Hanrahan, and others taking part in the ceremony were: Ist Princess, Miss Colleen Moore, trainbearers, Brenda Guerin, Margaret Fisher; 2nd Princess, Misg Carmel Jefferies, trainbehrers, .Margaret Bellamy, Allison Ellery; 3rd Miss Mollie Coll, trairibearers, Miron Brown, Pat McGirr; Lord High Chancellor, Mr Neil Collins; Earl Marshal Mr A. J. Quill; Mistress of Robes, Miss K. Carson; Herald Margaret, Jackson; Bearer of Mace, Mr K. Coll; Bearer of Imperial State Crown, Owen McCarthy; Bearer of Jewelled Sword of State, Brian McCarthy; Bearer o'f Orb, Pat Bently; Bearer of Sceptre, Margaret Bourke; Bearer of Chains, Thelma Inskster; Lhdies-in-Waiting,! Misses Agnes Butler, Joan Guerin, Noreen Kennedy, Rose? Ward, Joan Walker, Kathleen Pollock; Flower Girls, Betty Marshall, Shdna McAra, Joan Moar, Shirley Price, Josephine R|poni Anderson. For the coronation, replicas of the Crown jewels were used, the Imperial State Crown being ; actually used, whilst the four other crowns and emblems were on display bn the stage. The replicas were loaned by Messrs Hay’s Ltd of Greymouth. At the conclusion df the ceremony, Very Rev. Father J. Long expressed thanks to Mr s Hannan for arranging the pageant,' the beauty of which, he said, exceeded all expectations. Ho was pleased to make suitable presentations to the Queen and Princesses in gratitude for the splendid work they had done during the carnival which has resulted in the raising of f 5400. He expressed thanks to all who had supported the candidates, and said that the people of the disI triet had so snlendidlv and natientlv

assisted that it made one feel proud to be a West Coaster no matter of what degree (applause). Father Long expressed his regret at the absence owing to indisposition of Mr J. Hassall, fath’er of Miss Quita Hassall. Presentations of suitably inscribed gold wristlet watches, were then made by Father Long to the queen and the princesses, amidst applause. Prior to the termination of the programme, Mrs Hannan was presented with a bouquet by Mr P. Coll, the stage manager, and gifts of chocolates were made to those taking part in. the pageant. Prior to the ceremony, a splendid programme was presented, opening with a selection by the Convent Orchestra. An outstahding item was the chorus “Hungarian Dance" in

wnicn me convent pupus wore appropriate national costume, and Miss (Vonnie Goodall wap soJlo dancer. Songs were rendered by Miss Doreen Donovan, Mr T. G. Hatch, Mis s Melva Moss and Mr D. A. Goulden, whilst the Marist Boys’ Choir rendered a bracket of numbers and an action chorus “Watch the Navy". Tap dance numbers were presented by Vonnie Goodall and Pat Gifkins, Daphne Goodall and Margaret Ellery, Monica Sinnott and Dovey Richardson, and Royce Kerr, whilst Misses Eileen 1 Hannan, and Pat Gifkins were seen in classical numbers, Joan Moar and Pat Spiers contrjjuted an enjoyable duo, and a song and dance number was given by Audrey and Sylvia Ward. Mr Max Marshall and Miss Patti Marshall rendered the duet “Will You Remember." Two ballets were presented, the “Blue Danube" with Miss Melva Moss as soloist arid the following dancers: Misses Eileen Hannan, Vonnie Goodall, Pat Gifkins, Daphne Goodall, Pat Spiers, Gay Mullaly and Margaret Ellery, and the Militarv Ballet, in which Miss Eileen Hannan was assisted .by Misses Dawn Mullaly, Joyce Inglis, Valmai Bergamini, Vonnie Goodall, Pat Gifkins and Rosemary O’Brien. The accompanists were Misses M. McSherry anc M. James, and Mr Pi Geddes.