UNITED NATIONS CARNIVAL

Grey River Argus, 22 October 1943, Page 8

UNITED NATIONS CARNIVAL

CORONATION CEREMONY. A fitting finale to the recent successful United Nations Carnival was the Grand Coronation Ceremony last evening in the Regent Theatre, which held a capacity audience who loudly acclaimed the Queen (Miss America) the Princesses (Miss Russia and Miss Britannia) and their retinues for. the part they had played in the recent carnival. The first portion of the programme was given by the Hokitika Patriotic Revue Coy. under the capable direction of M’.ss Anne Duff. Miss Duff needs no introduction to a Greymouth audience as she has won wide acclaim here previously on the concert platform and presentations. Her revue last evening was splendidly done and deserved the hearty applause given. The company staged a “canteen scene” comprising members of the Hokitika W.W.S.A. and the Home Guard. The stage was appropriately arranged as a canteen and with the members grouped around; the scene was typically a military one. The choruses were all of the martial typo and the soloists whether in vocal, instrumental, comedy ordancing, all did their parts excellently. The principals who all performed splendidly were. Mesdames Harrison, Paterson. McFarlane, Preston, Crough and Misses Doyle and Upjohn (vocalists.) and Messrs Guthrie, Neil and Cooper (vocalists) and Harris (mouthorgan), Misses J. and V. Heenan and M. Rowe (dancers). A very fine display of marching was given by the W.W.S.A., the soloists for the numbers, the “Empire is Marching” and “V for Victory” being Mesdames Harrison and Paterson. The orchestra comprised Misses Jones and Cameron (piano), and Mr. P. Crough violin..

The Coronation ceremony comprised the second portion of the programme when the Queen and the Princesses and their retinues walked through the theatre to the stage where the Queen was crowned with due grace and dignity. There followed the presentation of the Princesses and Ladies-in-Waiting and honours were conferred on various leading citizens for the work accomplished by them during the carnival. Mr. J. W. Greenslade, Chairman of the United Nations’ Carnival Committee on their behalf presented the Queen and Princesses with tokens of esteem and thanked them for the work they and their committees had done. He especially thanked Miss Duff and her company for coming to Greymouth to stage their Revue, which he said thoroughly deserved the applause accorded. Pie also thanked Mrs. C. R. McGinley and Mrs. J. W. Hannan for arranging the coronation ceremony which had been carried out so graciously. Mr. Greenslade also thanked the various committees for their work, especially mentioning the work of Messrs F. M. Dennehy and F. W. Baillie. Mr. F. A. Kitchingham also expressed his thanks for the wonderful work done during the carnival and also to those silent workers who are always to the fore in patriotic matters. A verv pleasant interlude was provided during the coronation ceremony when excellent items were given by the following.—Miss Doris Willis. L.T.C.L., (songs) “The Coronation Waltz”, soloist. Miss Ella Cawlev and ballet comprising Misses F. McLean, E. Cawley, S. Airey, M. McGlashan, A. Davis and G. Foster; Spanish Dance, Missees J. and V. Pleenan and choral numbers by St. Mary’s Choir, including “Stars and Stripes For Ever,” “Star Spangled Banner” and “Mother Hubbard” The orchestra comprised the Convent Orchestra in selected - numbers “Melodies from the Messiah” and “Coronation March”, Miss Zita Munson, F.T.C.L., was the accompaniste The following comprised the Coronation personnel. —Mistress of Ceremonies, Dorothy Congreve; Victory, Kit Learmont; Miss Britannia’s Retinue: Bearer of Standard, H. Mulallv: Ladies-in-Waiting, Miss Holland Moira Donnellan; Miss Free France, Pat Allen; Miss Belgium, Freda Webster; Trainbearers, A. Nott and J. Moar. Miss Britannia, Joan Pearsan. Miss Russia’s Retinue; Bearer of Standard, D. Goodall: Ladies-in-Waiting: Miss Yugoslavia, Beryl Rostern; Miss Poland, May Rae; Miss Czecho-Slovakia, June Bishop: Trainbearers, E. Duggan and H. Clark. Miss Russia, Noia Gutberlet. Maids of Honour: M. Smith, P. Sheedy, I. Welch, J. Gutberlet. B. Werner, E. Cawlev. F. MrLean, S. Airey, M. McGlashan, A. Davis and L. Murrav. M : ss America’s Retinue: Bearer of Standard, C. Parfitt; Bearer of Laurel Crown, Mollie Barrowman: Bearer of Torch, Dorothy Jones; Bearer of Scales, Vonnie Goodall. Ladies-in-Waiting: Miss China. Mollie George; Miss Norway, Colleen Moore: Miss Greece, Edna Purser- Trainbear'erst J. Bluett, S. McAra, A. McKay and F. Will's. Miss America. Colleen O’Neill. Mistress of Robes. Gladys F«ter.