Waipiata Carnival.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 9 April 1915, Page 2

Waipiata Carnival.

Since the movement at Waipiata to hold a Queen Carnival in aid of the Belgian and Serbian Relief Funds was initated, it created a great deal of interest, *ven of rivalry, all over the district, especially among tbe fair sex. Although the large purchase of tickets by many male friends and supporters of the aspirants to the covetad honor showed that the same spirit had taken hold of them. As the day of the great event grew nearer, keen interest centred round who was leading. The function took place at Mrs Martin's residence, Coney. Creek, Waipiata, on Saturday, and where the laige hall and spacious lawns proved very suitable. The weather was not I what could be desired, a bitterly cold wind prevailing all the afternoon. Despite this unpleasant factor, a crowd assembled, being. repre sentative of all parts of the district, and t'or the rest of the day the place was the scene of gaiety and animation and keen business, too, the bevy of ladies whose services were enlisted for shooting and bag-a-telle competitions (which displaced the old-fashioned at,d illegal raffies) being especially active in chasing the nimble sb pence or shil;ing,

The formal opening was in the hands of Mr R. Scott, M. P., and in a neat and appropriate speech be daclared the function opened, and immediately the work of depleting the purses of the assemblage began, an operation which all submitted to willingly. In addition to the above-mentioned ways of rais-

ing money there were a number of stalls containing the usual variety of articles found it bazaars, and the attendants displayed their wares and endeavoured to get rid of their stock with a skill in bargaining which would have raised the envy of a Whitechapel contemporary. A passing amusemenj for the young was a tent presided over by a lady who pretended to be deeply versed in some occult science which gave her the gift of prouhecy. " Sheep guessing competitions, etc., were also arranged for those who could judge—or misjudge—the qualities of slock. Of course, the great event of the day was the crowning of the Queen. The young lady upon whom this honor fell was Miss Becker, of Poolburn, who was put forward for the high din» nity by the residents of a country called Oturehua, and she attained the honor owing to the enormous wealth of the people of her dominions, who spent the fabulous sum of .£9O- to uphold the glory of the empire (possibly history will say that they secured the crown by bribery and corruption.) The defeated representatives of the less wealthy countries were: Waipiata, Miss Wilson, £B7 18s: Patearoa, Miss L. Carr, £BO 17s ; Kyeburn, Miss Crutchley, £36; Ranfurly, Miss C. Heid, £33 I4s; Naseby, Miss K. Brown, £lB ss. These ladies acted as maids of honor to the successful aspirant. As the pageant left the palace doors and wended its way to the raised dais in the centre of the lawn on which the ceremony was to take place, it was a fine spectacular display, the costumes being very pretty and suitable to the various parta represented. The youthful Queen and her attendants and the representatives of the different lands beyond the seas bore themselves with becoming dignity. Rev. Mr Drake acted the Archbishop's part and placed the crown on the head of Her Majesty, and hoped that she would uphold the traditions of the past in which Liberty, Truth and Justice played so prominent a part. Rev. M. M'Lean, chairman of the Oturehua committee, delivered a brief, and humorous address, in which he urged the supporters of the defeated queens to lay down their arms of re-« hellion and become loyal subjects of the selected monarch. Mr R. Scott, M.P., spoke on the practical side of the function, referring to the great distress of our unfortunate allies for whom the mfney was being raised, and the need there is of our minißtering to their necessities, as we are reaping the reward of their self-sacrifice. Mr Jame3 Ho well thanked Mrs Martin, the committees, and all who had assisted in making the carnival a success.

The speechifying had to be cut short as some of the representatives of hot climates had not prepared for the keenness of our mountain breezes, and in bare arms and light diesses they looked very " blue." Mr Peterson, Kokonga, acted as crown bearer; Mr Sinclair, Oturehua. and Mr Robert Paterson, Waipiata, as standard-bearers; the ladies- in-waiting as train-bearers, assisted by two small boys; Mr Hore and Mr Strang as guards of honor; Mr Scanlan and Mr R. Tregonning represented Indian officers; and the following countries (Britain and her allies) were represented as follows: England, Miss Ri-a Howell, Waipiata; Scotland, Miss Geddes, Kyeburn; Ireland, J. Tburlow, Patearoa; France, Miss V. Inder, Naseby; Belgium, Miss Farqohar, Blackstone Hill; India, Miss Christopher, Naseby; Servia, Miss Tregonning, Waipiata; Russia, Miss Greer, Ranfurly; Japan, Miss M. Armour, Gimmerburn; Canada, Miss Harrex, Becks; Britannia, Miss I. Jones. Tne schools represented in the procession were Ranfurly, Waipiata and Pateajroa, the boys of the latter carrying model guns. This part of the procession was under the cars of Mr Davidson, Alexandra.

The stalls were attended as follows: Kyeburn, Mrs Strode, Mrs Hawke; Naseby, Mrs Cristopher, Mr 3 F. Inder, Miss A. Brown ; RBnfurly and Gimm erburn, Mesdamas Armour, 1 Reid, ss Armour; Patearoi, Mrs Greer, Miss Carr; Waipiata, Mesdamos. Tregonning, Roberts, Miss M'Donald; Waipi ata produce, Mesdames Mathias, H- Dowls, A. Icder; Waipiata flower, M sses R. Howell and G. Here; refreshment, Mrs Howell, assisted by Mesdames M.' M'Donald, Lothian, Youngnian, Misses F. Howell, R. Inder, M. Christopher, E. PaterHori. D. Paterson, and Mrs Whitehead, Misses L. Kennedy, N. Hatnann and other ladies assisted in various ways. •

Gipsy tent, Mrs Turner, artist, Alexandra; oyster .saloon and sideshow, Mr H. Law, Wedderburn. In conclusion we may add that the carnival was suggested by Mrs Martin, who was the moving spirit all through. She also provided the costumes with one or two exceptions and dressed the ladies taking part in, the pageant. As the whole thing was worked up in ten days it showed what can be done by a little enthusiasm. In fact, Naseby had only eight days and Kyeburn and Patearoa five days each in which to prepare, and Mrs Martin wishes to acknowledge the wonderful results achieved in so short a time, and thanks each district for its kindness.

Tha exacting,duties of general secretary were ably discharged by M iss I. G. Jones.

A lot of preliminary hard work was done by Messrs R. 17. Tregonning and J. Howell, assisted by members of thdir families and other young men. j Mr Burnside, Dunedin, decorated the) platform used as the throne room.

We will now have to say, like our Wedderburn correspondent, if any are ' omitted, as they may be in a report | of such a function, we hope they will ! take the will for the deed. I

Two-thirds of the funis go to the j Serbians, and one third to the Bel- j gians. ' The Queens produced £346 and it is anticipated that about £450 ! will be the total result. The expenses } were very small and will be boroe by the Waipiata Committee. Each dis- ' trict handles its own money and pays ■ it direct to tbe general treasurer, Mr, J. I. Praser, Naseby.