Colourful Display of Coronation Ceremony

Northland Age, Volume XX, Issue 9, 7 November 1950, Page 1

Colourful Display of Coronation Ceremony

# There were many people on Saturday who were early on the stands ' of the A. & P. Showground, to gain vantage points to witness the grand tinkle of the Catholic Queen Carnival, j in the Coronation Ceremony. From about midday, the north end j of Commerce Street was a hive of activity, with people in uniforms arriving at the assembly point, ready to make up a procession which was probably the finest procession of its kind ever held in Kaitaia, and which would compare more than favourably with such a procession held anywhere else. .What was lacking in numbers was made up in quality of the work turned out. At 1.30 p.m., the procession left its assembly point for the march through Commerce Street to the Showgrounds. This was headed by the Kaitaia Municipal Band, playing as its first march number “Invercargill,” followed by “Colonel Bogey.” Immediately following the band were two teams of the Mangonui Marching Association’s marching girls in their very colourful and distinctive uniforms. These were followed by a troop of horsemen and women from the Mangonui Pony Club, adding that touch to the parade. It is a fact that horses have always provided an extra attraction to any parade, and on this day once again they proved their worth. Then came the well decorated float of the winning Queen, that of Miss Fay Divich, who had represented the Awanui Committee. Following this came the Waiharara Queen, Miss Neda , Boroevich. in a float which in competition would certainly have won first prize. Next came that of the Maori Queen, Miss Kathleen Tepania, in a typical float made attractive by the hands of her Ma&ri supporters. ■This was followed by the float of the' Farmers’ Queen which had been arranged to suit the candidate, in that the Queep was mounted on a tractor, and on the back were two lambs, all showing she had represented the farming community. Next came the float of the Queen of Commerce, Miss Julie O’Carroll, and it can be said that in a competition of the day, this float would have Secured second prize. Next in order was the float of the Central Committee, upon which was mounted the prospective knights of the Court, the bearers of the insignia . of office, the heralds, and the bits and pieces of such an affair. Then came other trucks which had been decorated by the Maori people with one truck laden with performers who kept the crowd amused with hakas and song. • Ahead of the procession was the Court Jester in traditional costume, and who was, in actual life, Mr. R. Mudgway carrying out the part admirably, both at that time, and throughout th e whole proceedings, keeping the crowd amused witl his caperings. As the procession entered the grounds, there was a large influx of people, which promptly enlarged the crowd to the proportions of somewhere near 1.800 people. Whilst the participants in the ceremony were disembarking, the band played selections, the marching girls gave demonstrations of their art, and the Pony Club gave most interesting demonstrations of riding, * Jroth in formation and as individuals. Then came the time for which everyone had waited. The Coronation Ceremony ! Kach princess and her retinue were announced to the dais by a fanfare trumpets from the heralds stationed one at each of the platform. With the coming of the Queen, a burst of applause resounded from the * crowd and the ceremony was about to commence. Lord High Chamberlain, Frank V Begley whose work by the way has been particularly appreciated -by the Central Committee, as is that of Mr. Mudgway, took his stand beside the Queen-elect, Fay of Awanui, and the placing of the Crown upon her head was most impressive. This was following the presentation to her of the Sword of Justice, the Sword of Mercy, the Orb of the World, the Sceptre of Peace, and the

Preceded by Fine Procession of Floats

Privy Purse which announced that the sum of £3,125/9/1 had been raised by the carnival. Then came the Proclamation and the presentation of the accolades to the Knights-elect. The Proclamation was as follows, enunciated by Lord High Chamberlain Frank Begley : “Oyez 1 Oyez ! Oyez 1 Know ye all men by these precepts that whereas Her Most Excellent and Illustrious Majesty, Queen Fay, Empress of Pukepoto, Soverign of Sweetwater, Monarch of Mangamuka, Protrectress of Pamapuria, and Ruler of the Dominions beyond Waipapakauri, has been graciously pleased to accept from her humble and insignificant subjects certain sums of current coins, dirty dough, filthy faloose and mouldy mazuma, and whereas her Most Exalted Excellency has graciously deigned to consider applying such funds to the purpose for which they were raised, and whereas her Serene Sublimeness has been graciously moved by the earnest entreaties and sincere supplications of her addled advisers to tender tangible tokens of her esteem and appreciation of the meritorious services of certain of her subjects.” Then came the ceremonies of the knighting. Mr. Fred Lunjevich was the first, his citation being : “ . . . her most gracious appreciation for the most noble manner in which you fooled everyone (herself included) by your treachery in deserting the ranks of th e butterfat folk and aligning yourself alongside the capitalistic commercials. By art extraordinary and in valiant farming fashion you didst manage to foil their malicious devices to enrich themselves with cream cheque devices. Since the Queen must necessarily continue to wear her Crown, she now confers upon you her most cherished possession the Anchor.” Next came the accolade to Mr. Andy Srhoj : “ . . . for the noble manner in which you rallied to the rescue of the hard' pressed and hard squeezed citizens of Waiharara. By your diligent efforts in many spheres you were a shining example. Her Majesty has noted your many efforts to make molehills out of mountains, and to populate the Convent single-handed.” Mr. Srhoj was then awarded with the most noble order of the Crown Top second class. Mr. Ernie Goodhew was next : “ . . . and bestow upon you her most gracious appreciation for the noble manner in which you came to the rescue of the breweries in their hour of peril when their profits were down to their last million. With complete disregard for your own safety you did make possible a record turnover and a realisation of liquid assets.” Mr. Goodhew was then made an honorary Irishman. Mr. Jack Walsh was the next victim, and it must be remarked that these gentlemen were decked out in period costume, though it is extremely doubtful if cigarettes were known at the time represented by the costuming. “ . . . your driving force, bustling tactics and unscrupulous offerings of the wrong oil caused consternation and chaos in th e ranks of your rivals. Your guile and cunning in scrounging dough (and sticking with it) thereby swelling the coffers of the treasury has been noted with exultation and pleasure, and in recognition thereof, Her Most Gracious Majesty confers on you the dignity of Chief Dispenser of Hooey.” Mr. E. Divich was next in order : “ ... at the bar of public opinion you were put to the test and not found wanting. Your spirits did not fail, and your bearing did not flag.” Mr. W. Treacher was one brought from nowhere, for Mr. Treacher, as were the next two, was unaware they were to be treat°d to knighthood, and were not dressed for the part. “ ... by unselfishly smoking, yourself, the entire ration of cigarettes and tobacco for the district, thereby improving the health of all save yourself. In token of your great sacrifice . . . you will carry with you at all times a small black bag bearing an inscription in gold letters, the celebrated Celtic proverb : ‘Kapai Te Waipiro’.” Mr. E. C. Ray was next in line for the recognition of the Monarch : “ . . . for resisting the formil-

able temptation to fiddle-faddle with the funds, for your generous donation of your entire crop of spuds to be sold in the street stalls, thereby causing widespread indigestion and a greater volume of business for the Social Security department, you will have conferred upon you the Order of the Cold Potato.” Lastly, came Mr. R. McSweeney : “ . . . and bestow upon you her appreciation of the efforts made by your humble self to swell Her Majesty’s coffers, even to the extent of holding riotous parties at youi; place of residence, until the local guardians of the law wer e constrained to enforce the keeping of the peace. And whereas your profession is the wangling of figures, you so successfully used your ability that the carnival showed a profit of over £3OOO. In view of your splendid effort, Her Majesty graciously confers on you the title of SQUIRE OF SKULLDUGGERY.” Following this part of the ceremony, there came five little flowergirls, each bearing a bouquet in the campaign colours of the candidates, and these were presented by the lasses to the Queen and her attendant princesses.

This was the close of the actual ceremony, and the microphone was taken first by the Mayor of Kaitaia, Mi’. D. Archibald, who congratulated the committees upon their very fine effort, and in facetious manner suggested that they might get together to raise funds for a Municipal Building for the Borough of Kaitaia. Mr. I. J. Berghan, Chairman of the County Council of Mangonui, also congratulated the committees on their effort, and upon the excellence of the day’s performance. Father von Rotter next spoke, and expressed his appreciation to all those present for their attendance : to the committees of the candidates for their work in the campaign ; to the Central Committee for their very earnest efforts, and to all those others who had done so much to make the campaign carnival, the unqualified success it had proved. He also expressed deep thanks to those who had donated so generously to the funds.

Following these speeches, the band played another selection, and there was a further exhibition by the Marching Girls, following which, all the performers of th e day gathered in front cf, and beneath the rostrum, for the honouring of THE KING.