THE QUEEN CARNIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22065, 22 September 1933, Page 8

THE QUEEN CARNIVAL

RINGING DOWN THE CURTAIN SPECTACULAR CORONATION CEREMONY The curtain was rung down on the Queen Carnival, organised to raise funds for the relief of distress in the city, with the crowning of the Civic candidate (Miss Billie Mitchell) as Queen of the Carnival. The occasion was a spectacular success, visibly and audibly enjoyed by over 3000 people, and characterised by colourful splendour and striking dignity. The ceremony was magnificently mounted and conducted with all the solemnity and decorum of a royal court. The fanfare of trumpets,

the triumphal music of the bands, intermingled with the tramping of armed, guards, created a suitable atmosphere for the high-sounding, pontifical utterances of the queen’s advisers and attendants. There was a breathless hush as the side doors opened to admit the vanguard of the procession, a hush that was quickly disturbed when the packed house realised the full splendour of the display, the wealth of costuming and colour, and the careful and thorough attention to detail in the assembling of the retinues of the four contestants for regal honours in the carnival. Tho immense crowd expressed its appreciation in the most enthusiastic style and followed the lengthy ceremonial with the closest attention from start to finish.

The first part of the evening was de-' voted to a concert programme of unusual quality and variety, commencing with greatly appreciated selections by the Band of the Otago Regiment under the direction of Lieutenant Asten. Mr W. Ruffell sang two numbers very much to the taste of his audience, and Miss Helen Roy was enthusiastically received in both her items. The Minnesingers provided a delightful interlude in the form of the part song, “ The Revel of the Leaves,” and the Returned Soldiers’ Choir, conducted by Mr J. T. Leech, sang several numbers, including “Irish Cradle Song,” in which the solo part was taken by Miss Ruth Perry. Miss Evelyn Shepard sang. “ Carissima ” and “Cherry Ripe,” in her usual delightful style, and Mr J. E. Davies used his striking tenor voice to excellent effect in two numbers, one of which was the original Welsh, version of “ Men of Harlech.” Mr Alex M'Dowall also sang, taking as one of his songs “The Two Grenadiers.”

The stage had been exquisitely arranged for the coronation ceremony, the centre being occupied by the throne dais and the remainder tastefully decorated with greenery and spring blooms. On the right sat the Returned Soldiers’ Choir and on the left the Otago Regimental Band. About 100 seats had been removed from the centre of the hall to allow of a proper approach to the stage by the procession after it had circled tho entire hall, the extended aisle being richly carpeted and ending in a low, wide staircase leading to the stage. The procession entered led by a stiffly proper and formal Master of Ceremonies (Mr Angus Gorrie), who had been preceded a few minutes before by the armed guard. Behind him came the bearer of the colours (Miss Sealy), who bore a standard draped with the white pennant of the Queen. Then came tiny Miss Rita Cook, the darling of the audience, beautifully dressed in pink organdie, and sustaining to perfection the delightful duties of the bearer of bouquets. The ladies-in-waiting followed, led by tho “ Cinema ” candidate, Mrs R. S. Black, exquisitely gowned and wearing a train in which the colours of her cause were prominent. Her little pages, small boy and small girl, were arrayed in gold and green respectively. Mrs Norah Ross came next, wearing rich blue velvet and a blue and red train, borne by tiny representatives of the military and naval services. Mrs R, Hudson, beautifully gowned in Burgundy red, brought up the rear, followed by two little train-bearers who carried a richly decorated floral train. . The Bearer of the Sword (Miss Nancy Haig), the Bearer of the Orb and Sceptre (Miss Veronica Drysdale), and the Bearer of the Crown (Miss Joyce Caldwell) were next in the procession, and then came the Lord Chamberlain (Mr S. H. Osborn), stern and dignified, with the Bearer of the Scrolls (Miss Jobey) in close attendance. The Queen was the last to enter behind a guard from the Otago Regiment, the long white train which fell from her simple but charming white robe being borne by three pages, behind whom came a purple-clad lady-in-waiting (Miss Mary Jolly). Arrived at the dais after the parade round the ball, the Queen took her place on the throne ’and the Lord High Chancellor (Mr W. R. Brugh) read the proclamation, delivered the oration and called on the Lord Chancellor to administer the oath. The handsome crown was then placed upon the head of the Queen with ceremony and dignity and the symbols of office, the Sceptre of Power, the Orb of Sovereignty, the Sword of Justice and Punishment were presented. The conferring of “knighthoods” on Mr J. J. Marlow (chairman of the Central Executive), Mr Stewart Pitt (chairman of the “Cinema” Committee), Mr A. J. Gordon (chairman of the Services Committee), and Mr Alex Burt (chairman of the Sports Committee) was carried out by the Queen after her address to her subjects, which was read from one of the numerous elaborate and decorative scrolls with which her courtiers were so plentifully endowed. One of the prettiest performances of the ceremony was that of the tiny Sparer of Bouquets, whose finished curtsies and dainty movements roused storms of applause. The scene on the stage when a flashlight photograph was taken of the proceedings was one of rare colour and variety. The blue and red of uniforms in the background, the red tunics of tho band to the left, the khaki of the bugle band on the right, and above the black and white of the choir provided an arresting setting for the mingling colours of gowns and trains, frocks and tunics, capes and plumes, which made up the costuming of queen and ladies, pages, and courtiers. The manner in which young and old acquitted themselves throughout the performance reflected great credit on the organisers of the

display, and bespoke diligent and earnest rehearsal on. the part of the performers. The occasion was carried through without a hitch and without any sugestion of theatricality or exaggeration, and the crowded house expressed its approval of tho entertainment afforded in the most generous style.