QUEEN NORMA LOISEL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13701, 3 June 1915, Page 4

QUEEN NORMA LOISEL.

CORONATION PAGEANT,

Gishorne was en fete to-day, the occasion being the "crowning" of the Carnival queen, Miss Norma. Loisel, daughter of Mr H. Loißel, of Toiaga Bay. It was unfortunate that the weather prevented an outdoor function, as elaborate .arrangements had- been made for a huge display m an effort to make the Gisborne Queen Carnival a record for New Zealand. Nevertheless the committee 'were determined to make the best of things, and the Coronation pageant was something that will be , long remembered by all those who had the good fortune to witness it. thiring the morning people began to~arriye m town, and "great interest was manifested; iii the event, particularly by the Maoris. Residents from, the Coast were well represented, and some rode or drove long distances :to witness the crowning of their queen. ..- •':..,• , The coronation, ceremony took place m His Majesty's Theatre this afternoon, m the presence of a large gathering, the theatre being packed to its utmost capacity. - The ' ceremony, which was organised by Mr W.^Lints, was a brilliant affair. The whole arrangements were excellent m -every particular, and reflected the greatest - credit upon those responsible. A feature of the function was the robing of the queen, maids of honor, and pages. The robes and costumes were remarkable for their design and- beauty. . The makers are to be congratulated upon the fine work 'they turned out, whilst no small amount of credit is due; to the chief lady-in-waiting (Mrs A. P. Kennedy). The court dresses for the queen and her maids of ' honor were supplied by Miss Lunn, -Miss Nicolas '■ Mrs Fitzgjrald, Messrs 'Adair Bros. , and. Messrs W. Pettie and Co. trhilst the pages' costumes were' supplied by.- Mr A. Zachariah. The handsome crdyn iised for the coronation was presenteel and made by Mr '■$£. J. Grieve, and was greatly admired. ';, ' .- '■■"■ THE QUEENS ARRIVAL. The ceremony took place- at 3 p.in* ; The queen-elect was accorded an enthusiastic ovation on her arrival. Accompanied by her maids of^ honor {Miss K. Fromm, Miss M. Taylor/ Miss I. Patke^.'Miss'V. iNlacDdhald, Mrs A. Zachanah, Miss R. Cumnuing, Miss G. : Cooper, Miss G. Gumming, and Mrs : Graysonj, she passed through^ the tiheatre • to the stage' and took her -sfeat upon" the ; "throne" elaborately arranged on the , stage. ''Her'pttges were Mailers Loisel, : iSherratt, Barn, Innes, Parker- vi Allan, Zachariah, Hacohe, Rosa, " Adair and .. deCosta. As the queen approached the '. throne the Carnival orchestra played -in ,\ fine style the .Coronation March. The ] queen and maids of honor 'carried beau- , tiful bouquets presented by the Citizens' \ Defence Commitee, and supplied by Miss Barnes. >. ,

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. The oath of allegiance was taken by the queen before the chief- magistrate, Mr W. G. Sherratt; as follows.;— ■ jjforma Loisel, whereas von liave been duly elected^ Queeii of the Carnival by the votes of your loyal subjects, do you now promise well and faithfully to Itile us as our Sovereign ; Lady ; to endeavor with your subjects^ aid foi'each' our goal of over thirty, thousand pounds for bur funds, and so to act iri alf things as well shall become the holder of your exalted position so that we shall continue to honor ypu m onr hearts and .by our hands? How say you? The Queen : I do. .. , THE CROWING. The enthusiasm increased when Mi' J. Townley came 'forward "crowned" Miss Loisel, whilst the' 'orchestra 'struck up 'Rule Britannia." The "coronation" speech was as follows: — Citizens of 'Poverty Bay ! /Hark ye! All ye people of Tojaga Bay and the Dependency of Gisborue and the District adjacent thereto:, , ;

Hear me! Know ye «tll that by ah overwhelming' Vote' 1 of the populace* held 01 the 29th day of May m the year of our Lord, 1915, Miss Norma Loisel, of Tolaga Bay, was "duly elected from among ten who competed m friendly rivalry, as our Sovereign Queen and Lady. I therefore call -upon all present as dutiful subjects of oiir Queeii to pay homage and respect due to Her Most Gracious Majesty. .'•""■' '■ ' ■ '"■•'>."■ Hail, oh Queen !-' We appear ' humbly before thee and make our meek obeisance. .. J ■ ' '.■ - • Your Most Gracious Majesty ! Ybux loyal subjects having decreed that you shall reign over us, 1^ ak your most humble servant, and representing, your faithful lieges and most.'. ldyaT subjects, place upon your/head this Grown, an & *"• your hand this Sceptre,, the outward and visible signs of your , Sovereignty over tho world and our hearts. ■. ■■■' ,-- r .', I would fain, O Queen, that, some- worthier hand than I 'mine should do ; this office, for my hairs are* gray; and I am getting on m years, and am almost overcome by the high responsibilities of my task. •■ ' ■ ..'■.:' .■;■■•;■;■. May your reign' be as glorious as your triumph at the poll, and may its history exceed the record 'established m- your election by the suffrages '• of yotir- loyal people. You come of a race 'whose noble lung Albert we liouor m honoring, you to-day, his sister Queei^. Long may you reign! ",:--.■'.• Your Majesty's kind heart will rejoice to know that your election, lias been the aneans of a fund of over 'twenty thousand pounds for the relief 'not orily of the distressed of the brave Belgian people", 'but for the; Joyal subjects v w;hq 'are ;. to-day fighting our battles m Europe and the

Dardanelles, and for the wowndbd- whW theyvretui-n aiwt Peace otibe monj. has established her sway on eartlu May. that time soon- come. . : - i ■ ,• ' Your /loyal subjects liail and greet you as their Qtt6en^ : - ■ THE QUEEN'S SPmaH-v ;. After iiis Worship the Mayor (Mr W. G. ShercattVy' Mr o. Townley, attd Mr J. W. Bright- had beeii sknigh^dt.- by : her majesty, the ' lord liigh chainbei'lain (Sir J. W. Bright) delivered the queen's speech, which a» follows : . , : By?; decree of Hsr • Most Excellent Majesty, she hath been graciously pleased to appoint me, her right trusty and well-beloved subject, -albeit one of the -mOßt' humble andfabjectj to the most high -and almost' Unattainable office of Lord High Chamberlain) and whereas it has further pleased her to command me &s Lord High' Chamberlain aforesaid, duly' deliver; and Vdeclare to her dutiful subj ects these = -\vords of greeting ' and gracious thanks for; theit hearty 7 expression of loyalty an goodwill. ■.-,- - : Now, therefore, know ye! Ye denizens of Tolaga Baj», Tokomaru, Gisborne, Kanakanaia. Whatatutu and Whataupoko, Eaiti, Karaka, ' ever-growing iklotu to the borders of Makaraku, inasmuch atf the Goddess ol Fortune and your votes ' have elected me as your qi*een' toniay, m token whereof my most trusty arid "well-beloved > henchman. Sir John Townley, Knight, Gisborne, eighteen times chief magistrate of the city, and once, and only once, chairman of the "iQiieen. Oanriyal Electioni-Execu-tive,- hath placed this exown upon my head, aald this sceptre m my hand, 1

therefore give you this, ray royal greeting, to go forth ' o'oi' land and' 'rica- aiid borough roads, and to all territories and t-erritorial* underi my sovereign- sway, to the toilers m tlte wool-sheds/ to tlie ; workers m the. freezing works' to the humble navvies m the Poverty c Baiy Club; the aeclu'ded hermits of the Cos." mopolitan Club, - and v the old and infirm warriors. x>f .tlie Gisbtorne Club; to the rowera of Gkborne, arid my most loyal sliield bearers of the Uawa, rivety* toitfce dwellers m the wilds- of Waia-pu, Cook, and Waikohu, to all memborß of friendly-' or Other 'eocieties, to; all motorists arid others yho suffer from our by-laws and go Avrong when they would fain k«ep to the right and find, themselves lett, to the' buyers; sellers and otHer Victims of Padd/s Market, to the Lord High Orgatuser of Cerertiohies, William Linta, ana his merry maidens, and to the untold tbouaajnds I see before me, and not heretofore mentioned. Greetings ! '■ . To all and sundry ! Hear ye my royal ♦ximraand. That all ye as m duty bound do 'work with, right goodwill and strive to beat the record of a rival queendonl, to wit, Qliristchurch, by exceeding m j*our generous gifts tlie sum of £30,000. Then shall we and our loyal subjects be knoWii l tbMftighout the Dominion, « as record-breakers m this, our great patriotic cause. hi pursuance of the rights and authority rasted m u& as Queen to-day,

we do now to adiriit to tlu honorable order of knighthood • ou., loyal and dutiful subjects the follow.

ing:— ' Guy Dalryinpie Heed, of Tolaga Bay . You have been our queen's ■ trustworthy minister of war and finance iij. her re cent strenuous and friendly contest wit these her sister candidates for , th throne she ..now holds, and have Kelpe> greatly to her victory. Therefore, now do bid you kneel (kneels and i knighted), and I' bid you rise, Sir Gu Dalrymple Reed, K.C.I.E. (knight ocnl mander of our income and exchequer.) John Charles 'lfcomas, of Gisborne Whereas you did' mightily help ou cause^ and' did do valiant service onth eventful night f the 29th day of Ma last m telling Votes to the number cJ over two, million, acting as the queeii elect's scrutineer. ' . There fore, 1 no\ bid you kneel (kneels),' and 1 bid yo. rise, Sir Charles Thomas, K.C.R.ii. (knight commander of the ready reck oiuer.) ' ':.... "Edward Boland, of Tolaga Bay Whereas you have striven worthily ti upliold bur cause, and have helped ti steer us to victory, and have sufi'erei none to jockey us from oui 1 rightfu •place, and have spared neither purst nor hand m our cause, m reward where of. we do occupy this throne to-day, anc. you have helped to unite all the effort of bur people of Tolaga. m raising area. funds for the common cause. Now I

therefore, -I bid you kneel (kneels), ant I bid you rise, Sir Edward Boland K.C..M.G. (knight commander of might} grafters.}, , ■„...••.-•>'-,.* William Frederick Cederwall : For a. much as you have rendered excellent anc faithful service to our cause, and you and the hard-working and well-organise^ committee whom you represent, strovt" valiantly and well on uehalf of Mist Kathleen Frotnm, and while you ana she alike, while striving to win, yet 'your .'first thought was for the gobdeaust we "have all Worked for, now, therefore. I bid you kneel (kneels), and I bid you rise. 'Sir William Frederick Cederwall, K.u.'LJS. (knight champion of the loyal sports.). . '\ ' \ .t •'"•'' 1 John Cedric Nisbett: Whereas you represent an instiiutibu whose services itp bur caiise,' the. cause of the wounded, the suffering,-' the distressed, who are fighting pur battles' that We may have peace, cannot be overestimated, as by your' most generous arid timely gift you incited 'others to fresh generous efforts,! resulting m large sums to q^ cause, and - worthily . supported your candidate at the polls,- now, therefore, m recognition "of these services, I bid thee kneel (kneels), and! bid thee" rise, Sir John Nisbett, K.C.B; (knfcht of 'the clubs bountiful.) Arthur" Henry Wallis, wheras you represent as its president a club c6mposed of 'certain humble navvies and others' whdse obvious poverty is shown by their magnificent gift of £5000 to assists our common cause, . and whose members have worthily 1 Worked m. other directions, whether for queen candidates or the increase (of our cbmraoh exchequer for the benefit of our own wounded and distressed. JSiowy therefore, m recognition* »f these great services to our' cause arid' *the' club you represent as its president^ I? bid you kneel (kneels), and I bid you rise. Sir Arthur Henry Wallis; K.C.S.L (Knight Commander of the Sheep Industry. )>

The* foregoing speeches were prepared by Messrs LI. Etherington and P: G. Andtfew. ■•■• . ■..••' ,-■•-- ;,-■:. „. _•■ ;. After the maids .of honor had been presented to "Her Majesty," there whs a fanfare of trumpets by the orchestra, and the hernld,' : Miss E. Jellinek. procl«iimed the Knighthoods, the honored subjects being presented by "Sir" J. W. Bright. . Hakas of welcome by 'Tolaga Bay natives and- a- pot danoe by eight native girh and women were given. Mr de Moiitelk was in 'charge of 'the programme, Svhilst Mr E. P. Whianga was leader of the : liaKaft, and. 'Mrs - Whare Gage was leader of ifehepoidanco.' Those items were splendidly performijd, % the audience showing appreciation iW no tincertain mannftr. 'A fine- jioi ' dance Was also 1 given:by .six Hm^wai native girls and, woihi&li, : led by Pi?ra te Hau. The Maoris' wefcome was.in'the following woixls : "OJl,' Queen Nai'ma, from the 11 heights of 'Hauiti/thy vCice isiicard, commanding Hatmiaiangi (tiqi convey ihe message of love)- to thy people; Thy voice is Heard asking, 'What is your wish, my people?' To behold 'the© iii thy maj' esty^ r Ohj- Qaeen.'Ohhow sublime, how beautifully ! was once ethereal 18 aiow realify. Thy sentiments ar» thy'.^peoplei'a sentiments. Oh, Queen, thou art the only* Queen." During the grand 'procession of Queen and Gourt on leaving the throne-room, the brehestTa. played .another march. to-xight's performances;

;TSyo performances will he given' tonight, 0n0^at. 7.30,- 'And ono at 9.30. At these- sessions -further. Coronation oerempnjes' will 'take . place, when other pro-mmejit-,workei i B. and , hel pers will be Kndghted>} different words facing used m every case. Tho crowning of .-Mis* Fvdnim as Princess wll also take place, this evening, y .< ;, V : We are asked by the officials to state that any gentlemen "Knightfoqod" can obtain tlie honor to-night upoii payment,. of Tlie sword lised m connection with tlie knightiiig is the , B©lgjan sword ; tliat . was om. exhibition in 'Paddy s Market. Tlie 'Carnival .Queen Royal party were the guests of Sli's tarket, of the Masonic ho'teU at luiiclieon' to-day, and tliis eVeiv ingthey \yill be'the guests of Mrs CI. B; Oman," ot^the G isDor: iie hoiel> at jdiririer, whilst -R. Caojltoii enteitained the pages a|> the Hotel Coronation... „