“MISS OTAGO”

Southland Times, Issue 20010, 26 October 1926, Page 6

“MISS OTAGO”

HONOUR FALLS TO THELMA McMillan. EX-INVERCARGILL GIRL SECOND. ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES. i (Special to the Times.) Dunedin, October 25. Simplicity in a young woman of nineteen is so rare nowadays that the few who possw® the virtue are often referred to as “old fashioned.” But it was just that sweet simplicity; the natural, unspoiled, honest bearirfg, that appealed to the Dunedin public and gave Thelma Omand McMillan a runaway victory in the beauty contest and the title “Miss Otago.” Not that alone, of course, for Thelma has what women call “a lovely face,” while men refer to her as “a jolly pretty girl.” Her hair is a mid-brown colour and a pair of clear, dark eyes look straight at you and light up a perfect complexion. Some indication of her nature and character may be gathered from the fact that she is idolised by her female fellow employees. This in itself should be a sufficient hall-mark. There were great doings in and around His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night, when the final declaration of the poll was made. The house was full to overflowing, while towards 10.30 o’clock thousands of people assembled outside the building in hopes of obtaining the first glimpse of “Miss Otago.” In the auditorium there was that electrical feeling in the air which portends a series of explosions, and the first of these came when the girls paraded, each contestant being greeted with thunders of applause. At the conclusion of the last act on the bill the curtain rose on a stage loaded with floral offerings and other gifts and before this delectable arfay st.ood the four Otago finalists. Then Sir Charles Statham, Speaker of the House of Representatives, came forward and, after a few preliminary remarks, made known to the expectant audience the fact that Thelma McMillan had won the title. Immediately the air was split with the noise of tremendous cheering and hand-clapping and as Sir Charles placed the blue ribbon around the shoulders of the winher paper streamers shot from circle and stalks to the stage, enmeshing audience, the musicians, the four girls, and the Honourable the Speaker in one brilliantly coloured net. The applause was renewed as the gifts were handed to the four finalists and to "’Miss Canterbury” and her Maid of Honour, and as each “curtain” was taken. Outside the theatre the demonstration was equally enthusiastic. When “Miss Otago’s” car emerged from the scene dock it was mobbed and held up by the surging excited crowd until half-a-dozen policemen and detectives formed a bodyguard and forced a way through the masses, who followed cheering wildly. “Miss Otago’s” Maid of Honour (Mi® Marie Osten) was also warmly cheered. This young lady is a short slim, but shapely blonde. Miss Osten, by the way, spent four shears of her young girlhood in Invercargill and was dux of the Middle School. She was for one year at the High School, after which she came to Dunedin. She is now 22 years of age and employed as a typist, in a solicitors’ office. Yesterday morning another remarkable scene was witnessed when the chosen girls left by the early morning train for the Entertainers’ Company for Timaru. The railway station was packed tight and as the gaily decorated engine drew the train from the platform the crowd cheered and cheered again. And now the events which stirred Dunedin to its depths are over, and while the citizens simmer down and wait for the result of the “Miss New Zealand” contest, attention can be given to the more serious things of life such as the buying and selling of merchandise, the cultivation of gardens, and the form of racehorses. As in the case of Parliamentary candidates so it is with entrants in a beauty contest; few shall escape calumny. Which being interpreted means that during the past few weeks certain folk in this cultured community h-ive thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the occupation of digging up the pasts of the contestants, or, where there was no past to dig up, manufacturing one and putting it into circulation as genuine; a great work, my masters! The final figures in the election were Miss McMillan 5179; Miss Osten 2142; Miss Tait 910; Miss Wilkinson 474. An easy win for “Dunedin’s Sweetheart.”