THE CHEVIOT QUEEN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 568, 4 December 1915, Page 6

THE CHEVIOT QUEEN.

RED CROSS EFFORT.

A GREAT GATHERING.

Yesterday, the date on which the Cheviot Queen Carnival eventuated, was an occasion marked in red on the calendar of that locality. For quite a considerable time past the residents of not only Cheviot, but all the surrounding districts, had looked forward with eager anticipation to the culminating point in their Queen Carnival competition, and, as it turned out, expectations of a "big day" were fully realised. The day was fine and clear, and although the wind could well have been dispensed with, there was little to complain of. on the weather score. People attended from various localities about Cheviot, and Christchurch sent along a contingent of representatives, including the Mayor (Mr H. Holland), Messrs F. W. Johnston, and T. Cowlishaw, and a bunch of the omnipresent commercial travellers. THE PROCESSION.

Proceedings commenced shortly after 10 o'clock with a monster procession, starting from Rolleston Street, and moving along to the Show Grounds, via Seddon Street. The procession was a picturesque and heterogeneous affair, each queen having an appropriate display, and there being, besides, decorated motor cars, motor cycles, carts, caravans, waggons, and outriders of all descriptions. It was quite a wonderful sight, and one in which the greatest enthusiasm and ingenuity was displayed. On arrival at the grounds, the school children, who took part in the procession, massed themselves together, and sang patriotic songs. The decision of the judges (the Mayor of Christchurch and Mr F. \V. Johnston) was then announced, and it was found that the display in connection 1 with the Farmers' Queen (Miss M. Saunders) had been awarded the prize. This portion of the procession was certainly appropriate and well carried out. The candidate was seated in a waggon representative of a wheat stack, decorated profusely with her colours (purple and gold). Other items in her display included farming implements, a picturesque dairymaid, with milking stool and bucket, a lamb, beribboned and snowy, a waggon that bore a miniature pioneer's hut, and various other carts and cars reminiscent of the farming industry. The Dardanelles Queen had amongst her following a waggon built up into a representation of a trench, guns, and sandbags, and all. Many other novelties were introduced in the procession, which was altogether unique and spectacular. BUSY TOILERS. The officials and ladies' executive were on the grounds bright and early, "each doing his or her share towards the success of the carnival. Prominent amongst the workers were Mr T. Gee, Mr T. A. Fletcher, and Mr W. M. Cottrell, chairman, honorary secretary, and honorary treasurer respectively of the Carnival Committee. The ladies' executive conducted a tea-room, and many occupied themselves busily selling "queen" tickets at twopence a time. High above the grounds fluttered a string of flags, which denoted the positions occupied by the queen candidates—Miss M. Sullivan (Queen of Commerce), Miss R. Brown (Sports Queen), Miss N. Jackman (Dardanelles Queen), Miss M. Saunders (Farmers' Queen), and Miss Clarke I (New Zealand Queen).

SNAPSHOTS IN THE GROUNDS. About the grounds all was carnival. The redoubtable Commercial Travellers undoubtedly did much to enliven the day, and the fearful and wonderful raiment in which they garbed themselves occasioned considerable astonishment and admiration. A "Mock Court" was presided over by Messrs V. W. Johnston and T. Cowlishaw, assisted by a Sergeant of Police and several "men in blue." Many an unsuspecting citizen was pounced upon suddenly, and hauled before the "Court" to answer to some serious charge. He was generally let off with a caution and a line. FARMERS' QUEEN ELECTED. At about 4 o'clock, excitement in the Queen competition began to get very keen. Interest was whetted by several "false starts" in putting, up

the flags, but finally they went up in the following order:— Farmers' Queen (Miss M. Saunders), 71,785 votes 1 Dardanelles Queen (Miss N. Jackman), 55,470 votes 2 Queen of Commerce (Miss M. Sullivan), 36,084 votes .. .. 3 New Zealand Queen (Miss Clarke), 28,380 votes .. .. 0 Sports Queen (Miss R. Brown), 16,989 votes .. 0 The Mayor of Christchurch briefly announced the results, after which he was presented to the Queen-elect, to'whom he offered his official congratulations. This young lady, it may be mentioned, is the daughter of Dr Saunders, of Cheviot, and came to that locality from Scotland 13 years ago. She is a clever musi.cian, and is always ready to place her time and talents at the service of any worthy cause. Her election was a very popular one. THE SPORTS PROGRAMME. During the day a sports programme was held, and resulted as follows: DECORATED MOTOR CARS.—A. E. Denton 1, Mrs Winskill 2, J. Uprichard 3. DECORATED MOTOR BICYCLES AND SIDE CARS.—J. Hine 1, N. Wilkinson 2, T. Walls 3. DECORATED MOTOR BICYCLES.—H. Vincent 1, W. Elliott 2, S. Macpherson 3. BEST DECORATED TURN-OUT (horsedrawn vehicle). —Farmers' Queen. QUEEN TUGtOF-WAR (eight ladies a side). —Dardanelles Queen Team 1. SLOW RACE FOR CARS.—J. Uprichard 1, A. E. Denton 2. SLOW RACE FOR MOTOR CYCLES.—J. Hine 1, H. Ritchie 2. TILTING IN THE RING, for cars.—W. J. Scott 1, C. Blake 2. HORSE EVENTS. DRAUGHT HORSE RACE.—Warstep (J. Dalton) 1, Desert Gold (T. Redmond) 2. CHILDREN'S PONY RACE.—Andrew Robinson 1, Emily Robinson 2. TURKEY TROT (a slow trot).—Our Thorpe (T. Redmond) 1, Ariadne (J. Dalton) 2. ATHLETIC EVENTS. CHEVIOT CHAMPIONSHIP, 100 yds.—C. Fleming 1, E. Lochhead 2, N. Flaherty 3. 440 YARDS QUEEN'S RELAY RACE, team of four.—Farmers' Team 1, Commerce 2. BOY'S SACK RACE.—J. McLaughlin 1, P. McLaughlin 2, M. Swords 3. LADIES' STEPPING COMPETITION.— Mrs Skinner 1, Mrs W. Hughes 2, Miss Hughes 3. BOYS' SIAMESE RACE.—C. Martin and H. Webster 1, R. Barnes and M. Swords 2. GIRLS' HANDICAP.—Miss Ashworth 1. PILLOW FIGHTING.—L. Pain 1, J. McPherson 2. ✓ BOYS' PILLOW FIGHT.—P. Barnes 1, A. Sloss 2. A FINE RESULT. :. The proceeds of the day, roughly speaking, amount to £2OOO, the Queen Carnival alone bringing in £1729 6/2. The fines levied by the Mock Court totalled £6O, and the remainder was made up by admission money, sale of articles on the grounds, the sideshows (hoop-la, Punch and Judy, etc.), and in various other ways. Amongst the collectors may be mentioned "Roy Moffatt," a sagaciouslooking dog, who was led about the grounds by his owner. He wore a coat which bore on one side the words, "I canvass for votes for No. 2 Queen," and on the other side his name, Roy Moffatt. Roy was very successful in his efforts, too. THE EVENING'S PROCEEDINGS. In the evening a big crowd assembled in the Town Hall, where the coronation ceremony took place. An entertainment programme was put on by the commercial travellers, assisted by the Cheviot orchestra. Shortly after 8 a procession of the queens, together with their attendants, moved through the hall and mounted the dais. Queen Marion wore crimson velvet and ermine of royalty over her white gown, and was led to the throne by the Director of Ceremonies, Mr Arthur Allan, and the Mistress of the. Robes, Mrs Denton. The other queen candidates were all dressed in white, with full Court trains" of velvet of their chosen colours, the same colours being repeated in the costuming of the little pages. Each queen carried a beautiful shower bouquet in appropriate colours, and wore the regulation Court head-dress. • The proclamation announcing that Queen Marion had been duly elected queen of the carnival was read by the Lord Chief Justice, Mr F.W. Johnston, after which the crowning ceremony was impressively performed by the Mayor of Christchurch. The crown, orb, and sceptre were lent for the occasion by Nurse Maude, Queen of Canterbury. A lengthy list of coronation honours was then bestowed as follows: Thomas Gee, Knight Commander of Public Bodies; Thomas Fletcher, Knight Commander of Organisation; Wm. Cottrell, Knight Commander, of Moneybags; Jas. Hyatt, Knight Commander of Dardanelles; Arthur Allan, Knight Commander of Ceremonies; Joseph Gibson, Knight Commander of Decorations; Walter Payne, Knight Commander of Auctioneers; Wm. Bruce, Knight Commander of Art Unions; Thos. Sullijvan, Knight Commander of Commerce; John Hogan, Knight Commander of Bachelors; Harry Geeson, Knight Commander of Toil; Chas. Barnes, Knight Commander of Geniality; Robt. Blackley, Knight Commander of Workers; Ed. Jackson, Knight Commander of Liberality; Albert Denton, Knight Commander of Broad Smile; Wm. Hyde, Knight Commander of Ford Cars; Ronald Opie, Knight Commander of Sports; Solly Solomon, Knight Commander of Storekeepers. The Maids-of-Honour and the Mistress of the Robes having paid homage to the Queen, retired from the dais, which was finally left.by the Queen and her retinue. PATRIOTIC FUND. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) then made a short speech in respect of the Patriotic Fund. At the outset he stated clearly that anything he said did not in the least detract from any effort that had been made on behalf of the Red Cross, or any other fund. He merely wished to stress the importance of the Patriotic

Fund, and its workings and objects, concluding with an appeal for assistance. To illustrate the need of this particular fund, he gave the figures as contrasted with those of the other military centres: Auckland £347,000, Otago and Southland £323,234, Wellington £254,568, Canterbury £32,000. The Mayor received a most sympathetic hearing, and was cheered at great length at the conclusion of his remarks.

Later on, Mr G. W. Forbes, member for Hurunui, spoke in support of Mr Holland's words, and moved that the gathering assembled recommend the Cheviot County Council to pass a special patriotic rate to make up the quota due by that locality. The motion was seconded and carried with enthusiasm and unanimity.

The concert programme, which was bright, varied, and interesting throughout, followed. As mentioned above, the indefatigable commercial travellers supplied most of the items, with some assistance from local artists. Mr Sydney Brett (Christchurch) played a number of the accompaniments in masterly style. A dance, which was kept up until well after midnight, brought the carnival fixtures to an enjoyable finish. Supper was provided by the ladies of the district.