QUEEN CROWNED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20926, 4 January 1938, Page 4

QUEEN CROWNED

SPECTACULAR EVENT STAGED Amid the plaudits of several hundreds of her “loyal subjects,” her Majesty Queen Dorothy Ellen (Miss Bisdee) ascended her throne at the crowning ceremony in the Drill Hall last evening. It was an appropriate conclusion to an interesting day and the whole ceremony, as well as the dance that followed, was infused with an interest that had been growing as the hours progressed. A processional march played by an orchestra, proclaimed the arrival of her Highness the Princess Dorothy May (Miss Laurenson) accompanied by the Mistress of the Robes (Mrs D. Laurenson). The princess was preceded by six pipers and the royal trumpeters (Joan Leonard and Douglas McGillen) as well as the sword-bearer (Neil Findlay) and standard bearer (Ray Mallett). Then came the Lord Chancellor (Mi - A. W. Buzan) and Lord Marshall (Mr A. Wotherspoon). A fanfare of trumpets announced the approach of her Highness the Princess Maureen (Miss Coffey), and in their royal suites there proceeded first the flower-girls, and the maids-of-honour, the pages bearing the trains. Princess Dorothy May took her place at the left of the throne and Princess Maureen went to the right. On the Queen’s arrival at the throne, like the princesses she was presented with a bouquet from the chief flower-girl (Zena Denison). Lastly there came the royal pages, bearing the crown sceptre, orb and proclamation. They were Misses Shona Ferguson, Audrey Robins, Fay Bell and Betty Cameron and their arrival on the dais completed a most colourful scene. The Queen Crowned After the Lord Chamberlain had administered the oath, the Lord Chancellor performed the crowning and presented the Queen with the sceptre, orb and sword. He read the proclamation and the Lord Chamberlain presented the princesses. At the Queen's Command, the Master of Ceremonies then read her speech to her loyal subjects, in the course of which she stated —“Especially do we express our heartfelt thanks to one and all of you for your untiring efforts in the great and noble cause for which you have been working. The unselfish giving of so many of our subjects has daily caused us rejoicing, and the result of the rivalry that has existed in our domain of carnival will have the beneficient effect of enabling our worthy city fathers to bring to a happy conclusion those many works of improvement which they have had in mind and which also have been exercising both the minds and tongues of many of our subjects.” The speech concluded with an assurance of her services to her realm’s best interests.

The Queen’s first act on assuming the crown was to bestow honours on certain of her leading subjects, these being:— The Hon. Mrs Anne Mechael Buzan (the Mayoress)—Lady in charge of our beautiful Domain. Better half of the Barracker-in-Chief of Temuka, and Directress-General of the Girl Guides. Excellent supporter of Princess Dorothy May. The Right Honourable James King (chairman of the Carnival Committee) Grand Chieftan of the Caledonian Clan. Guardian-in-Chief of the Books and Raffle-Butts. Formerly Officer and Commander of the Returned Soldiers. Squasher-in-chief of boisterous meetings and long discussions. For faithful services rendered in the cause of Caledonia. The Honourable Mrs Myra Templeton—Noble Collector of the nimble shillings and sixpences and Holder of the Purse Strings. Directress-General of the rollicking game of basketball and Trojan Blower of the Whistle. Most Excellent Assistant of the Cause of Dorothy Ellen.

The Right Honourable William Hallaway McMillan—Arch-Guardian of voting tickets and Blue Buttons. Noble Vendor of Historical News and Repor-ter-General for City Publications. For

inky services in the realm of Princess Dorothy May. The Honourable Mrs Milbray Bate-man—Mistress-Superior of the Caledonians. Brilliant Collector and Can- I vasser in the Grand Cause of the I Green Banner. For noble services ren- I dered in the realm of Maureen. The Honourable Mrs Elizabeth Fisher—Grand Scribe and Holder of the Purse Strings and Lady in Charge of other activities in the cause of our Domain. For faithful services rendered in the realm of Princess Dorothy May. The Right Honourable Francis Naughton—First Citizen of the C:ty of Kerry town and second assistant ?n the Pleasant Point Festive FrivclHies and Trojan Supporter cf the Banner Maroon. For splendid services rendered. As a completion to the investiture, the Lord Chancellor announced that the Queen had directed him to thank the people for their loyal support throughout the carnival. She wished to thank those who had accorded her her high nonour and those who had worked for the princesses. This year the Caledonian Society was celebrating its jubilee and she wished to convey to Sir James King, the president, her warm congratulations. The Queen had asked him to convey to her loyal subjects two commandments for the coming year The first was that, owin?, to the ei-ccss of moisture lately descended on the district, they drink nothing but water for the next 12 months. (Laughter.) That would be hard for some citizens to obey faithfully. (Applause.) The other commandment was that anyone heard saying within the year, that Temuka was “dead” would be beheaded. (Applause.) The frocking of the respective retinues was carried out in the colours of the candidates, the greens of the Caledonian group, blues of the Domain party, and pinks of the basketball suite blending extremely well. The retinues were:— Her Majesty Queen Dorothy Ellen— Attendants: Misses Betty Christie and Medeline Earl. Flower girls: Janice Bussell and Rosalia Spencer. Pages: Vai Templeton and Chrissie Pierce. Princess Maureen Attendants: Misses Margaret Scott and Margaret Paterson. Flower girls: Lesley Abernethy and Norma Abernethy. Pages: Alan Fletcher and Kevin McGillen. Princess Dorothy May—Attendants: Misses Margaret Gale and Joan Davis. Flower girls: Naomi Gourley and Dorothy Robins. Pages: Wanda Evans and Keith Martin.

The producer of the ceremony was Mr F. Burton, who was assisted by Mrs F. Lyne, while Mr A. Wotherspoon was master oi ceremonies. The party came from Timaru to conduct the numerous rehearsals, and the thanks of the Carnival Committee were expressed to them through the Lord Chancellor.