BEAUTY CONTEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18009, 20 November 1926, Page 1

BEAUTY CONTEST.

AUCKLAND CHOOSES MISS SUTHERLAND, WILD ENTHUSIASM GREETS ANNOUNCEMENT. “ MISS NEW ZEALAND ” TO BE KNOWN TO-NIGHT. (Special to the “ Star. ”) AUCKLAND, November 20. Cheering thousands packed Auckland’s principal streets last night. Small boys climbed telegraph posts, and every available vantage point had its sentinel when the newly-crowned “ Miss Auckland,” Miss A. Sutherland, the first beauty of the Queen City, made her departure from His Majesty’s Theatre. of enthusiasm such as have never been witnessed in the theatre before marked the announcement that Miss Sutherland had won the title, and that Miss E. Ford had been elected her Maid of Honour. For several minutes the .theatre echoed with applause. Streamers appeared in thousands from every part of the house. Men and women stamped and clapped in. delighted approbation, arid the scenes of demonstrative enthusiasm that fol lowed the decoration of Miss Sutherland with the colours of her province left no doubt as to the keen interest that has been taken in the beauty contest here. i THE MAYOR S TRIBUTE. Paying a tribute to the winner of the contest, Mr George Baildon (Mayor of Auckland), who made the announcement, declared that the contest had been run in good spirit throughout and although only two of the four finalists could win prizes, the other two had something to be proud of in the fact that they were amongst Auckland’s four first beauties. When Miiss Sutherland stepped forward to receive the riband of her province, she was greeted with a storm of applause which spoke eloquently of her popularity. Miss Queenie Graham, who was fourth in the polling, however, received by far the greatest number of gifts, and a miniature mountain composed of bouquets, chocolates and all manner of presents, was formed in front if her on the stage. With thousands packing the street in front of the theatre, it was found necessary to resort to subterfuge to get the southern beauties away from the theatre, and while the cars waited in front the girls were let out the back door and quietly walked to their hotel without the discomfort of a huge crowd of admirers to impede their pro gress.

THE FINAL PAGEANT. To-night the winner of the “ Miss New Zealand ” title will be known. Who will she be ? Here are the eight provincial finalists:— “ Miss Canterbury ” —Miss Mavis Pycroffc. Her Maid of Honour—Miss Phyllis Mann. “ Miss Otago ” —Miss Thelma M’Millan. Her Maid of Honour—Miss Marie Osten. “ Miss Wellington ” —Miss Doreen M’Cubbin. Her Maid of Honour—Miss Isobel Wilson. “ Miss Auckland ” —Miss A. Sutherland. Her Maid of Honour—Miss E. Ford. Great excitement prevails here today, and the tickets for the pageant to-night are selling at a premium. Parading before the committee yesterday, the six southern beauties were judged at the Hotel Cargen, but they will be required to appear again to-day with the two Auckland finalists, when there will be a bathing cpstume parade. NO EFFORT SPARED. No effort is being spared to find the most beautiful girl of the eight finalists now appearing in the beauty pageant here, and deportment, personality and intelligence will all count in bringing the title to the winner. Auckland’s traffic squad, together with an augmented police night patrol,

will be required to control the huge crowds that will fill the city’s streets to-night to learn the result of the “Miss New Zealand” contest, and perchance catch a glimpse of the Dominion’s first beauty. “A DIFFICULT TASK.” With eight beautiful girls, representing eight different types to choose from, the judgep have an unenviable task, but the “ Miss New 2ealand ” title should go to the South Island. That the South Island girls in the beauty pageant have by far the better complexions cannot be denied, and they should score heavily. There is much speculation here as to who will win and the whole city Is talking beauty contest. Who is going to win? That is the prevailing question, and wherever one goes it seems that the people are eagerly awaiting the fateful hour tonight, when the name of the winner will be disclosed. Auckland is. in a state of expectancy keyed to a pitch of excitement unparalleled here for years. Little “ Miss Canterbury,” Canterbury’s hope, is in the best of health, and Auckland folk say that her youth alone can interfere with her chances, and that if youth is not a disqualification, Little Mavis Pvcroft must capture the Dominion title. She has remained unspoiled through several weeks of an exciting tour. She has retained that whimsical charm that endeared her to the people of Christchurch, and she has conquered New Zealand with her pretty smiles and unassuming grace.