Port Macquarie's 1970 Carnival of the Pines was climaxed on Tuesday night, with the crowning of the queen, Miss Margaret Buchan, who was sponsored by Port Macquarie Surf Club.

Miss Jillian Morton, sponsored by the Mermaids, was named princess. The crowning ceremony on the stage of the Ritz Theatre before quite a good crowd, was an abundance of beauty and colour.

Margaret, aged 22, is employed as a teacher at the Port Macquarie Primary School. She was transferred here at the commencement of 1969 from Lake Cargelligo.

The new princess, Jillian Morton, attends the local High School in fourth form. The emcee for the ceremony was Ron March, who read the proclamation, and the 'archbishop' was Cliff Gott.

The newly-elected queen thanked all for their kind remarks. It is going to be a great pleasure to represent Port Macquarie, she said. The winning queen will receive a trip to New Plymouth, (NZ), plus a Helena Rubenstein beauty case courtesy of J.A. King, chemist. The princess received a Revlon beauty case courtesy of Kevin Baker, chemist and a trip.

Lottery winner

Sid Thomas of William Street, Port Macquarie, thought his $24,000 win in a lottery drawn yesterday, was an April Fool's Day joke. Speaking to the News, Mr Thomas said he hadn't believed the phone call which informed him of his win. He reported to work as usual at the sewerage treatment works in Lake Road, where he is foreman.

He said he hadn't made any plans on what to do with the money. I suppose it will pay the bills and leave a few dollars over, he said, laughing. He bought his winning ticket at Blair's Clarence Street agency and called it Two Punctures. Sid and Mrs Thomas had driven up to Lismore to see their family and on the way endured two punctures. He reckoned his luck had to change sometime, so he bought the lottery ticket when he got back.

Mr. Thomas' win has embarrassed him a little. Each week, he and his workmates take a ticket in the lottery; this one he "went alone".