Wedding Balls.

. ■ — ♦ Wednesday, 2 6ih . J anuEryj Was fi gala day in the Waiaii district, and there was such a foregathering of the residents as only a very important event could draw together. JVo of

the best-known names in the west are Mouat and Durie, and it was fitting that representatives of these pioneer families should unite. The gathering on the 26th witnessed the marriage of Miss Elizabeth Annie, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Malcolm Monat, Eastern Bush, to Mr William Francis Durie, son of Mrs Durie, the popular hostess at the Waiau Bridge. The bride, who was most exquisitely gowned, was accompanied by Miss Durie, sister of the bridegroom, as bridesmaid, and Miss Violet May Bird as flower girl. Mr James Robertson acted as best man. Rev. A. Macdonald, M.A., Otautau, performed the marriage ceremony in the Eastern Bush Church, which was beautifully decorated. After the ceremony, an adjournment was made to the Eastern Bush Hall, where 1150 Tguests sat down to the sumptuous wedding feast. It was unfortunate that' for an hour or two during the morning, heavy rain fell, which caused some discomfort to those travelling from a distance, but did not deter thorn from coining. The health of the "Newlymarruid Cuu pie' was proposed by Row A. Macdonald in <•»• most interesting address, Mr Mnodonald stated that this was the first clear ease of his performing the marriage ceremony through two generations; he had married Mr and Mrs Mouat, parents of the bride, when the Waiau district was not the fruitfully cultivated district it is now, but was in the state of nature with a few scattered Sheep runs and an odd pioneer farmer. At this feast, said Mr Macdonald, T am delighted to see the Fathers of the Waiau present, the men who have pioneered settlement and opened up this rich and fertile district, men who with their wives endured the hardships ungrudgingly, and carved out homes in the wilderness.. Among the original pioneers he instanced the following : Messrs W. Scobie, senr., grandfather of the bride, John McCall, Donald McLaren, Win. Bradley, Robert Tapper, junr., and A. F. Blatch, senr. One patriarch of the Waiau missing was Mr W. J. Darley, senr. "Mr and Mrs M. Mouat's " health was proposed by MiRobert Tapper, junr., who spoke feelingly of his indebtedness to Mr Mouat, or " Malcolm," as he preferred to call him and he believed their host preferred to be called, for many acts of kindness and for much helpful assistance. It was Malcolm Mouat who had taught him' practically all he knew of sheep and cattle. When a young man direct from school, it had been a fine thing to have a man of the sterling qualities of Malcolm Mouat to rely on, and he took this opportunity of bearing tribute to the faithfulness with which work had been carried out on " Clifden " when Malcolm Mouat was heal, shepherd. Another thing their host was good at was handling a boat on the turbulent Waiau. No worthier couple than Mr and Mrs Mouat could be wished for as settlers and neighbours, and he hoped they would be long spared .to the district. Mr W. Bradley, # in happy vein, proposed the health of " Mrs Durie," mother of. the bridegroom. Mrs Durie, said the proposer, was known to everybody visiting the Waiau as the keeper of .the accommodation house. He did not know of a time when Mrs Durie had not kept open house ; she was just the class of woman whoSe house was open to every weary-worn traveller, and her hospitable nature made you feel at home whenever you entered the house; the matter of payment had been a secondary thing to Mrs Duvic so long as she could do you a" kindness. He had received many kind acts during the y*ears he was on the road, and his experience was only that of all the other old identities. The wedding breakfast was a most happy time throughout, and later in the evening the hall was the scene of a merry throng of .dancers. No young couple from the west have ever started out with heartier good wishes than Mr iand Mrs W. Durie, and these good wishes were materialised in the many handsome and valuable presents received by the happy couple.