THE CIVIL MARRIAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 2 April 1913, Page 5

THE CIVIL MARRIAGE.

INCREASING IN POPTJIARITX

WHAT AUCKLAND FIGURES INDICATE.

During last year there were 1,600 marriages in Auckland, and of this number no Jess than 343 were performed by the Registrar. The increasing number of people marrying outside the church ia indicated by the fact that last year there were 55 more marriages by the Registrar in Auckland than there were in the preceding y-ear. Likewise, during the quarter just ended there were 400 marriages in this city, and of the number 89 were in the Registrar's office. This morning a "Star" representative made inquiries at the office of the" Auckland Registrar, and there gathered some interesting particulars. In Auckland last year the marriages Iby Registrar totalled 22 per cent of the total recorded. In Wellington the figures . represented slightly over 22 per cent, Christchurch 19 per cent, and Ounedin 18 per cent. The average for the Dominion was 10.63 per cent, of the total marriages for the year. Inquiries made by the pressman elicited the information that marriage by Registrar is not confined to one class only, it costs just as much to toe married by the Registrar as by anybody else, the fee being £1 2/6. Three days' notice has to be given of intention to marry, and this regulation is only waved in the case of the bride coming from another country. Under such circumstances other due formalities have to be observed, but the authorities consider that there is no justification in keeping a bride who is a stranger to the country waiting three days. The ceremony is naturally exceedingly simple, "and does not last more than a few minutes. The parties, accompanied by two witnesses, ! appear before the Government official. i The man subscribes ac follows: "I, John ! Smith (or whatever the name may be), ido solemnly declare that I know nothing iof any lawful impediment why I may not Ibe joined in matrimony to Mary 1 Brown." The bride Tepeats the dej claration. Then the man announces: "I I call on those persons -here present to wit- [ neas that I, .John Smith, do take thee, Mary Brown, to be my lawful wedded ■wife." The lady repeats •Vte formula, papers are signed, ■ and Mr. "and Mrs. . Smith, go forth a married couple. It jis not necessary for the bridegroom to; provide a wedding ring; the law doe 3 not look upon the little plain band of' gold as a necessary part'of the ceremony.; ■In only two cases in 16 years, however, | has the Registrar united a couple without the ring being • produced; iby the bridegroom, and : in those "two cases the I officer imparted' a little fatherly advice : after the ceremony which had the effect of sending man and wife in search of a . jeweller's shop. The wisdom.of providing for three ! days' notice prior to a marriage being t conducted has more than once been • proved to the Registrar. Runaway minors have not infrequently endeavoured ■ enter matrimonial bonds by giving notice of their intention to quietly go through tlie ceremony in the Registrar's office. ; The three days,' however, have more than once sufficed to enable the relatives to enter caveats in time to prevent those under age from carrying out their intention.

; Auckland's average of 22 per cent is {"considerably above the average' for the {Dominion. An,interesting.study is aij forded by the following figures, repre- ' sehting the percentage of-marriages in the various denominations last year:— Church of England, 25.60 per cent; Presbyterian, 26.54 per cent; Methodist, 11.17; Roman Catholic, 10.86; other denominations, 9.20; toy Registrars, 10.63. .It is suggested that the reason -why the j Presbyterian percentage is so high is I that "ministers of that denomination j show leas objection to marrying people in their homes if it is so desired.