N.Z. Man Marries African Dancer

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30938, 20 December 1965, Page 1

N.Z. Man Marries African Dancer

A member of the cast of “Africa Dances,** Miss Cynthia Rabebe, aged 23, from Port . Elizabeth, South Africa, and an Auckland wages clerk, Mr Dennis O’Neill, aged 24, were married in the Wellington Registry Office on December 6 after a courtship of six weeks.

Mr O’Neill said in Christchurch last evening that no other member of the “Africa Dances” company had attended the wedding and even his parents had not known of it.

“My wife and I had wanted no publicity over our marriage.” he said. Though they had not told the prpducer-manager of the “Africa Dances” company (Mr A. Herbert) that they planned to marry. Mr O’Neill said, Mr Herbert had been told-shortly after the ceremony. Mr Herbert had been shocked when he was told of the marriage but he was not hostile. Mr O'Neill said. Mr Herbert had then given him a copy of his wife's contract with the company which included a clause to the effect that any attempt to change marital status or changing the marital status meant Mr Herbert had a right to terminate the contract and return the offending member to South Africa. Mr O'Neill said he had not known of the condition in the contract till Mr Herbert b*d told him. and the matter was now in the hands of bis solicitor in Auckland. No Subterfuge ! He denied that It had been necessary for bis wife to use subterfuge to conceal her marriage. “The only subterfuge, if there was any at all. was in not telling Mr Herbert of our plans before the wedding,” he said. Mr O’Neill safd that since his marriage he had written to the Department of Immigration saying he would be

making an application for a > permit for his wife to remain in New Zealand. However, he understood it was necessary to have his wife’s passport when making the application and that, he believed, wu in Mr Herbert's possession, he had written. They planned to remain in New Zealand. Mr O’Neill aaid. Mrs O’Neill left Christchurch yesterday afternoon on a commercial flight for Auckland. Mr O’Neill said he had beard that the "Africa Dances” company was dosing tn New Zealand and be had understood it would be going to Australia. As he had not wanted his wife, who is in New Zealand on a visitor’s visa, to leave the country, he and a friend had flown from Auckland to Christchurch late on Friday to take Mrs O’Neill back to Auckland. Delayed By Weather However, the twoeoater light aircraft bad been kept in Christchurch because of the weather. Otherwise, he too, would have been in Auckland last night, Mr O’Neill said. Mr Herbert said last night be bad never been boottie toward the newty-weds. “I wish them the best of luck.” Hie only worry was over Mrs O'Neill’s contract wtoch was for Australia and Now Zeeland, but there was a “very good ehance’* he would release her from it. Mr Harbert confirmed last night that the company’s performance in Christchurch on Saturday night was the last.