MANAIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 January 1926, Page 5

MANAIA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) PO PU LA lT"""\V EI)PI NG. ,\ wedding of much interest was solemnised on Wednesday afternoon at the Waiolcura Pa, when Miss Hmekoto Bennie, third daughter of Mrs. Praia Bennie, of Wellington, and great-grand-daughter of Raupahara. distinguished leading chief of the Ngatetoi Tribe, was married to Thomas, eldest son id Mr. and Mrs. Ware Pei, of Manait, ami of the Ngatitu Tribe. The eeremonv was performed by President J. •). Jenkins, chief Elder of the New Zealand Mormon Mission. The bride, who was given away by her cousin, Tuhalio Kauwhata Martin, entered the large marquee erected for the ceremony welling a beautiful gown of white georgette with silver lace trimmings. Slie wore the customary veil of silk embroidered net and orange blossoms and caiiied «. lovely bouuuet of pink and whiteroses'. The chief bridesmaid, Miss Pirihira Wineera, cousin of the bride, wore a simple frock of shell pink satin and picture hat, and carried a bouquet of dahlias and autumn leaves. Miss Waiata Rei, cousin of the bridegroom, wore white georgette and white hat and \ carried a bouquet of mauve sweet peas Little Dina Manu was flower girl nr.fl wore a sweet frock of apricot maroeuin. Mr. William King, junr., was best man. The bride’s mother wore black satin trimmed with embossed velvet and black satin hat to match, and the bri hgroom’s mother wore black marocuii trimmed with white. The gathering was one of the largest ever seen at Waiokura. A public invitation was extended through the press, and thee’ were over 500 Maoris and pakelias present, including relatives of the bn 'e from Wellington and of the bridegroom from all parts of Taranaki and fr >m Palmerston North. On the entry of the bride to the ma*quee appropriate soft music was played by Messrs. H. and J. Elkington on guitars. The service included choral items with guitar accompaniment and was most impressive. After the ceremony a sumptuous wedding breakf, st was laid in the large meeting house, which was beautifully decorated wPh greenery and various coloured streamers. The wedding cake was of the three tier type and was exquisitely decorated. Over 500 sat down to the wedding breakfast, and the usual toast.-, were honoured, the speakers being:---“Bride and Bridegroom,’’ President Elder J. H. Jenkins—the bridegroom; “Bridesmaids,’’ J. Robinson —W. King, junr.; “Parents of Bride and Bridegroom,’’ Toroa Ngatau —Manawutu Larkin. The catering for the whole function was curried out by the Ware

Tsac Rungi and Spence Rei families, assisted by friends and relatives of the i bride ami bridegroom. In the evening K the meeting house was taxed to the i't- ( most with dancers, and first-class music was supplied by willing friends, Mr. Rungi Katene being M.C. During the evening Mr. Falwasscr, of New I*3 mouth, ’gave a couple of vocal items. All present were treated most hospitably by the parents and friends of the bride and bridegroom.