EXTRAORDINARY MATRIMONIAL PROPOSALS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1060, 25 June 1869, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY MATRIMONIAL PROPOSALS.

(From tho " Southern Cross," June 15.)

It is no uncommon thing in England to find, in the "Wanted" columns of the Times, sundry applications for eligible partners, with all the conditions and indispensable qualifications prescribed in due form. In such cases some sign or mark is used to distinguish the advertiser from the, general crowd of persons who might be supposed to be anxious to " contract a matrimonial alliance," as the phrase goes." Sometimes it is a cravat of a certain colour and form, and very often the talismanic sign takes the form of some kind of flower, worn in a particular but-ton-Hole. These methods of securing partners, which are resorted to occassionaliy by the extremely modest and retiring, and very often by the designing adventurer, have become so common in these days that their novelty is quite worn off. Now and again, the tameness of modern matrimonial usages', is relieved by a fashionable, elopement,or an extraordinary piece-, of scandal^ but it is very rarely that any very great amount of originality is displayed. The fact is there have been so many adepts at this sort of thing that no new path can be struck out, and the craving' for sensational scandal has been so often administered to that it requires the most starting combination of', extraordinary events, some earthquake, dr. grand disturbance in the foundation on which modern morality is built, to awaken even a flutter of curiosity. .. .. It has been left for a mere colonist at the antipodes to mark out anew course in the shape, of an application for the situation of son-in-law. As our readers are aware, the discovery of gold at the Thames has made Taipari a very wealthy man, and, as a perfectly "natural result, many enterprising young Iwichclors have anxiously looked towards his daughters as highly eligible partners. - Amongst others "a' young Englishman of good testimonials and decent education " has suddenly been smitten with a desire to place ".W\.H.' Taipari, Esq," in tho revered position of father-in-law, and tho following letter by "T. P. 0." (the " Young Englishman," &c.) has been addressed to that redoubtable chief: — " Shortland, May 17, 1869." W: H. Taipari, Esq. . Btt?.-t-I have been informed that you v.i • dv'sirous to become acquainted with si ivspectablo European with the view of contracting a marriage with your daughter. " JSTow, I have not seen any advertisement myself, and if I have been misinformed by others, I hope you will be kind enough to let me know by post whether such has been the case or not!.;. " If it has been the case, I, as.a respectable young Englishman of good testimonials and decent education, would be glad to have further correspondence with you regarding the matter. Trusting you will pardon the liberty I have taken in addressing you, — I am, &c, , T. PC. •• Address— T. P. C, P. 0., Shortland." What great personal attractions arid attainments may lurk beneath the mysterious initials "T.P.C." it. would be impossible to say, but the " Young Englishman" evidently means business. Military Changes. — We (Evening Post) are informed that the 14th Eegimerit, at present in Australia, will be relieved by the second battalion of the 18th Royal Irish, from New Zealand, earljr in the ensuing year. Head-quarters, four companies, will be stationed at Sydney, two companies at South Australia, one company in Queensland, two companies in Melbourne, and one in Tasmania. Head-quarters of the Staff to remain at Melbourne. The Hon. Mk. Weld, the newly appointed Governor of Western Australia, was to proceed to Swau liiver, via Adelaide, by the ship City of Adelaide, to leave London on the 10th May. Sunday -Observance. - There has lately liet'ti a #reat movement in England about the " Sunday question," namely, as to whether museums should be opened to the public on Sundays, which of course, is iv truth observed by all religious creeds as tho "Sabbath." Deputations, both for and against, have waited upon the Government in the person of the Home Secretary. Piunce Alfbed's Presents. — From the letter of tho London correspondent of the Melbourne, Argus, wo learn that there has been a great deal of unpleasant comment about an item in the Miscellaneous Estimates of tho year, of £3,500 for " gifts and presents made by Prince Alfred during his tour in the Galatea." It is thought that the Prince, having received the personal credit of these princely benevolences, ought to have paid for them out of his own pocket, which is pretty well supplied at the national expense.. leannot think, however, that tho recipients of his Royal Highness's bounty will be any less satisfied with their presents for the knowledge that they have been paid for by the illustrious body of British taxpayers. . Sic Geoege Bowen's Despatches. — The Wanganui Chronicle thus criticises Sir George Bowen's despatches;: — " Sir George Bo wen has been writing more of his curious and rather pedantic epistles to Lord Clarendon. He seems still to retain, the idea — and like some other shnilists woi'ks his single idea to death-yrof the Maoris in rebellion being an historical parallel of the Highlanders of the last century. As he speaks in allegory throughlout the whole of his despatches, we are : bound ia charity to suppose that he is here 1 speaking " kinder ironical,"