FASHIONABLE WEDDINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11049, 29 August 1896, Page 5

FASHIONABLE WEDDINGS.

Few of the good old customs are less open to criticism than that of giving wedding presents. It affords the recipients pleasant‘reflections for a lifetime, only equalled by the experience of donors when making their selection at Minson s Cheap Depot from an immense assortment of dinner sets, tea sets, cruets. Lamps, china, glassware, and useful as well as ornamental "oods of all descriptions at lowest prices, from one shilling to a ten pound Davis Vertical Feed sewing machine. Call and see. v , ■ ,

St Mary’s. A concert was given at St Mary’s, Manchester Street north, on Thursday evening*, under the direction of Mr C. A. Oakes," for the benefit of the school fund. There was a largo audience. The soloists were Miss Lily Hay don, Mrs C. A. Oakes, Miss Nora Oakes, Messrs H. De Maus, J. Gent and J. Rowley. Mr D Ryan gave two recitations. Instrumental pieces were given as follows : —Piano duet by Miss Maud and Mr C. A. Oakes, flute solo by Mr J. Rowley, cornet solo by Mr Leo Oakes. The glee “Come Dorothy,” and quartette, “The Soldier’s Love, were also given. Miss and Master O Callaghan danced a* Rouble Irish jig and reel. The programme was well x*eceived by the audience, encores being numerous. Miss Josephine Oakes, Miss Rowley and Mr C. A. Oakes were the accompanists.

Dead Money.— Old gold, silver, jewellery and curiosities bought by D. Bowman, 186 Colombo Street. Highest cash prices given. 18(52

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS. The Wellington City Council, by the casting vote of tho Mayor, has resolved that it is undesirable to enter into any contract with any syndicate for leasing the tramways.

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER, Mr Kowin, tho representative of an English produce firm, who has arrived by the 3 lonic, speaks highly of the improved quality of New Zealand butter, and commends the help given by the Government to tho industry. He considers that the system of grading is perfect. STREET BETTING. Tho Auckland City Council has passed a motion to frame a regulation to suppress assemblages of men in the streets for the purposes of street betting, this practice having become a great nuisance. TIMARU HARBOUR. The Timaru Herald says:—Most of our readers have heard of “ Parr’s trench,” a device hit upon by the Harbour Board’s foreman for getting the shingle carried across the breakwater into sheltered water, whenever “ shingle shifting has to be adopted. Mr Parr said that if a narrow trench were cut across the top of the mole, where the running surf could reach it, the surf would sluice the shingle through as fast as it comes up to the work. Mr Parr has lately experimented with a trench in his model harbour, and it works capitally. In a quarter of an hour it carried through a “ trench ” about half an inch wide a heap of miniature shingle representing several thousands tons on the scale adopted. The trench represents one 31ft wide in the breakwater. A STRANGE SEA MONSTER. The following letter, dated Mangawharo, Northern Wairoa, August 23, 1896, has been published" We, the undersigned, saw’ to-day on the West Coast, at the back of Mangawhare, at about twelve o’clock, a very strange sea monster about half a mile outside of the break. It appeared to be the shape of an eel, and reared straight out of the water to a height of about twenty feet, and then fell like a tree, sending up spray to a height of about forty or fifty feet. We saw it rise about a dozen times, and the last time it rose it turned backwards, showing a tremendous open mouth as it fell. It was black on the back and white underneath. It appeared to be about four or five feet thick. We watched for some time, but saw no more of it. About a mile further out we saw a large whale spouting at the same time, —We are, Ac., James Evans, Charles I lavell, Thomas Brown.” FOR ROAD SCORCHERS. Come and see the latest Star, fitted with dropped handle bars, narrow tread and all improvements. Adams Star Cycle Coy., Christchurch. —[Advt.]