AN INTERESTING WEDDING AT PUKETIRAKI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 65

AN INTERESTING WEDDING AT PUKETIRAKI.

Dear Emmeline, — An event much looked" forward to by the large number of guests invited was Ihc marriaeo ac Puketiraki on June 6 of Mi's Ani Pa-ata, daughtei of: Mr T. Paiata, M.H.K. lor the sou'Lliern Maori district, to Mr Reginald Cliv-3 Thurston Evans, a well-known Glimmer visitor to this mosfc popuiai sca§ido resort. A large and merry pariy i .availed out by train on the sth tr. find ;i much larger and equally meny crowd busily de-orrating church and ha 1 for ih" wedding, ihe whole place being in a pleasant ?tate of excitement. The 6th dawned a perfectly lovely day, and very wai m. All wraps were soon discarded, and gir l^ in all sorts of light and airy attire wpro to bo seen Sitting all over the place, and fcho mon whom we usually see in sweaters and flannel- were hardly recognisable in frock coats and bell-topper?.

The cluii-ch presented a -very animated scene. All the windows thi o\\ n open revealed a lovely view of seashore, hills, and dales, brigiht with sunshine. The deco-rations were especially pretty, a white bell with yellow clappers being much admired. One differenoa between this and a town weddingwas that all those present — numbering s&veral hundreds — were guests. There were no onlookers, henco an absence of the criticism one so often hears at a large wedding. An exceedingly friendly and merry spirit seemed 1 to permeate the whole affair. Being a mere man, I cannot minutely describe the bride's frock, which I am informed was a rich ivory satin, with all the usual etce f ras. This I can say, a lovelier bride could scarcely be seen — her glossy hair piled high on her head, hen." rich complexion, magnificent eyes, and perfect fceet'h made a picture not soon to b& forgotten. The bridesmaids, Misses Howelt (cousin of the bride), Fynmora (cousin of the bridegroom), Taiaroa. Te Tau, Parata (nieces of the brido), all looked very pretty in white, with picture hats. The bridegroom's presents were : to the bride, a lovely sapphire and diamond ring;; to the. bridesmaids, one a greenstone and gold! bangle, one a greenstone and pearl ring, to tho others greenstone, brooches; and! to the groomsmen greenstone tikis. The service was full choral, partly in English and: part Maori. In the Wairapa Hall a real o-ld-fashioned sit-down substantial wedding breakfast was provided. The tables wo^n arranged in the shape of a horseshoe, at theupper end towered the handsome wedding cake, several tier=; high : evei'j da-infcy and delicacy of tie season wa>s to be found, from poultry and game, of every description to trifles, fruit salad, sweets, and bon bons, and it was wonderful how the several hundred guests were «ervod so qui-rikly without a hitch of any kind.

The Rev. H. Jonas proposed tho health of the. happy couple, to which the bridegroom responded.

The usual number of toasts were proposed 1 , the speakers being Mi Parata, Mr Te Tail, Messrs. Saundters, Stowe, Eva-ns, Dr Truby King and Dr Bach. Messis Parata and Te Tau spoke in Maori, whioh was ably interpreted by Mr Wi Repa.

Numbers of telegrams we-ro received from, all parts of the colony, including one from Mr Seddon and one from Sir Joseph Wand. The presents, numbering several Hundreds, looked somewhat like a jeweller's shop. Included in th& number were a silver salver from the Premier, ha'wlsomo gifts from members of the legislature, no fewer than five silver teapots, and all sorts of handsome and useful aiiiclcs \\h:ch need not lis particularised.

One of my neigh-hours at ths breakfast table — a handsome Maori girl — directed my attention to the platform, where five stalwart handsome Maoris mon — two of thorn, being distinguished graduates of our University — were standing, and asked mo what I thought of the Maori race when looking at a group like that? And, indeed, nob only in appearance, but in oourfesous attention to guests, perfect s-Mf -possession, and 1 royal taotfulncsa our Maori friends could teach Europeans a lesson. They ate, indeed. Nature's genMe (oik, and bear Iho stamp in manner of ft noble royal race.

After a sumptuous tea and 6eeing tho bride and bridegroom off by train, there was a general hurrying off to summer oofctag'ea, etc., to prcpara for the dance, which was kept up till +ha early hours of dawn, and finished up a most enjoyable day. The seen© was a gay and bright one, and ag-ain was comparison made between the ball Idrcsscs of the ladies and the dress suits of the men and the negligent costumes usually worn by the summer visitors at the dances at Christmas and New Year time. Not the least enjoyable pai-fc of the whole affair was the delay of o^er fouC hours of the train conveying many of the

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guests fcaclc to town on the day following the wedding, for -owing to ,som© damage ho the lone -we iha<3 to stay near Evarusdale tfrom noon' till after ♦ o'clock, and really lhad a iferj gay and lively time. It was a jjlorious day, and a Mud resident supplied us witih. (hot teia, bread and butter 3 etc., bo We wandered about amid beautiful scenery, and reaMy thought we* were having a very Jolly pionio, the fun being ilast and furkms. Once when the train was about to move for a little, one of our party was observed pom© distance, away, so we asked the engine onyer to wait, which he did. It quite felt like ibein® King Dick to be able to stop a train so. easily. We tad all become quite - frtnencHy with the engine driver and guard, Who had been included in the tea drinking before mentioned.

May there soon be another wedding at i Puketiraki" was the -sincere wish of all as I •re separated. — One" op the Paktt-.