ROMANTIC MARRIAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1934, Page 9

ROMANTIC MARRIAGE

THIRD OFFICER OF THE KENT BRISBANE GIRL THE BRIDE-TO-BE. MISSED SHIP UPSETS PLANS. CEREMONY AT ST. MARY’S TO-DAY. Behind the bare announcement that at St. Mary’s Church, New Plymouth, at 9.30 this morning Miss Beth Hardy is to marry Mr. F. Farrar lies a romantic story. Mr. Farrar, an Englishman, is third officer- of the Federal steamer Kent, at present at New Plymouth. Some time ago he met Miss Hardy, who is a native of Brisbane, but the constant changes from port to port of the ship prevented, any possibility of the marriage. Under New Zealand law, of course, one of the parties to the marriage must have been a resident of the particular town for three days prior to the event. Eventually, however, the two decided to marry at New Plymouth, and all preparations for it to take place last Wednesday were made. But Miss Hardy missed her connection with the ship from Australia and it was. not until yesterday that she landed at Wellington from the Marama. She arrived at New Plymouth by the mail train from Wellington last night. Actually, the recent rough weather was a blessing in disguise to the couple, for the Kent has been delayed at Moturoa for some days. Under ordinary conditions it would have moved on to Wanganui, the next and final port of call, thereby preventing the marriage. Miss Hardy has not been in New Zealand before. On her arrival last night she was met by two or three friends of Mr. Farrar. She is a typical Australian girl, tall, and slim, with a head of blonde curls. Mr. Farrar is following the example of the , master of the Kent, Captain J. V. Williams, in his marriage. Captain Williams was at Sydney when his fiancee arrived from England. Twelve hours later the two were married. Possibly the example of the chief officer of the Norwegian oil'tanker Havbor, which was at New Plymouth at the same time as the Akaroa op November 19, could have been followed, had the rain not held the Kent at New Plymouth. Owing to the facility with which large quantities of the gasoline cargo are landed an oil tanker rarely spends more than 12 hours in a port. The Havbor had arrived at Southampton, where the bride-to-be waited. She had only been in England a day, so that marriage at Southampton was impossible. The enterprising pair secured a parson, a launch and some witnesses, and proceeded outside the three-mile limit, where, safe from any laws except those of the sea, they were married. Venturing out into the Tasman Sea in a small open boat might, however, have less charm than venturing out into the English Channel. The Farrars’ future? Well, at the moment their plans are to make the most of the five days before the Kent sails for England (officers are not permitted to take their wives on sea voyages). Where Miss Hardy, or Mrs. Farrar-to-be, will live she does not know.