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Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 644, 4 September 1869, Page 2

Building Societies. —A commission has been appointed to enquire into the laws relating to buiding societies, and the operation thereof.

Young . Men's Christian- Associaiion.—A Young Men's Christian Association is being formed in connection with the Presbyterian Church. We should have preferred seeing one from the combined denominations, but we suppose this is hardly likely. We wish the Association prosperity, believing that it will be instrumental in effecting much gool.

Appointments.—Mr Wm. E. Heywood has been gazetted Lieutenant in the Rangitikei Militia. Mr Heywood has earned his commission by timehonored and valued services in connection with that body. Mr Pennington James Richardson has been gazetted Lieutenant in the Alfred Troop, Rangitikei Cavalry Volunteers.

War Intelhgencb.—Col. Herrick reached Runanga on Friday week, and is engaged in forming a defensive post there. Te Kooti is still at Rotoaira, where he is reported to be building a pah. Renata left this district yesterday with 45 of his men, and Peni with 14, to support their relations in Patea, who are threatened. Henare Tomoana leaves this day, with about sixty more, on the same mission.—H. B. Herald, Aug. 31.

Poverty Bay. — A public meeting was held at Turanganui, Poverty Bay, on the 23rd ult., to take into consideration the means to raise a sufficient sum of money to erect a monument to the memory of the unfortunate settlers murdered in that district by Te Kooti's band ; Major Westrupp in the chair. It was* proposed by Mr Evans and seconded by Mr Poynter, that subscription lists be at once opened in the principal towns of New Zealand for the purpose stated in the heading of the proceedings of this meeting, and that subscriptions be limited to the amount of half-a-crown.

Marriage of Mtss Featherston. The Evening Post of the Ist inst. gi\>es the following eccentric account of the above interesting event :—" This morning, at St. Paul's Cathedral, one of those interesting ceremonies the loyal people of Wellington take so deep an interest in, was celebrated, with the modest grandeur so characteristic of the family it so nearly concerned. We often hear from strangers that we Wellingtonians are a foolish and primitive people, blind to the advancement and civilisation of more pretentious communities. At any rate we retain many of the primitive virtues to which our more prosperous rivals are comparatively strangers ; and foremost amongst them ranks gratitude towards, and reverence for, our old public servants, whose statesmanship and patriotism have gone far to model all that is noblest in our institutions, and purge the rest of much of its alloy. Although the hour of the wedding this morning was kept very secret, yet a large concourse of people accumulate!! to view the happy fair, and gallant Colonel from the south, and the bride, in a cloud of tulle, smiled with a radiant beauty on the assembled people, whilst the sylph-like grace of the happy bridesmaids.formed a nosegay of beauty, such as few provinces in this favored land could boast or equal. Prominent in the holy and impressive scene, stood our veteran statesman, His Honor Isaac Earl Featherston, the father of

the bride. Had the hour of *he ceremony been publicly known, thousands would v have assembled to witness this marriage. The bridesmaids were the three Misses Featherston, Miss Riddiford, and Miss Brandon, all dressed in white tulle, relieved by pink ribbons. The bride was given away by her father, and Colonel Cargill was supported by Wm. Levin, Esq., and Charles John Johnston, Esq. Amongst the crowd of guests we noticed A. deß. Brandon, Esq, the Hon Mr McLean, the Hon Mr Miller, and other members of the Lower House." The above is surely a skit on the ceremony. Whoever heard of " sylph-like grace" forming a "nosegay of beauty?" Imagine, "purging" institutions of their alloy, and then a skip to the " wedding this morning." Reference is amusingly made to the "happy fair, and gallant Colonel." This is the first time the "fair" adjective has been applied to the "paragon of animals." This gushing description is worthy of a place in the Court Journal or Judy.