ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XXI, 23 November 1895, Page 646

ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

PATERSON—KINGSWHI.I,. AVERY interesting ceremony took place in St. Paul’s Church, Symond-street, Auckland, on Monday, the nth instant, when the first marriage within the walls of the new church was celebrated by Canon Nelson. The happy pair were Miss Ethel May Kingswell and Mr Roderick Paterson, chief engineer of the s.s. Upolu. The bride wes given away by her brother, Mr Charles Kingswell.

There was only one bridesmaid — Miss Binney. Owing to the uncertainty of the movements of the Upolu, notice of the day ot the wedding could only be given to the Incumbent on Saturday, and the organist of the church was unable to attend at the hour fixed on Monday. The absence of music detracted slightly from the beauty and solemnity of the service. No doubt many more of the numerous friends of bride and bridegroom, and parishioners would have liked to witness the first marriage in the church, if they had known when it was to take place. Nevertheless, everyone looked very happy, and the bride and bridegroom, who had arranged to spend two days at Lake Takapuna and then proceed on their honeymoon trip to Fiji, were the recipients of many congratulations and good wishes.

In accordance with time-honoured custom the bride was presented by the Incumbent with a handsome family Bible, suitably inscribed, as a memento of the auspicious circumstance that she was the first of all the happy women who, in the ordinary course of events, will be wedded in St. Paul’s. The bride, who looked charming in her travelling dress of electric blue crepon trimmed with cream silk, hat to match, carried an exquisite bouquet with long ribbons, which was the gift of the bridegroom. Miss Binney, her bridesmaid, wore a grey tailor-made gown, very stylish brown straw hat trimmed with gold wings and chiffon, bouquet of yellow roses. Among the guests I noticed Mrs Kingswell. in black crepon, bodice inserted V with handsome yellow brocade, black bonnet with buttercups; Miss Hilda Kingswell, her daughter, looked sweetly pretty in an Einp.re frock ot rose pink cashmere, Puritan bonnet to match, white shoes; Mrs Binney, black crepon. handsome black lace eape. black bonnet with violets; Mrs Clifton, pink silk blouse, fawn skirt, brown hat trimmed with pink roses ; Mrs Crawshaw, stylish white crepon, gold silk bodice, dainty little while and gold bonnet; Miss Jessie Binney, sapphire blue gown, bat to match; Miss Ledham, dove grey gown, white hat with pink ; Miss — Ledham, he iotiope. becoming white hat; Mrs Roach,black handsomely trimmed with black satin and jet passementerie, black hat with pink roses; Miss Ethel Cameron, Gobelin blue gown, pretty white hat. Ai'TER the ceremony, the wedding party assembled at the residence of Mr Kingswell, where a recherche afternoon tea was provided. Amongst the numerous presents were a handsome cake basket, egg stand, cruet, two biscuit barrels, three silver teapots, fish slice, handsome carvers, cream and sugar bowls, butter dishes, toast rack, jam dishes, afternoon teaspoons, vases, hand painted fans, jam spoons and butter knives, and numerous cheques from Southern friends.

A strange custom, dating back to the Dark Ages, has survived in some of the mountain districts in Austria — the painting of skulls. The small size of most cemeteries in those regions makes it necessary to regularly remove the skeletons of the buried who have lain there eight or ten years, to make room for newcomers. The relatives of the dead thus to be exhumed are generally notified before the removal, so that they can attend to the cleaning of the skeleton and be present at its deposit in the so-called ‘bone-house’ or ’charnel-house.’ On such occasions the skull is often ornamental with paintings, representing rosaries, wreaths, snakes, etc., or it is marked with the name of the dead person.