SILVER WEDDINGS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XII, 19 September 1896, Page 368

SILVER WEDDINGS.

MR AND MRS EDWIN MITCHELSON. THE Hon. Edwin and Mrs Mitchelson, of * Waitaramoa,’ Remuera, were ‘ At Home ’ to their numerous friends at a garden party on Saturday afternoon, the occasion being the celebration of their silver wedding. It was a warm spring day, and the lovely grounds, planted with all varieties of native and sub-tropical shrubs, tree ferns, and flowers—the flagstaff gaily festooned with many-hued flags—looked at their best. The anniversary falls at the time of year when Parliament is sitting, and from this cause the present occasion was the first time during a period of fifteen years that Mr Mitchelson has been at home on the anniversary of his marriage. The members of the Opposition were resolved that the auspicious event should not pass unrecognised by them as apolitical organisation ; they therefore sent as a joint gift a solid silver salver, which bore the following inscription :—‘ Presented by the party in opposition in the New Zealand Parliament 1896, to the Hon. E. and Mrs Mitchelson on the happy occasion of their silver wedding, September 12, 1896.’ Mrs Mitchelson has only just returned from Sydney with Miss Mitchelson, who is now completely restored tohealtb. The unavoidable shortness of the notice given between the issue of thein vitationsand the/e/e prevented a considerable number of friends from attending ; nevertheless, there were upwards of a hundred guests present. Among the gentlemen I noticed : Rev. Canon Gould, Rev. H. D. A. Major, Very Rev. Monsignor McDonald, Messrs W. S. Wilson, T. J. Steele, J. Henderson, E. Waymouth, G. Waymouth, Thorpe, W. A. Marriner, E. Marriner, Captain Tilly, Messrs R. Tilly, C. R. Tilley, J. Dennin, A. C. Whitney, R. C. Carr, A. Carr, F. H. Carr, T. Cotter, L. Wilson, R Wilson, J. Wilson, T. Austin, R. Lusher, C Westwood, Captain Worsp, Messrs G. Hull, J. Dickson, Wylde Brown, C. Wylde-Brown, L. Wylde-Brown, E. W. Allison, Bellairs, J. Henderson, R. Wigmore, W. Wigmore, E. Wigmore, and H. B. Jones. There were also two gentlemen from Wanganui who accompanied Mr Main, of the Herald, one of whom, I think, is the sub-editor of the Wanganui Chronicle.

The earlier part of the afternoon was spent in wandering through the beautiful grounds surrounding the house, in listening to Impey’s band, and in pleasant chat over the afternoon tea-tables, which were abundantly spread in a large marquee. About five o’clock the event of the afternoon took place, when Mrs Mitchelson cut a splendid wedding-cake, and the Rev. Canon Gould proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom. Incidentally he gave an account of the wedding, which he had celebrated a quarter of a century before at the residence of Mr Wilson, Mrs Mitchelson’s father, on the Northern Wairoa R’ver. The rejoicings, he declared, quite outstripped the celebration which they were gathered h°re for ; the whole township was en fete for a week. He expressed the hope that their hosts would live to celebrate a happy golden wedding.

The Hon. E Mitchelson spoke with much cordiality and feeling of the pleasure which he and Mrs Mitchelson had derived from the many tokens of friendship which this red-letter day in their lives had called forth. Their happiness was heightened by the home-coming of their daughter, whose residence in Sydney had resulted in complete restoration of health. Mr Mitchelson’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by appreciatory applause from the audience, and at the close the host and hostess were accorded a perfect ovation.

Many congratulatory telegrams and letters were received from distant friends, and the wedding presents were numerous and valuable. After tea many of the visitors returned to town and to their homes in the vicinity, but about forty of the guests remained for the evening and amused themselves with songs and games of various sorts until nine o’clock, when supper was served.

Mrs Mitche'son. who looked exceedingly well, wore a black satin gown with jet canvas yoke, jet ornaments on bodice, black and gold bonnet: Miss Mitchelson looked sweetly pretty in a shot tweed frock, with full collar, belt and cuffs of a rich shade of red velvet, black hat wi ll feathers; Miss Bertha Mitchelson. cream chine silk blouse, cardinal skirt with rows of black'lace insertion, cardinal felt picture hat: Mrs West, black figured satin cloth gown, black bonnet; Mrs Kenrick. black moire gown, black velvet cape, black bonnet; Miss Kenrick. new shade of blue cloth costume: Miss — Kenrick was charming in black silk striped grenadine over silk, large black hat with a huge bow of shot ribbon ; Miss M. Kenrick. navy serge trimmed with braid passementerie ; Mrs Brett, very handsome black silk gown, yellow and black em bossed velvet bodice, pretty black bonnet with yellow narcissi; Miss Brett, who was much admired, wore one of the prettiest dresses, which was of vieux-rose bengaline, bodice veiled with tussore lace insertion, black velvet picture hat with black feathers; Miss Emily Brett, very stylish tailor-made brown tweed, brown beefeater hat with ribbon and shaded yellow roses; Mrs Dargaville, black niorveilleux with yellow silk bodice veiled with black lace, bonnet rn suite . Miss Dargaville wore a smart fawn check costume, feather boa. brown velvet hat with frilled shot silk beefeater crown and upstanding bows of ribbon: Miss McLachlan, violet bengaline gown, bodice trimmed with black velvet, black hat with reseda green ribbon bows; Mrs 8. Morrin looked ch >c in blue chine silk blouse, black niorveilleux kirt, black chip hat trimmed with chiffon ; Mrs Worsp, pale green

crepon gown, front of bodice profusely trimmed with b ck chiffon, toque to match ; Miss Worsp. black gown, red cloth bodice, black velvet hat; Mrs Gorrie, black silk; Miss Gorrie, sea-foam blue and pink brocade blouse, boucle cloth skirt; Miss M. Gorrie, pale blue and grey check costume; Mrs Whitney, stylish black satin gown with brocade bodice with a scroll design of the new shade of blue, black jet bonnet; Mrs Wilson, handsome black silk; Mrs Thorpe, black ; Miss Thorpe, brown clo'h with brown velvet sleeves, brown felt hat; Miss Flora Thorpe looked pretty in navy serge, black felt Alpine hat; Mrs Lusher, fawn satin, white toque; Mi<s Westwood Gobelin blue bengaline finished with black ; Mrs Wylde-Brown, b'ack brocade gown, revets of heliotrope under black lace, black bonnet with large bow of heliotrope io front; Miss Wylde-Brown looked dainty in a chine muslin blouse, dark green skirt, white straw hat coquettishly trimmed with ribbon and a feather at the side: Miss Bellairs, cardinal coloured frock: Mrs Whitson, fawn check tweed costume: Mias Whitson, red and blue striped tweed, black velvet hat: Miss Cotter looked very well in shot tweed, full vest of pink silk, hat en suite ; Mrs Tilly, fawn and brown check tweed gown and cape trimmed with fur: Miss Tilly, silver-leaf green shimmering brocaded satin gown, toque to match; Mrs E. W. Allison, shot silk gown. ‘Trilby’ velvet sleeves, jet bonnet: Mrs Carr, brown and black costume; Miss Carr, Chartreuse green velvet blouse, dark skirt, white hat; Miss Alice Westwood, fawn cashmere, fawn plush epaulettes, blue and brown brocade full vest; Mies Winnie Westwood, fawn and brown check tweed, frills falling over sleeves; Miss G. Westwood, grey; Mrs Beattie, brown check tweed: Miss Henderson, a pretty cream blouse with vandykes of heliotrope silk over sleeves, also band round square yoke, black skirt: Mrs Austin, brown cloth gown and stylish cape : Mrs Norton looked very stylish|in a black silk crepon, black hat trimmed with chiffon: Mrs Hull, black; etc., etc. MR AND MRS GEORGE RAYNES. Mr and Mrs Geo. Raynes must certainly be heartily congratulated over the result of their last social re-union, the occasion being the celebration of their silver wedding, which event took place in London, at Old Paddington church, on September 7th, 1871. As above stated, the greatest tclat was given to the affair, and over 150 friends gathered together to express their delight at the whole proceedings, which passed off without a single hitch. The cusine was one of the best, and the supper table was what, with the pretty decorations, handsome dresses, and general coup d'oeil, once seen, never to be forgotten. The floor was in excellent trim for votaries of the light fantastic, and if ever they exerted themselves they did that night. The music, too, a most critical part, was excellent, and was ably supplied by Messrs Reid and Davidson's String Bind. A programme of over twenty dances was gone through with great verve and animation, evidently showing their hearts were in it, and, as stated previously, the whole was pronounced a most enthusiastic success. At interludes songs were sung, and Mr C. Winks proved himself a most proficient M C Supper was served in Mr A. F. Stillwell’s best style, and was done full justice to. Mr and Mrs Geo. Raynes were greeted with the heartiest of congratulations, and they were the recipients of many handsome presents, including souvenirs from all their employes. For the elderly folk who did not dance, considerate forethought was shown by allotting them a portion of the room fitted up as a drawing-room, iu which they could entertain themselves in a manner suitable to their tastes. Now for the dresses, which would take too much of your valuable space to adequately describe, contrast, colour, and rich trimmings being seen in rivalry on all sides, buffice it to say the following list met with chief approval, and must not be passed over :— Mrs Geo. Raynes looked quite bewitching dressed as she was in white satin, pearl and chiffon trimmings ; Miss Raynes. white striped silk, a most brilliant effect being caused by not only the beauty of the dress, but also by that of the wearerherself. A good many thought, in fact, that the palm was carried off between Miss Raynes and Miss Finch, who also looked charming in yellow silk trimmed with white chiffon ; Mrs J. Raynes. black and heli >trope silk ; her daughter Lily, a pretty white striped silk : Mrs Schapp. white satin ; Mrs Howard, yellow satin ; Mrs G Brook, pink satin beautifully trimmed, and looking one of 'he best in the roam : Mies M. Raynes. heliotrope : Miss Winks, pale green, velvet trimmings ; Miss Kilfoyle. all white: Mrs W. Speight, black velvet; Miss Speight, white trimmed with violets: Mrs Dawson, pale green ; Miss Dash, green silk ; Miss Smith (Waiwera). white trimmed with red poppies; Mrs Cooper, pale blue; Miss Cooper, yellow cashmere, black trimmings: Miss Maxwell, silver grey; Mrs Lonergan, white silk velvet; Miss Harkins, black lace dress. Mr Gilmer, town clerk of Parnell, in a neat speech proposed health and happiness to enable both Mr and Mrs Geo. Raynes to celebrate in the future their golden wedding, to which Mr Geo. Raynes ably responded, and with hearty congratulations from all quarters, the social given in St. Bonaventura Hall on Monday, 7th September, is not likely to be soon forgotten.