MR MCLACHLAN AND MISS LAISHLEY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue II, 3 July 1897, Page 50

MR MCLACHLAN AND MISS LAISHLEY.

In the Cathedral Church of St. Mary’s, Parnell, on Friday last, was solemnised a marriage which has been looked forward to with a good deal of interest among the inner circle of Parnell society. The bridegroom was Mr Alexander Joseph McLachlan, solicitor, a partner in the firm of Laurence and McLachlan, of Sydney, and the bride Miss Ida Emmeline

Laishley, eldest surviving daughter of Dr. Laishley, barrister, of this city.

Cupid shoots his arrows in unexpected places. The engagement in the present instance was the outcome of a pleasant meeting at the residence of a mutual friend, Mr Gilbert King, Senr. Inspector of the Bank of New South Wales, and uncle of the bridegroom, and at present acting as Chief Officer of the Bank in New Zealand, during a visit paid by Miss Laishley to her aunt in Sydney last year.

The Rev. Canon Mac Murray, M.A., conducted the marriage service, and Mr Beale, organist of All Saints’, presided at the organ.

The bride, looking bright and happy, was led to the altar on the arm of her father. She was attired in a smart tailor-made travelling gown of light fawn coating, collar and revers faced with fawn velvet, full jabot of pale green chiffon. She wore a bewitching black velvet picture hat, with white velvet jam-pot crown edged with beaver an trimmed with violets aud plumes, and carried

a lovely shower bouquet, with Victorian bows and long ends of wide white satin ribbon. Her sister. Miss Elsie Laishley (the bridesmaid) wore a pretty tone of pale grey cloth tailor-made skirt and coat, pale pink brocaded vest, and black velvet picture hat with black plumes and pink tinted roses nestling on the hair under the leaf. Mr J. M Chambers officiated as best man. The guests present were Mrs R. Laishley, senior, in black ; Mrs Laishley wore a very rich Prussian blue costume, stylish bonnet with upstanding bows of pink silk ; Mrs John Chambers, black silk, black velvet cape, bonnet en mite; Mrs Seymour Thorne George, black silk, black bonnet! Mrs Wilfred Colbeck, black, large black hat with wreath of magenta roses round crown and under leaf; Miss Thorne George, green costnme, toque with violets ; Mr J. L Wilson, MrsJ. L. Wilson, handsome black silk,black chiffon fichn embroidered with white silk, willow green velvet bonnet; Mr A. C. Whitney; Mrs Whitney wore blue and black boucle cloth costume, black velvet picture hat; Mrs W. S. Wilson, rich black satin brocade, becoming bonnet; Mr Thomas Buddle; Mrs Buddle, black silk, white and black brocade vest, black bonnet with cluster of pink roses; Miss Buddle, nut-brown lustre, Eton jacket, cream vest, light brown hat with quills ; Rev. Canon Mac Murray ; Mr L. Welstead ; Mrs Welstead wore a pretty shot green and Drown figured silk, bodice veiled with cinnamon brown chiffon, green toque with coral pink roses ; Mrs W. R. Walker ; Professor Talbot-Tubbs ; Mrs Henderson and Misses Henderson, of Christchurch ; Mrs A. J. Denniston, terra-cotta merveilleux bodice, jewelled trimming, in basket design on yoke, black satin skirt, large hat with pale pink chine ribbon bows and feathers; Mrs Dr. Kilgour, pink and black striped silk gown, black silk sleeves, velvet toque with high, narrow crown with touches of pink ; Mrs C. A. Stubbs, fawn cloth costume; Mrs W. Gorrie and Miss Gorrie ; MrsJ. P. Stephenson.

The organist played Mendelssohn’s ‘ Wedding March ’ as the bridal party retired from the church. They returned to the residence of Dr. and Mrs Laishley in Cleveland Road, where a recherche wedding breakfast had been prepared.

The numerous and valuable wedding presents were greatly admired. There are also a large number in Sydney; including a grand piano, and a very handsome silver tea and coffee service.

After receiving the felicitations of their friends the happy pair drove away amid showers of rice and hearty aurevoirs to some secret rural bower, where they remained until Monday, when they left by the s.s. * Tasmania ’ for Sydney. A very large number of friends assembled at the steamer to wish the happy couple bon voyage. They will take up their residence at Hunter's Hill in that city.

A new kind of ladies’ club has been formed. The members are young women, and the object of the club is declared to be * to promote the happiness of the members.’ The originality of the way in which this is to be done is startling. The girls are going to help each other to become as fascinating as possible. If one member is deficient in musical training the others will teach her. If she cannot learn to play or sing the others will teach her the theory and history of music, so that she can talk and listen intelligently about it. Those who can cook but not dance will be taught by those who can dance but not cook, and vice versa. Each member will be invested with the accomplishments and learning of the club as a whole. If one of the young ladies shows matrimonial symptoms her interests will be fostered by her sister members. Peculiarities of temperament will be observed and fully discussed, with a view to improving their owner. If any are discovered which will tend to sour the disposition, make the mind gloomy, or the tongue rampant, a weeding-out system will at once be adopted toward the unhappy member. Marriage with an unworthy man will be discouraged ; under the club rules, indeed, it is absolutely forbidden. If a wilful member persists in receiving the attention of such a man she will be expelled from the rights and privileges of the club.

Italy’s next Queen will be the most remarkable woman ruler in the modern history of the world. She has the courage of a lion, the physique of an Amazon, the spirit of J oan d’Arc. She is perfectly at home in the saddle and is an expert with the rifle. The Princess, moreover, takes a keen delight in shooting birds with a revolver, and so great is her skill with that weapon that even the smallest animal falls an easy prey to her unerring aim. The number of languages with which she is thoroughly conversant is half a dozen, and she knows the political intricacies of Europe as well as a Prime Minister. Though a lover of the wild and ferocious, she has enough intelligence and training to make her a finished woman of the world.