ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue VI, 6 August 1898, Page 181

ORANGE BLOSSOMS.

G RIFF EN—McILROY.

A stylish wedding, and one that evoked considerable interest in the city, was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Dunedin, on Tuesday last. The contracting parties were Miss Margaret Mcllroy (Martin), eldest daughter of the late Mr Alexander Mcllroy, and Mr James Griffen, son of the late Mr John Griffen, of Dunedin. Long before the hour for the commencement of the ceremony, the Cathedral was packed, and a great many would-be spectators found some difficulty in viewing- the proceedings. The ceremony was performed by His Lordship the Most Rev. Dr. Verdon, Bishop of Dunedin, assisted by the Very Rev. Father O’Neill and the Rev. Father Murphy. The bride was given away by her brother, Dr. Mcllroy. She was attended by five bridesmaids — Miss Katie Martin and Miss Nellie Martin, sisters of the bride; Miss Griffen and Misses Leonora and Josephine Griffen, sisters of the bridegroom; while Mr Griffen was attended by his brother, Mr N. C. Griffen, as best man. As the chief figures were grouped around the sanctuary steps the scene was strikingly pretty. The Bishop was attired in a cope and mitre, and carried his pastoral staff, and the sacred function was performed with all the impressive ceremonial characteristic of the Catholic Church. This was the first public marriage, it might be added, that has been solemnised by His Lordship since his consecration to the see of Dunedin.

When the happy pair were finally in the bonds of wedloek the bridal party retired to the seats allotted them, and His Lordship delivered an eloquent- address on the, duties of the married state. His remarks, which extended over some 20 minutes, were listened to with as much interest by the congregation as by those to whom they were chiefly addressed. At the conclusion the bridegroom and bride, with the attendant bridesmaids, together with the invited guests, drove to Grace Hill, the residence of the bride’s mother, situated in one of the. loveliest spots in the picturesque Glen. The day was a perfect one, and, as was frequently remarked, appeared to be made to order. On arrival, the guests sat down to the wedding breakfast, and, justice having’ been done to the sumptuous repast. Dr. Hocken in a felicitous speech proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom. The toast was honoured enthusiastically and appropriately acknowledged by the bridegroom. A number of other toasts were also honoured, speeches being deliverer! by Mr .1. B. Calkin, solicitor; Dr. Mcllroy, Mr Robert Wilson. Mr John Carrol, Mr N. C. Griffen, Mr Thomas Deehan, and Mr H. L. Griffen. Subsequently the bridal party and visitors were photographed, and the happy pair drove to Waitati, leaving next day for Christchurch and the Hamner Plains. The following is a description of the dress-

es worn on the occasion:— The bride’s wedding gown was made of superb white satin handsomely trimmed with white lace and with the fashionable square train, the bridal veil was ornamented with orange blossom, white tips and osprey; the Misses Katie and Nellie Martin’s dresses were made of white cashmere, the bodices being prettily tucked and trimmed with insertion lace, the hats were of white felt, trimmed with white silk plumes mid white violets; the bride's travelling costume was a brown cloth, tailormade, with vest of pink silk, the travelling hat was of brown satin, the straw being in perfect harmony and daintily trimmed with tips relieved with pink silk; Mrs Roach wore a handsome gown of black silk, trimmed with white chiffon and jet, with a suitable. and stylish black bonnet trimmed with rose silk and white osprey; Misses Griffen, dresses of white pique, cream silk sashes and fichus with lace frills, white felt hats, trimmed with cream bengaline plumes and violets; Mrs Griffen, black brocaded costume trimmed with black surah and braid relieved with lemon-coloured silk, black felt hat trimmed with black velvet and lemon-coloured silk.

It might be added that Mr James Griffen, who holds an important position in the National Insurance Office, was presented with a handsome marble clock and a set of silver-mounted carvers from the members of the staff, together with a congratulatory letter signed by the members of the staff, and the members of the Company’s officers in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne. Subsequently he was met by a number of gentlemen connected with Insurance Companies in the city doing marine business, and presented with a silver afternoon tea service and silver salver and a costly liqueur stand. Mr Janies Edgar, vice-chairman of the Marine Underwriters’ Association, made the presentation, and speeches were delivered by Mr T. R. Fisher, general manager of the Standard Insurance Co., Mr R. M. Clark, manager of the South British; and Mr A. Campbell, manager of the North British.

I hear that Mr Richard Nowell Bealey, the second son of Mr Samuel Bealey, who is now living at 55, Belsize Park Gardens, was married on the 2nd of June, at Ontario, to Miss Isabel May Blomfield, the third daughter of Mr Charles James Blomfield, of Cedar Bank, Lakefield.

A quiet wedding took place at St. Philip’s Church, on the afternoon of the. 9th instant, says the Sydney ‘Daily Telegraph,’ when Mr George James Reeve, manager of the Newcastle branch of the Sydney ‘Morning Herald,’ was united to Nurse M. H. Fletcher, formerly of the. Newcastle Hospital, and more recently of Auckland, New Zealand. The. Rev. Archdeacon Langley, incumbent of St. Philip’s, officiated. The ceremony was witnessed by a large number of friends. Nurse Findlater, sub-matron of the Newcastle Hospital, was the bridesmaid, and Mr F. M. Gellatley was best man. At the conclusion of the ceremony the ‘Wedding March’ was played by Mr Bavin. Later the happy couple left for the mountains.

There was a large attendance of spectators in the Presbyterian Church, Clevedon, to witness the marriage of Mr Hendry Luke, third son of Mr Wm. Luke, of Mataitai (Lower Wairoa), ami Miss Christina .lane Henderson, second daughter of Mr James Henderson, of Clevedon. The bride, attended by two sisters as bridesmaids, was given away by her father. The Rev. Mr Norrie was the officiating clergyman.

Last week a very pretty wedding was celebrated in Holy Trinity Church, Tauranga, when Mr Leonard Bull, second son of Mr John Bull, of Blenheim, was married to Miss Harriet Clarke, second daughter of Mr C. A. Clarke, Mayor of Tauranga. There was a full choral service held in the tastefullydecorated church, in the presence of a large crowd of spectators. After the wedding breakfast at the Mayor’s residence the happy couple took their departure for Rotorua, where the honeymoon is to be spent.

New Zealanders will doubtless be interested to learn of the recent marriage of Miss Mermine Huth Me.inertzhagen, youngest daughter of the late Mr Frederick Huth Meinerte.hagen, of

Waimarama, New Zealand, to Mr Lancelot Arthur Huth. eldest son of Alexander Huth, Esq., of Putney. The marriage took place at. St. George's, Hanover Square, and the ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Walter Marshall, minor canon of St. George's, Windsor, and the Rev. E. St. C. Weeden, curate of the parish. GULLY—HEWITT. A quiet wedding took place in the Church of the Nativity, Blenheim, last. Thursday afternoon,when Miss Mamie, fourth daughter of Mr V. Hewitt, of Blenheim, was married to Mr J. Gully, of Nelson. The Yen. Archdeacon Grace performed the ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her father, was simply dressed in ivory serge, made a la Russe, and trimmed with swansdown, softened by a pretty tulle veil embroidered with silk, a spray of orange blossom in her hair, and she carried a lovely shower bouquet. She was attended by three bridesmaids, the chief one being Miss Poell, of Wanganui, who was becomingly attired in apple-green nun’s veiling, the. bodice and skirt being profusely trimmed with white jet passementerie, black velvet picture hat with green ribbons and flowers. Miss Gully, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Hewitt, sister of the. bride, the other bridesmaids, wore green dresses of the same shade, black velvet hats relieved with scarlet, poppies, posies of white flowers. Mr P. Gully and Mr .Moore (Wellington) accompanied the bridegroom as groomsmen. Amongst the wedding party I noticed Mrs Hewitt, who was handsomely attired in black, bonnet in which green and heliotrope were mingled; Mrs Gully (Nelson), black dress, waistcoat of pale pink silk, and black bonnet trimmed with pink; Miss K. Hewitt, brown costume, trimmings of brown silk and pink chiffon, myrtle green hat; Miss Gully, navy blue frock, black velvet hat with pale blue ribbons; Mrs Bushell. black dress, handsome sealette mantle, black bonnet with dark heliotrope flowers; Mrs R. Dodson, fawn dress, brown trimmings, and becoming hat; Miss Greenfield (Nelson), dark green costume, bolero of cream lace, small becoming bonnet of black lace, and pink roses: Miss Beatson. dark green gown, with cream fichu, blaek hat adorned with poppies; Miss K. Beatson. dark fawn dress, with buttercoloured lace, blaek hat with scarlet poppies nestling on the hair. All the guests carried posies of spring blossoms. After the ceremony the party drove, to the residence of the bride’s parents, in Beaver Road, whence later on the newly-married pair were driven to Picton to start on their honeymoon trip. I must not omit to mention that the bridesmaids wore pretty gold brooches, the. gifts of the bridegroom, and that, the wedding presents were numerous. MORE—HIGGS. A very quiet wedding eventuated in Pieton on the 21st July, when Mr Arthur Hore, only son of Mrs E. Bore, of Christchurch, was married to Annie Maud Mary Higgs, adopted daughter of Mr and Mrs Divens, of High-street, Pieton. The Rev. Mr Allsworth, Presbyterian minister, performed the. ceremony at the residence of the bride's adopted parents. The bride’s dress was of royal 1)1 ue cloth trimmed with cream silk and chiffon. She also wore a tulle veil and wreath of orange blossoms, her bouquet being of white narcissus and maidenhair fern. The bridesmaids were Miss C. Hore. sister of the bridegroom, who wore a Russian costume of electric blue cloth: and Misses Avice Barr and Laura Oxley, both in cream cashmere. The bridegroom's presents were, to the bride, a gold brooch set with diamonds; to the chief bridesmaid, a gold brooch with amethyst; and to each of the two little maids, initial brooches of pearls and gold. Among the many handsome presents was tin eight-day clock in a handsome oak case, from the railway department, Mr Hore being a clerk in the local office.