Orange Blossoms.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 23, 8 December 1909, Page 62

Orange Blossoms.

Royal Wedding in Tonga.

IMPRESSIVE AND INTERESTING CEREMONIES.

Special to “ The Weekly Graphic.”

URING the past month there has I ■ been considerable excitement in t the little Island Kingdom of V —X Tonga. Mysterious signs and whisperings had for sonic time previously given indication that something portentions was in preparation, and the general opinion throughout the community was that Ihe King was going to marry again. Some year or so ago expectation was aroused by the delivery at the Palace of a very large and complete Royal dinner service, suflieienc. some said, for a hundred guests, including plated-ware and table cutlery of the best description, followed later on by a complete banquet service of glass ware for at least a hundred. What els? than a Royal wedding could give occasion for. such extensive preparations'? for the King, except on the rare occasion of the visit of a man-o’-war, usually dined in solitary state. The only possible reason for such extensive preparations was that the Royal widower hail determined again to wed. Rut who was the supremely fortunate lady on whom the royal choice ’ had fallen; The da ins of the few possible aspirants to regal dignity were freely discussed,and it was soon evident that Takibo —halfsister of the lamented Princess Ofa (so hopelessly disappointed of her expectation as bride elect at the previous weding)—was the Inst favourite and most popular candidate for the honour of Queen. The arrival of the steamer Tofua from .Auckland on October 16 confirmed the general anticipation. The Auckland newspapers then to hand gave a glowing description ot the massive towering wedding cake dest ned for Tonga, that had been placed on exhibition at Buchanan's in Iva rangahape-road. A detachment of some twenty’ or thirty college students were marched to the steamer as soon as she arrived to carry up the great cast s which were said to enclose this largest and finest creation of the confectioners art. Then the curiously expectant crowd of Tongans who thronged the causeway and the line new ferroconcrete wharf, were delighted to see the special consignment which was taking precedence of all other shipments to the port:—A drove of fine fat pigs called for special admiration, as also did the j>ens of poultry, including turkevs, ducks and gees.*, giving lively anticipation of a sumptuous feast. Cases of champagne, wines, spirits and beer promised a plentiful libation to celebrate the festival of the royal nuptials. Who is the Bride? But the name of the bride was not yet disclosed, although it was well known that all the great and influential chiefs of the kingdom had been summoned to sanction and assist in the solemn and important function. Most of these nobles arrived by the Atua from the North, and they were followed by a large flotilla of inter-island boats, bringing up a very largo contingent of visitors. The wedding day having l>een fixed to suit the steamer dates, the invitations were issued by the King’s father, whoso high rank entitles him to the dignity of Eiki. announcing that: "The Right Honourable George Fatafehi requested the honour of the company of on the occasion of the marriage of His Majesty King George Tuhou IT. to Princess Ana Seine Takibo cn the morning of Thursday, November 11, 1900, at 10.30 o’clock, in His Ma-jc-fty’s chapel.” The preparations were directly superintended by the King, who attended personally to every detail for the ceremony itself, and for the reception and entertainment of his guests.

Wedding Preparations. The capacity of the palace diningroom being slightly limited, a large pavilion was erected 1 to extend the dining saloon about a hundred feet beyond its usual limit. The laying out of the tables and the preparation for the banquet were under the direction of a staff of young ladies, Mr. Cowley supervising. There was great rejoicing in Tonga when the name of the popular favourite was announced as that of the bride-elect. The Princess Takibo is a young lady of scarcely seventeen years, but possessing in height and figure every indication of a maturity and dignity beyond her age, and she walked be-iide the King with a confidence and composure unrehearsed and unstudied, as one. of Nature's ladies —every inch a Queen. Like His Majesty, the Queen is passionately fond of music, and as prima donna of the King’s choir, her splendid voice was often heard with delight, and together they will have many opportunities of studied harmony. The reason for the frequency of choir practices during the recent winter season was now apparent. Some folks wondered why the weekly class was held every night and why the musical entertainments were more numerous than usual. The Bride and Bridesmaids. When the auspicious morning (November 11) dawned, the sky gave promise of a brilliant day. which soon proved itself to be a perfect specimen of the glorious weather for which these islands are so justly celebrated, and from a very early hour a large crowd of natives t-ook up favourable positions outside the grounds, from which to view a spectacle as enchanting to them as a glimpse of fairyland. The Chapel Royal, admirably suited for the august ceremony, was crowded to the door, numbered seats being provided for about a hundred specially invited spectators. The wedding party included the British Consul and Mrs.’ Telfer Campbell, representatives of the Tongan nobility, the Cabinet Ministers, and leading officials in Church and State. The bride had been arrayed in her robes at the mission house by Mrs. Watkin, who, like a happy mother, saw to the all-important details of that trying ceremony, ably assisted by Mrs. R. Hahn. The costume, which had been specially designed (regardless of expense) in real courtly magnificence, was described as a gown of rich ivory duchess satin, with a full Court train of brocaded satin. The gown was handsomely trimmed with exquisite silk lace, heavily pearled, the corsage draped with rich Bruges lace, the train with numerous frills of pleated chiffon. The bridal veil was of embroidered tulle, arranged over a wreath of orange blossoms: and also a beautiful shower bouquet of lilies of the valley. Included in the trousseau were several reception and visiting gowns, one of pink chiffon taffeta, richly trimmed with cream lace and lightly braided.: also a dainty sky blue paillette, trimmed with chiffon applique. En suite: Millinery, sunshade, gloves, shoes, ete. The trousseau was designed and made by Messrs. Smith and Caughey, of Auckland. The bride carried a beautiful shower bouquet of white roses, orange blossom, lily of the valley, relieved by the soft green fronds of asparagus fern. The six bridesmaids were very artistically attired by Miss Cowley, who spared no pains to complete their costumes at very short notice. They were all dressed alike in crepe de chine, richly trimmed with lace and floral wreaths. They also carried large bouquets of white bowers and green fern. Grouped around the bride, they formed a bower of beauty,

and in procession they made a remarkably graceful pageant. The bride was attended, and subsequently "given away,” by her cousin, the Chief Ata, whose youthful appearance suggested the bridegroom rather than the more venerable "Father of the Bride.” The pathway from the mission house to the church door was carpeted with native cloth. The Ceremony. Precisely at half-past ten H.M. the King, in his Royal robes, attended by two pages, left the palace and crossed the green to the Chapel Royal, pausing for a moment to acknowledge the Royal salute boomed from a small “park of artillery.” At the same time the bride’s procession entered the saered enclosure, and passed into the church by another door. The arrival of the Royal principals was the signal for a respectful reception, the whole of the company rising, while the Tonga National Anthem was rendered by the choir, followed by the Lord’s Prayer chanted to an arrangement composed by His Majesty the King himself. The wedding ceremony was performed by the Rev. T. B. Watkin, King’s Chaplain, in the Tongan language, but in accordance with the form so familiar to us Britishers. After the formalities of the wedding were complete the King led his bride to the dais, where they took their respective thrones, the little Princess Charlotte occupying the third. After a minute, the bride knelt, and the King, rising, said in Tongan: "Princess Takibo, I make you Queen of Tonga”; and placing a (beautiful golden, circlet on her head, said, “Rise, Queen Takibo.” This very impressive ceremony was performed with as much dignity, grace and decorum as if celebrated in the midst of a far more ancient and advanced civilisation. After the coronation, the royal pair walked down the church, and as they left the porch they were greeted with a salute of artillery-, and with the silent admiration of a most respectful concourse 1 of spectators, the l>and playing the “Wedding March.” His Majesty then held a levee at the palace, where King and Queen ’cceived the personal congratulations of their friends. Tongan Hospitality. The sumptuous entertainment provided was ehailacteristic of the lavish liberality of Tongan hospitality-. No expense was spared by the King to put before his guests a bountiful banquet upon a grand scale of royal magnificence and profusion. The centre of attraction was the great cake, its five tiers of riches towering up to the lofty- ceiling of the dining-room, was the delight of all observers. Its massive proportions were artistically disguised under an elaboration of graceful ornament, which gave real beauty- to its costly magnificence. This “piece de resistance” was stabbed by the bride with a short sword, and subsequently distributed. The upper table was set for the- King and Queen, and the Princess Salute, the British Consul and Mrs. W. T. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Trescow (representing the Consul for Germany), Rev. J. B. and Mrs. Watkin, the Eiki, the Premier, and the Chief Tugi. The right royal entertainment was heartily- appreciated by all the guests, the rich vianos and the choice liquors -being patronised without stint. During the afternoon the five thousand natives who had not been invited to the banquet hall, partook of the marriage feast in Tongan fashion. Sitting round on the green swiard in groups of ten or twenty, they- were all well supplied with their share of the abundance provided, and very few fragments remained on the field when evening closed in. After the “breakfast” the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were duly honoured and responded to in both English and Tongan. The Native Celebration. Next day the natives celebrated the wedding in their own fashion. The great popularity of the new Queen induced the Tongans to give her the grandest katoaga known in the islands in modern days. Early in the morning the air was full of shouting as company after company of stalwart men arrived at the Palace grounds, dragging or bearing their gifts to the Queen. Throughout the day until sundown these processions continued to arrive with their loads of gifts until the large enclosure of some four or five aerps was covered with their presents. Hundreds of great pigs—cooked whole in the umu or native oven, often wrapped in kits or laid upon sledges—covered the

ground. A forest of kar* branched seemed to grow up suddenly, while stacks and piles of yams were built into lofty towers. Miles of native cloth in lengths of from ten to a hundred feet were borne in extended, and thus presented by processions of women to the King’s deputy. Hundreds of mats were carried in by the patient hands who had made them, and laid at the feet of the Eiki on behalf of the Queen. After the gifts had been presented by- the men, a procession of women followed, bearing their special' contributions for the Queen. This consisted of fine mats, specially worked, anl numerous articles such as native perfumes, oils and other treasures. The sight of all this enormous collection of perishable food presented by tho people from various parts of the group to their King and Queen at once provoked the inquiry: “ What can they do with it ?” The names of the donors had been announced by the King’s representative, in every case acknowledged with thanks, and recorded by the scribe. All these gifts of the people were to be redistributed that night. The secretary announced the name of each contributor, and the proportion of “ ofa ” or gifts which fell to their share; and a staff of active officials superintended the distribution, and the goods were soon seized and removed. It was noticed that a pig that required twenty men to drag it in, was carried out, slinging from a pole between two bearers. Lamps and torches gave a weird light, by which, ere midnight, the supplies had been well appropriated for the home feast.

ESAM—ANDERSON. A very- pretty wedding was quietly solemnised at All Saint’s Church, Tarada le, Napier, by the Rev. A. P. Clark, when Miss Lilia Anderson, daughter ot Mr. S. F. Anderson, was married to Mr. Gordon Esam, son of Mr. B. J. Esam, o.f Epsom, Auckland. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked very pretty in a handsome soft silk Empire froek, with silk lace and tucked net. She yore the customary- wreath and veil, and carried a white silver-mounted Prayer Book. The bride was attended! by her sister, Miss W. Anderson and Miss A. Esam, who wore white muslin frocks and large black hats with ostridb plumes, and carried red and pink bouquets of roses. Mr. S. O. Esam acted as best man, and Mr. W. Anderson as groomsman. The bride travelled in a' white linen coat and skirt, and smart Tuscan straw trimmed with pink. Later in the day the bride and bridegroom left en route for the Cook Islands, where they- intend to reside for some time.

MeLAUCHLAN- HALL. A wedding that attracted considerable interest took place on Wednesday, December Ist, in the Presbyterian Church, Blenheim, when Mr. John McLauchlan, eldest son of the late A. McLauchlan, Old Renwick-road, was married to Miss Lucy Hall, third daughter of Mr. Hall, The Pines. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming, attired in white satin: She wore a costly veil, and had the usual orange blossoms, and carried a beautiful shower bouquet. Miss Cecilia Hall, sister of the bride, and Miss Mildred Symons, a niece of the bridegroom, were the bridesmaids, and were dressed in pretty white Princess robes of white silk muslin, trimmed with insertion and Valenciennes lace. They wore white muslin hats, and carried bouquets of pink sweet peas. Mr. W. Fulton was best man, and Mr. D. Pattie carried out the duties of groomsman. The Rev. W. Robb was the officiating minister. After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride. Mr. and Mrs. McLauchlan left for Picton, en route to' Christchurch, where the honeymoon will be spent. The bride’s travelling dress was of white cloth with saxe blue trimmings and hat to match.