CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 24, 4 October 1889, Page 15

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Though it may be ad unwise in a correspondent as it w mid be in a public speaker to give oat his best i hinge first, jet no consider* ion for flagging interest in what is to folbw, will this tinn permit ma t> keep tho best to the last. Here la the announcement lv a local paper :— Yesterday morning, Mr. John M'Namara, the a well-known hotelkeeper of this city, was married to Miss Annie Donnelly. Tha wedding was a private one, the banns having been published for the first and only time in tha pro-Cathedral ani St. Mary's simultaneously. The Rey. Father Le Menant de Chesnais conducted the ceremony. The bride, a sister of the well-known journalist of this city, has herself also taken an active part in New Zealand journalism, having contributed a number of articles to jurnals in Wellington, Ohriatchurch, and Dunedin, including the New Zealand Tablet. The bride was given away by her brother, and attended by Mis 9 &I. Lynskey, of Kaiapoi, as bridesmaid. She wa9 attired in an olive green costume, and Miss Lynskey, in a similar dress of dead rose. The bridegroom bad for his best man Mr. J. P. Kelly. The ceremony being over, the breakfast was laid at Mr. M. Donnelly's residence, Worcester street East, and there the happy couple received the good wishes of their friends, afterwards leaving Christchurch by the express for Oatnaru, where they will spend the honeymoon." I noticed also that your late correspondent was the writer of the " Gallery Sketches of Members " that appeared some time ago, and of various articles in a Ohristcburch paper, entitled I believe " Oar Churches and Preachers," and of no doubt, what she herself appreciated best, several well written articles on the poverty of this city, or, in other words, an appeal for the poor. While St. Mary's was the scene of that one act ef life to which converge, to form the glowing brightness of that hoar, so many happy aapirations, the Pro-Cathedral was about to witness a ceremony of like interest to another happy pair. These were a Mr. Fittgarmld, master of one of our coastal vessels, to Miss Comer, daughter ot an old Sydenham resident and railway employee. The bride's cream cashmere dress, further paled down by an overflowing white veil topped by an orange wreath, gave out that softened whiteness that our fancy usually robes brides in, and was much admired, though' we must admire the growing custom that knows no regulation in hues, tints, or materials. Miss O'Brien, of Lyttelton, in a French grey dress, was principal bridesmaid, her two little sisters in white dresses and pink sashes making a pretty little addition to the bridal scene. After partaking of luncheon at the bride's father's, they proceeded to Lytteiton, where the bridegroom entertained a large party at a social at the Crown Hotel. — Wishing both happy couples a long life of daily increasing happiness 1 leave the pleasant topic, with tb* hope that oiherfair ones of our two parishes will not permit too great a void before giving me the opportunity of recording for them similar events. Since the day that Mr. Gladstone startled the British public by the unfolding of his great Home Rule scheme, we have bad a pretty fair succession of lectures in Chiistchurch on Ireland and the Home Rule question. One instance of the magical result throughout the Queen's dominions is that famous night in the House ot Commons. It is pleasant to note such an awakening to justice ; so gratifying when we contrast it with the bated -breath style of speech that existed here previous to that period. After it in every debating society, parliamentary union, and club one ueard advocating Home Rule persons that we knew before would hardly dare to say such thi&ga aloud. At the first period we seemed to have bad an Irish people anxious to listen, but we had fuw to speak. Now we have many to speak, but there seem to be few willing to listen. A some* what strange paradox. Wit bin toe last six months we have bad four or five public lectures announced. E ich speaker a man of repu'e able to say something good and fiesli. Yet the exclamation ooe invariably h*ard alter each meeting was " what a wretchedly small house." (I except the large meeeing ia aid of the Evicted Tenants' Fund), What is the reason of such a want of interest 1 I shall touch on it in some future letter. Speaking of lectures leads one to express the hope that but a short time willelapse till FatherLe Menant des Chesnaia resumes the subject, •• Ireland : Past, Present, and Future." His first lecture ban been much appreciated. I see his hands are at present pretty full with the preliminaries of the new church. A meeting of his parishioners has been called for next Sunday, October 6, at 3 p.m. Large numbers are expected to attend. It will take place on the grounds of St. Mary's.