WAITAHUNA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 21, 22 September 1893, Page 18

WAITAHUNA.

(From an occasional Correspondent.) September 9, 1893. Onb of the prettiest weddings we hare had for a long time in Waitafcuna took place on Taeiday, September 12, in St Patrick's Charcb, Mr Martin Byan's eldest daughter, Johanna Frances, being united to Mr John Sinclair, Adams' Flat. Tbe church was thronged, half Waitahuna being present to witness the ceremony and offer their best wishes for the h&ppinesß of the young lady so generally liked and esteemed. The ceremony was performed by the Very Rev Father O'Leary. A good view was obtained of the bride's drees as she entered tbe church on her father's arm, followed by her bridesmaids (two in number) and other members and friends of the family. The bride's dress was of cream cashmere, with lovely lace, long-trained skirt, orange blossoms, pearls in her hair, and a wreath of orange blosSomr, over which the bridal veil fell in gracefnl, clinging foldß tc her 'feet. Her gracefnl carriage and quiet self-possessed manner, as she ' tfeoved D p the church, the cynosure of all eyes, and went through tbe Ceremony, enhanced the effect. The bridesmaids, Misses Margaret and Emily Byao, sister and cousin of the bride respectively, also looked very pretty ia rose-pink nuns' veiling, gloves and hats to match. After the ceremony, amidst the good wishes and congratulations of friends, the bridal party had to make their way through a veritable shower of rice t« the carriages awaiting them, whence they were driven rapidly to High Park, tbe residence of the bride'B father, where the wadding breakfast was held, fifty peiple sitting down to the wellspread tables. The Very Rev Father O'Leary, in proposing the health of the bride and bridegroom, took occasion to <ffjr a tribute of praise to Mrs Sinclair for her invaluable assistance in church matters, her help and sympathy he was always sure of in whatever he proposed

pertaining to the benefit of the Church. Breakfast over, a very pleasant afternoon was spent, the yonnger people— about 30, more or less — going for a drive, and the elders being entertained by Mr and Mrs By an, who spared no trouble in looking after the comfort and pleasure of their guests. Mrs Byan (the bride's mother) wore a lovely dark green cashmere dress, richly braided with silk ; Mrs Sinclair (bride* groom's mother), black cashmere ; Miss Byan (cousin of tbe bride), cream nuns' veiling, with cream ribbon ; the Misses Sinclair (bridegroom's sisters), cream delaine ; Mrs Long, black cashmere with black velvet ; Mrs Michael Byan, black cashmere ; Mrs Kirby, black ; Miss Eirby, gray serge ; Miss Walt, brown cashmere and silk ; Mrs Dwyer (Lawrence), black with white lace. lam afraid to trespass further on your space, and regret exceedingly that I cannot give a fuller description of the dresses worn. Th« presents were very numerous and valuable, and were ranged with the names of the donors attached, on a side table in the drawing room. In the evening Mr and Mrs Byan entertained close on three hundred guests at a dance in ths Qood Templar's Hall the refreshments being of tbe choicest and most abundant description, Mr Byan and his sons doing everything possibly conducive to the comfort and pleasure of the guest*. The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and excellent dance music provided by Messrs Martin Byan, junr., W.M'Kenzie, and Haasen, assisted during the evening on the piano by Miss Nicoll and Messrs Brookman and Morgan. A number of songs were contributed during the evening, ths fun being kept going until daylight, when after some light refreshments in the shape of tea, lemonade, etc, to recruit exhausted nature, the ball broke up to the parting strains of " He's a jolly good fellow," and thus concluded one of the most enjoyable evenings on record. Mr and Mrs Sinclair took their departure by the early train for Dunedin on Wednesday, her going away dress being of golden brown plush with lemon silk vest and epaulettes lined with tbs same. Ts life worth living? A question often asked, and, ah me, how differently will it be answered, but if we could all have the same record (and why should we not) as the late Mr John Honour, of Miller's Flat— there can bs no doubt that life is worth living in the fullest, truest sense of the word. In asking the prayers of the congregation for the repose of hiß soul on Sunday last, the Very Bey Father O'Leary bore testimony to bis truly Christian life. He spoke of his loss as that of a personal friend whom he deeply regretted. He would miss him in the church at Mass, from which, while bis health lasted, he waß never absent, though he had fifteen miles to travel. Bain, hail, or snow, while God gave him his health he was in his place. As an instance of the high principles that ruled his life throughout, in his Christian rectitude, Father O'Leary told how a young man in the parish died to whom Mr Honour was indebted. There was no record of the debt, which, under the peculiar circumstances, was a debt no longer. There was no law, moral or legal, binding him to pay it. Nevertheless, Mr Honour came to Father O'Leary with the money, and requested him to send it to the relations of the young man who was dead. Truly Mr Honour's name was synonymous with his life, and as I listened I could not help thinking that bad his mother been present she must have wept tears of joy knowing her teaching bad not been in vain. She is still living, though very old. Father O'Leary also spoke with deep feeling of Mr William Honour, who died recently, and whose death is still so deeply regretted by all who knew him.— Alluding to the painful death of Mrs Kelly, who died by her own hand at the Blue Spur, while of unsound mind, Father O'Leary said he had not the fainteßt doubt on the subject. Therefore, he asked the prayers of congregation for her. He bad known ber so long as a devout and truly religious woman, a woman of great faith and piety, one who attended her religious dutieß with unfailing regularity, until her illness Bet in, with the deplorable result of her death under such awful circumstances. Father O'Leary then spoke of the teaching of the Church as regards this most cowardly crime of self-murder. A crime almost unheard of in tbe Catholic Church at home or abroad, stigmatising it as one of the most atrocious and unpardonable that could be committed. A feeling of glad thankfulness pervades at the improvement in the Bishop's health, and earnest prayers are being offered up for bis recovery. By Protestant and Catholic alike the Bishop's failing health is spoken of with deepest regret.