WEDDING BELLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 25, 19 June 1902, Page 19

WEDDING BELLS.

BYRNE — PARKER. A pretty wedding: took place at tho residence of Mr C. J. Parker, 'Emerald Rills,' Te Arai, on April 30. The contracting parties were Miss Margaret Mary Rose Parker, fourth daughter of Mr C. J. Parker, and Mr Tnomas Francis Byrne, of North Liberty, Limerick. Quite a crowd of relatives and friends of the happy couple were present. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Mulvihill, assisted by Rev. Fathers O'Connor and Cooney, A Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Mulvihill. Tae bride, who was given away by her lather, looked charming' iv a handsome dress of ivory surah Bilk. She was attended by Misses Sarah and Anne Parker and Master John Parker and MibS Ivy Parker, the latter pair acting as train-buareis. The bridegroom was attended by Messrs R. and D. Parker. Tho bridegroom's gift to the bride was a very handsome brooch, set with opals and pearl*, and to the bridesmaids pretty gold rings, with diamonds and rubies. At the conclusion of the ceremony a sumptuous wedding breakfast was served. The largo dining-room was tastefullydr.eerated with flowers and ferns, and the tables presented a moat artistic appearance. After full justice had been done to the good things provided a number of toasts were proposed. That of the bride and bridegroom was proposed by Rev. Father Mulvihill in felicitous terms, and responded to by tho bridegroom in a happy speech. In

proposing the toast of the host and hosteps, the Rev. Father O'Connor made an excellent speech, in the course of which he referred to the hospitable manner in which visitors to ' Emerald Hills' were treated by Mr and Mrs Parker. There waß no place in the district, he said, where one received a heartier welcome, and he hoped that they would be spared to enjoy life for many years to come. The young couple were the recipients of a large number of handsome and costly presents and many wishes for a happy and prosperous future. DOWNEY — WILKINB. On the morning of Wednesday, June 4, a pretty wedding took place at Sharrow Farm, Dunrobin, when Miss Ellen Wi'kine youngest daughter of Mr T. Wilkins. was united in the bonds of Matrimony to Mr John Downey, of Roxburgh. There was a very large gathering of friends of both parties present. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father O'Donnell, of Gore. Miss Hickey (niece of the bride) was bridesmaid, and Mr John Wilkins (brother of the bride) was best man. The bride, who was given away by her father (cays the Tapanui Courier) looked charming in a beautiful gown of white eilk trimmed with silk lace and chiffon. She wore a lovely veil of embroidered tulle and a wreath of orange blossoms, also a gold brooch, the gift of the bridegroom. The bridesmaid wore a dress of cream figured lustre, trimmed with lace and silver braid. The bridegroom's gift to the bridesmaid was a gold brooch. At the conclusion of the ceremony the guests adjourned to a spacious marquee, where a Bumptuoua wedding breakfast was laid. In a happy speech Father O'Donnell proposed the health of Mr. and Mrs. Downey, coupled with that of the family of the bride. Messrs Wilkins, sen., and Downey rasponded. At 11 a.m. Mr and Mrs Downey left by train for Heriot, en route for Dunedin, where the honeymoon was to be spent In the evening the guestß were entertained by Mr and Mrs Wilkins at a dance, the proceedings being most enjoyable. When the guests were leaving Mr Murray in a few appropriate words thanked the host and hostess for their hospitality. The bride and bridgroom were the recipients of several valuable and useful presents. MCMANAWAY — HOLLEY. A very pretty wedding took place at the Church of the Holy Rosary, Leeston, on May 22, when Mies Margaret E. Hoi ley, daughter of Mr W. Holley, of Leehton, was married to Mr Olliver P. McMauaway, of Wellington. The Nuptial Mass wan celebrated by llev. Father Holley, brother of the bride, assisted by Rev. Father Goggan. The bride, who was given away by her father, was charmingly attired in a grey oloth dress, beautifully trimmed with glaoe Bilk, and hat to match. She carried a lovely shower bouquet, and wore a handsome gold bracelet, the gift of the bridegroom. The bride was attended by Mi^es McManaway and Holley. The former looked charming in a handsome gown of crushed strawberry cloth, trimmed with white silk, and jewelled trimming, and hat to match, while the latter looked exceedingly well in a black gown, trimmed with amber. Both wore ivory and gold brooches, and carried bouquets the gifts of the bridegroom. Mr W. Holley acted as best man. MissLonargan presided at the organ, and played the Wedding March, while a number of little girlß preoeded the bride, strewing flowers in her path. After the ceremony, the guests assembled at the residence of Mr W. Holley, where a sumptuous breakfast was laid. Appropriate speeches were delivertd, after which all and Bundry amused themselves in various ways until four o'clock when the happy pair left by train to catch the steamer for Wellington, their future home. The guests remained, and supplemented by a number of young people who arrived later, young and old joined in song and dance, and a very pleasint evening was spent. At the conclusion of the rejoicing*, one and all carried away pleasant recollections of the occasion, and golden opinions of the open-hearted hospitality dispensed by Mr and Mtb Holley. The wedding presents were very uumerouH, valuable, and useful. DEVANNY — FITZGERALD. A marriage which excited considerable interest in the distriot was celebrated at the Catholic Church, Orepuki, on Wednesday, June 11, the contracting parties being Mr. John Devanny, Woodlaw, and Miss Teresa Mary Fitzgerald, third daughter of Mr. P. Fitzgerald, one of the pioneers of the Orepuki district. The ceremony was performed by the Very Rev. Father Sheehan. Miss Ellen Fitzgerald acted as bridesmaid, and the bridegroom's brother wai best man. The bride (sayß the Western Star) was attired in a pretty dress of cream serge trimmed with cream embroidery, and a cream satin vest She also wore a tulle veil and a coronet of orange bloßsoms. Afler the ceremony, and the newly married couple had received the hearty congratulations of their friends, the numerous company adjourned to the Railway Hotel, where Mr. D'Any had prepared the wedding breakfast, laid out in splendid ctyle. Very Rev. Father .Sheehan, in a very happy speech, proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom. He regretted the departure of Mrs. Devanny from the district, but he had no doubt whatever that their loss would be the gain of the locality to which she and her husband were going. Mr Thomson proposed the the toast of the parents of the bride and bridegroom, and, after congratulating the happy couple, said he had known Mr and Mn Fitzgerald for many years, and had had the pleasure of being preBent on a previous occasion when an event similar to that which had called them together that day had been celebrated. Mr Fitzgerald, who had been a resident of the Orepuki district for upwards of 38 years, had endured all the hardships incidental to mining in the early days, and was now the owner of a splendid farm. Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald were highly respected in the district, and their kindness and hospitality were proverbial. Mr Fitzgerald had several brothers in the district, all ot whom were widely known and esteemed. Of Mrs Fitzgerald's many good qualities he would not speak. They were too well known to require any special mention. In conclusion he wished the parents of the bride and bride-

groom long life and prosperity. After other toasts had been proposed and duly honored Mr and Mrs Devanny left by train for Dunedin on their honeymoon trip, taking with them many good wishes for their future happiness.