DILATORY IN MARRYING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 851, 24 June 1910, Page 6

DILATORY IN MARRYING.

BISHOP GRIMES REMONSTRATES. (By Telegraph;— Special Correspondent.! Christchurch, June 23. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (Dr. Grimes), who lias just returned to Christchurch from a visit to Westland, states that the pioneers of- the early days who . braved' the perils of rapid, broad rivers, made their _ way across wide lagoons, and penetrated the virgin forest, must have been men and women of the' finest type, and he was pleased to have found that the energy, pluck, and perseverance displayed by them wiis reflected in theii descendants. Though he did not pretend to rank as a judge of beauty, ho could not be other than favourably impressed with the women of the province, and on several occasions when preaching he had remonstrated with the young men for their dilatoriness in marrying. The young women as a class possessed the qualities of industry, modesty, simplicity, and personal charm,. and ho .was sure they would make excellent wives. Yet for some unaccountable reasons there was little marrying and giving in marriage. Tho parents were to blame to some extent for this state of things, for they kept their sons .working on the homestead instead of encouraging and assisting them to build homes for themselves. Another obstacle ,to matrimony in the south was the close association throughout their lives of tho settlers and their families, with the result that tho young people grew up to regard one another as relatives, though there might be no natural affinity. The general sobriety of the young men, few of whom soioked, had also"given him pleasure.