SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1112, 27 April 1911, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

At the Polling Booths. Therk can surely be no room for complaint that there lias been a lack of interest in tho City Council election tliis year, especially on the part of. women. Perhaps it had something to do with the wonderful and tempting persuasions that were_ coupled with the names uf every candidate. There was something that appealed tremendously to women in tlie announcement that the electric lighting of the city should be looked into with the view of reducing the monthly bills, especially now that winter is coming on, while another inducement that certainly arrested attention, and may have gained votes tor the candidate who put it forth, •iva? the fact that lie "disbelieved in tho over-crowding of tramcais." Everybody knows the discomfort that is involved in that. ' The "Zoo," parks- reserves, swimming baths, and every possible subject that could possibly appeal to the electors was brought forward, even a most welcome promise that the footpaths should bs cleaned before business hours. lie might also have promised that rubbish should not bo tipped into the gutters, as it frequently is. If anybody wont to vote without having mado lip their minds beforehand as to tho candidates whom they meant to support they would probably have been still more unsettled by the time they reached the fateful room. A per feet fusillade of energetic workers had to be passed,, who overwhelmed him or her (it was usually the latter) with tickets bearing the name of tho candidate for whom they were working. In some casss it was the,candidate himself who pressed it upon them with all sorts of persuasive remarks. One modestly remarked that "that name (his own) was as good as tho Bank of- England itself." They were lynx-eyed and übiquitous, Teady to intercept every incomer with a plea to vote for so-and-so, and it must have been few who aTrivbcl at tho tables without having assaults made upon their convictions or purposes. There were so many to clioosa from that, in sheer desperation and bewilderment, soma voted in the order the names came up to the required number. . It was easily settled that way. One woman elector, in doubt about lier last' one, finally settled the matter by crediting a mere name—it was a good old Irish one —with tho neccssary . qualifications. Strange to say she was not an Irishwomaii either. Such is the power of nationality.

There is no doubt but that the question of the Wednesday or Saturday halfholiday was responsible for a great amount of tho interest, as the question has been strenuously fought on both sides. At the lunch hour, and after six, numbsrs of people made their way to the booths to record their votes upon tho question. The efforts of the Labour candidates again helped to rouso people from tbo apathy with which they usually regard tho City Council election. After all, municipal (matters about as important as those involved in the general election and, possibly, more directly affect us as citizens. It oa-tainly dees when we live in a somewhat unbeautiful city. Wedding at St. James's. On 'Wednesday, April 2G, the marriage was celebrated at St. James's Church, Newtown, of Miss M. Owen, eldest daughter of Mr. 11. Owen, of Wellington, to Mr. A. Wheatley, of Carterton. Tlio Rev. W. Shirer officiated at tho ceremony. The bride wore a very pretty frock of cream chiffon taffetas, trimmed with silk lace insertion and Russia braid, and wore a veil and orange blossoms. She was attended by Miss Vare, wearing a pretty embroidered muslin frock and a pale blue lint', and Miss Wheatley in a white Swiss muslin frock trimmed with lace and insertion and a pale blue hat. All three carried beautiful shower bouquets. Mr. Kilpatrick attended tho bridegroom as best man, and Mr. E. Card was groomsman.. The bride's travelling frock was of heliotrope cloth trimmed with Russia braid, with a hat to match. A re : ception was afterwards held at Godber'si in Cuba Street. Weddinfl at the Hutt. A very pretty wedding was celebrated at St. James's Church, leaner Hutt, yesterday alternoon, when Miss Marion Barraud, daughter of Mr. Sydney Barraud, was married to Mr. Arthur John Dixon, of tho Bank of New Zealand. The liev. Joshua Jones performed the ceremony, the church being beautifully decorated for the occasion with white flowers and foliage. The bride, who was given away' by her father, wore a frock of white silk, veiled with ninon, together with a veil and wreath of orange blossoms, and carried 1 a bouquet of beautiful white roses. She was attended by five bridesmaids, tho two elder of whom, Miss S. Barraud (sister of tho bride), and Miss Didsbury (cousin) wore white cloth frocks, trimmed with fur and white velvet hats. They carried vividly beautiful bouquets of bronze chrysanthemums and autumn foliage, tied with long streamers of bronze ribbon. The three little bridesmaids—two' of whom, Miss Nell and Miss Given Barraud, aro her step-sisters, and Miss Barbara Broderick—were in white frocks, with pretty little coats, trimmed with fur, and fur-trimmed hats. They also carried bouquets. Master Barry Blundell, tho small nephew of the bride, was tho page, and wore a white serge suit, Mr. Higgins, of Levin, was best man, and Mr. Leitch groomsman.

After the ceremony n reception was held at the home of Mr. Barraud, the various rooms being arranged with tho most lovely roses and autumn foliage. A floral boll had been suspended from the ceiling of the dining-room, and on the table were white horseshoes and vases of roses and autumn foliage. The bride had received quantities of presents, and it seemed as though thero could have been nothing left, out. The bridegroom also had received a present from the staff of tho Bank of New Zealand. Mrs. Bnrraucl wore <• dress of mauve silk, with a velvet toque of a darker shade. The bride's' travelling costume was a very nrettv grev coat and skirt, with a prey lint turned tin in the front, and lined with blue. She also wore a' most handsome set of white fox furs, one of her gifts.