SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1376, 29 February 1912, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

A Diamond Wedding. The COlli anniversary—the diamond jubilee—of tho wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Spicor, of Uhariu, occurred ou February 2li. To celebrate the occasion, the family entertained the people of the district and other friends, at an evening party held at the residence. As evidence of the esteem and respect in which they are held, about 100 guests assembled to do Honour to the aged, couple. The entertainment provided for young and old afforded sm-.li enjoyment that all prosent agreed that it was one of tho most interesting and enjoyable functions of the kind held in the district. At supper, the principal toast was proposed by ilr. J. P. Luke, who, in a felicitous speech, not wanting in humour, referred in eulogistic terms to (lie many excellent qualities possessed by Mr. and Mrs. Spiccr. 'Ho held them up as an examplo of domestic felicity, of Christian fortitude, and integrity, and enlarged upon the trials and difficulties thai beset their path as pioneers of the Dominion. Mr. S. Bryant responded. Mr. and Mrs. Spicer arrived in Jsew Zealand in 1812—Sir. Spicer by the Lord William Bentinck, and Mrs. \bplcer by the Gertrude. Ten years later they were married at -St. Paul's, Wellington, iind ; after spending some years in Johnsonville and Porirua, finally settled in Ohariu. Uy the marriage' there were six tons and three daughters, of whom one son and one daughter have only finite recently died. Thirty-nine grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren are living. Air. and Mrs. Spicer are still mute vigorous in health, and appear to have many years of useful life before them.

Wedding at Petone. A pretty weddinß took place at St. Augustine's Church, when Miffi oUvo Barber, second daughter of Mv. .b. .Barber, of the Htitt Road, Petone. was married to Mr. Gerald Davis, son of Mr. 1. I- Uavis, of Auckland. The ceremony was choral, Miss Marion M'Kinnon presiding at the Ol'Rllll. The bride, who was given away by her brother, wore a frock of cream crepe de chine, 1 and veil and wreath of orange blossoms. ...Her bouquet was ot crenin roses and maidenhair fern, and ?ho wore a gold bracelet, the gift ol the bridegroom, studded with diamonds nibres-, and opals. Her sister. Miss Millicent Barber, attended her as bridesmaid, and wore a frock of blue crene de chine and black lint lined with pulo pink, and trimmed with black ostrich plumes. She carried n bouquet of pink sweet peas, am wore the N-cift of the bridegroom, a gold ring set with turnoises. Mr. Morris was the bf.st man, and Mr. H. Barber the groomsman. After the ceremony a reception was held, •the usual toasts being honoured.. Iho bride travelled in a cream sorgo costume and white hat wreathed with ping roses.

An Evening of Welcome, Yesterday ovening, at tho Kelburne Kiosk,-an "at home" was given by the Social Committee of the Unitarian Free Church, at which the Her. W. Wooding, Mrs. and Miss Wooding, who have been spending the last two months in New Zealand, were the guests, of honour. A' large nilmbcr 'of members of the umtarian Church were-present, and n very enjoyable mid interesting,' evening was spent by everyone. A string bund, stationed at one end of the room, played at intervals, and, after supper was served, three or four brief speeches were made. The ltev. W. Jellie expressed the pleasure which all felt in welcoming their distinguished visitors, who had done such valuable work in connection with the Unitarian Church in England. Mr. Jelly also reviewed the history of the Unitarian Church in New Zealand. Mr. Gaminel also welcomed Mr. ami-Mrs. Wooding and their daughter, and spoke of how greatly opportunities were valued which brought such an isolated country as New Zealand into touch, no matter how slightly, with the trend of thought in the older world. As Mr. Asqiiith's bister, they also wished to welcome. Mrs. Wooding. Mrs. Wooding, who was asked to spook, expressed her own and her husband s gratitude for the kind welcome which they had been given. She was anxious to give three messages which sho had been charged to deliver to those of tho Unitarian Church in Wellington—one from the British and Foreign Unitarian Council, encouraging them in their work; one from Mr. iturgrove; and another , from Dr.- and Mrs. Tudor Jones, whose church they attended in England. .Both wished to'be most kindly remembered. Mr. Wooding also was most interesting, and covered much ground in referring to the aims of the Unitarian Church, am of the bonds that connected the younger country of New Zealand with the older country at Home. The' Social Committee was formed by Mrs. Jellie, Mrs. Pollock. Mrs. Lissant,, Miss Sievwiight, Miss Myrtle OakleyBrowne, Miss J. Newton. Miss Macdonnld. the Rev. W. Jelly, Messrs. Gibson, Gloghorn, Holland, and Munro. Mrs. Wooding wore a black satin striped frock, embroidered with silver flowers; and Miss Wooding was in a white, silk frock, with embroidery of pink- and blue flowers. Mrs, Jellie was in a grey freek, braided in grey, and with n. cream vet yoke. -Miss M.'Richmond was in black.

The Supreme Moment. Politics niiil summer ilnys—when wt have them- ilu mil. go well iogolhcr. 'J'i be doomed (ii spend Fun- hour, in » badly ventilated Plum, sillily, sleepy, ">«l "»<"• with ncciiMomil glimpM-s tlii-ungli I hi; win (lows of sunshine lilue sky mill ftri'iri dees, must be n decidedly "irksome, pen unci' lo li'i:islnl(pr.~. I'ai-liriiliirly m> whei jJl'iidi'iliiiKK hiivu Iji'i'ii of so lengthy i iinlini' us' Ili'isc with which I'liillaimii has I>i-oii occupied within the time nl' it opening, and one ciiniiul. help wiiuderin , . if women Mould hnyi> taken su long j< decide Ihn ijoiul nl. issue. II is inure ii keeping with a woman's instinct; to lain (lie fatal plunge, at imci , anil get Ihi misery over—but then (lint is because the,' are, in spite of nil that has born paid ti the contrary, ri'iilly (juilL , simple am guileless. Since tho day (lint tho Speech from In Throne was read and tb'o sago of batth was thrown down, the House lms novel failed in its absorbing attraction t , women,'who, if they could not get. inside were (p;ite content to sit on the step outside, anil have (he somewhat (lull con Eolation of only hearing the speaker*--1 proceeding Unit was sometimes .Oioin i> half its interest, because, to we and Ii hear was ?<niall.y fascinating. Tuesda; liight, that interest reached n clinr.i: owing to the rumour flying around that i was nearly certain that the division would In taken that evening—at least as certaii as it was possible to be of events in Par liament, where no one knows what th< nciit H'cond may bring forth. Hence i was that the occupants of the Ladies Gallery and of the seats on the floor of tin House were keyed to the topmost not of expectation asd excitement, and tha that feeling wa:, not confined to tl'cij nlone ivns evidenced by the sight of visi tors, unable to gain seats, standing in Hi doorways and behind the curtained screen Even tkoueh the rumour had gone aboil that llr. Atinoie, jvho had been. ]>reserv ing the silence of "the Sphinx in regan to liis position, was going to throw in hi lot with the Ciovernment, (here was stii the feeling left that anything might tun up and upset the most carefully laid plan.Decidedly Mr. Atmore afforded'the enter tninment of the evening. Although tin shroud of uncertainty which had hitherb enveloped him had become diaphanous, h< apparently felt himself master of tin sitiinfiou, and was full of most instructiv and moral, little homilies, delivered ti both sides in a most impartial manner, in finitely diverting to onlookers, if not ti those engaged in the'actual combat. I was rather a curious freak of Kato' tha the fate of both parties should have laii in the hands of a young member entirel; new to Parliamentary customs and tradi tious. .After Mr. Atmore came Mr. Fisher ■who, us usual, soon entered into a due with the J'rime Minister, Jlr. llanan, am then Mr. liuddo, the House during tin last two speakers becoming almos soninoleuf. Then came the fateful word: once more from the Speaker— "Jii coiiclu sion we doom it our duty to represent U your Excellency that your Excellency': advisers di> not possess (he conlidpiice o the House." As a chorus of "Ayes" am "Noes" sounded from members, a thril ran through the galleries—the cveutfu moment hud at last arrived, and the ques tiou was now to be decided. The divisku bell rang, and member?, with an air o 1 suppressed eagerness, came hurriedly trooping into the Chamber. For the scc.om time-the question was put, and this timi ' tho responses camo with immense vigoui from both sides of the House. The -usua . procession was made 'to the lobbies, , mem . bers reappearing in a few • moments oik after the other at their different'- sides, ' the votes were recorded, and the deed-was I done. Against tho Government wen thirty-nine votes,' for the Government ' thirty-nine, which with the Speaker's voti . made forty. So ended the question for th< J time being.

The engagement is announced in Sydney of Miss Beatrice llolloway, daughter of the late Mr. Charles llolloway, and leading actress with "The Beauty and the Barge" Company (to be seen in Wellington next month), and Mr. Robert Oreig, the popular comedian, who was last in' Wellington with the Hugh Ward Comedy Company. Miss Peat, Oriental Bay, leaves on Friday for Sydney, en route lor England. Mrs. Armstrong (Oaniaru) arrived In Wellington yesterday on her way to Auckland, where she will stay with Mrs, Kissling. Miss Harrison, who has been spending some time at Stoke, Xelsou, passed through Wellington on Tuesday, on her way to Auckland, where she joins her boat for England. The engagement is announced of Miss Pearl M'Lachlan, of "Willow Park," Masterton, to Mr. Leonard Howard, of Pallneistou North. Mr., Mrs., and Miss Wigram (Chrietcliurch) aro at Taupo. Later, Mr. and Miss Wigram intend leaving lor Sydney from Auckland. The Rev. Mr. Wooding, Mrs. and Miss Wooding intend leaving Wellington next Wednesday for Auckland. A garden parly In aid of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Y.W.C.A. is to be held next. Wednesday afternoon in the grounds of Mr. W. Campbell, Tregathnaii, Duncan Terrace, Kilbiniie. There are to be stalls for tho sale of fancy goods, sweets, and ftowovs, and a large attendance is hoped for.