A ROMANTIC WEDDING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2454, 6 May 1915, Page 7

A ROMANTIC WEDDING

RESOURCEFUL BRIDECROOM. (By Telcerajh.—Press Association.) Cisborne, May 5. A superstitious bride, a resourceful, nnxious bridegroom, and an obliging clergyman provided tho elements to-day for almost romantic wedding. Tho contracting parties were residents of l'atutahi, an 'outlying township, nine miles from Gishorne, and, as is usual, all the arrangements for tho ceremony were made well ahead, but an unusual circumstance, however, threatened at tho last moment to stop the progress of lovo's young dream. The bride was under age, and consequently the written consent of her mother, who livos in Palmerston North, was necessary. It was arranged l that the brido's mother should come to Gisborne by the Monowai (which, was time-tabled to arrive here at 6 o'clock this morning), and after signing the necessary papors should proceed out to Patut-ahi to witness the ceremony at 2.30 p.m. and bless the newly wedded pair in the time-honoured fashion. This morning, however, the bridegroom was horrified to find that through unusual circumstances tlie Monowai did not leave Napier last night, and would not arrive m Gisborne until about 1 p.m. Fate was obdurate, however, and the vessel was later than expected. Telephonic communications with the tearful bride et Patutalii showed that ehe was superstitious, and would not agree to the wedding being put off. Finally, after many desperate hours of waiting, the bridegroom hauled his frantic mother-in-law-elect before the registrar at 3.40 p.m., and the legal formalities were completed. The marriage law provides that weddings must Be folemnised before 4 p.m., and the much -is-rassed groom was faced with the poser of how to -cover the ten miles between Gisborne and Patiitahi and get the ceremony over inside of 15 minutes. Ho is a man of resource, however, and soon got into touch per telephone with the officiating clergyman (Rev. Rawnsley), and asked him to get a motor-car and witnesses aud the bride, and come like the wind towards Gisborne, and this tlio clergyman, hastily agreed to

do. _ ,11 In the meantime the groom hastened his overdue mother-in-law into another motor-car, and bribed the chauffeur to forget the speed limit on the way to Patautahi. About halfway out the cars met, the groom transferred himself to the clergyman's car, presented the humbugging papers, and with the car turned round, and making the trip at break-neck speed towards Patutahi, the essential part of the ceremony was completed with 30 seconds to spare, and was finally concluded in the arranged place at Patutahi. amid the well wishes of a host of friends. The happy pair left for the south by the Tarawera later in the evening.