Wedding Bells

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXIV, Issue 4248, 19 February 1921, Page 3

Wedding Bells

WINERA—TAIAROA.

A wedding of more than usual interest was solemnised in St. Mark's Church, Sedgemere, on Wednesday last, the contracting parties being Miss Ria Moheko Taiaroa and Mr Te Rauparaha Wihera, each being representatives of a long line of Maori chieftains. '■."■■■■

The church was tastefully decorated for the occasion, and as the bride entered on the arm of her uncle, Mr'R. Taiaroa, she made a pretty picture, charmingly gowned in ivory white ninon with an overdress of exquisite lace, and carrying a bouquet of choice exotics. A wreath of orange blossoms upon a silver, band, with bridal veil completed the attire. She also wore a pendant, a family heirloom, The bridesmaids, Misses Peti and Hmiwetea Taiaroa, wore simple but pretty frocks of crepe-de-chine, one being mauvetrimmed with bebe ribbon and relieved with helitrbpe; the other an amber brown. Both wore picture hats to match, and each car-1 ■lied bouquets of variously tinted pink roses and fern. The best man was Mr Marteena Haereroad, associated with Mr Tami Kahu Pohu. The service was conducted by the Rev. H. G. Hawkins, the organist being Mr A. J. Inwood, who provided a distinct treat with a Mendelsohn voluntary and the Wedding March,

After the ceremony the guests sat down to a substantial breaks fast laid w. Sedgemere Hall, which had been nicely, decorated for the occasion by the Maori friends of the bride.

The Rev. H. G. Hawkins, Jn proposing the health of the bride, alluded to the ancestry and record of the bridal pair. He said it iwas a truly royal wedding of pure aristocracy. The name of: Taiaroa signified " great full spring tide," the founder evidently being a man of fine presence and a true gentleman. He here paid a subtle compliment to the host, Mr R. Taiaroa. The bride, had some time ago been elected Maori Queen at the head of six pakeha. candidates. Again the Christian name of the bridegroom recalled thrilling tales of the past, ; for the first chief of that name is in Maori history. He, concluded by wishing them allr health and happiness. The toast was drank with musical honours, and a vocal item was given by one of the visitors.

The bridegroom's speech was characterised by brevity. He, thanked all present, especially his white brothers, for their love and interest in coming to do his wife and himself honour. He concluded with a few words of Maori and proposed the health of the bridesmaids. This was also drunk with musical honours. i

Mr Narteeha Taiaroa, in reply-, ing, made a capital speech, and congratulated the bridal pair. The bridegroom, he said, came with "both hands full' to his bride, youth, confidence, and full powers of mind and body, although through embarassment he had lost his usual eloquence.

Mr T. Overtoil proposed the toast of the bride and bridegroom's parents. The brother of the bridegroom (Mr R. TJruera), in an eloquent and stirring speech, spoke of the pleasure it was to see his brother -get such a charming bride; he exhorted them to love one another and let nothing part them but '/death. Mr Taiaroa's reply on behalf of his mother, was in contemplative vein. He saw the younger generation passing and himself left alone. However, there was 1 a remedy, he said, and he seriously thought of taking it, He then gave a general invitation to all to meet in the evening. A marked feature of the breakfast was a noble, four-tiered wedding cake, surmounted with wed- - Riding belles, the gift of the bridev groom. The bride's grandmother was gowned in black silk, while the bridegroom's mother was in black velvet. The gifts of the bridegroom were: To the bride pearl ear pendants and to each bridesmaid a cheque. The bride's traV^ elling dress was a navy blue costume with white stripe and hat to correspond. The gifts were many i and costly, the Maoris of the North, friends of the bridegroom, sending many valuable mats, typical of their aequiried civilisation. After the breakfast the native jj>art of the wedding ceremony commenced. AH the native visitors preceded the bride to 'Awhitu' and awaited hier at the gate of her guardian's residence. Then, mostly in native costume, .the' wedding dance and song of welcome was given. Very picturesque was this ceremony, the graceful swaying movements of the dancers and the waving of branches to a vocal ac-

companiment in musical measures. In the evening a dance was held -?' for the pakeha and native youth, "the music being supplied by native guests, and three pipers gave items at intervals. The dance was up till the early hours of the ; morningl. t^ ■ The breakfast arrangements were admirably superintended by Miss Nuiri Taiaroa, the eldest sister vof the bride, while Mrs Tine ■; Kerai Taiaroa and Mr R. Taiaroa %% -respectively made excellent hos-

tess and host. The newly married couple are to reside in the North Island, at "Porirua," the home of the bridegroom. ':"■■■'