NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1928, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL.

DAZZLING WEDDJNG. NEW YORK, Nov. 21. Miss Sarah Cordelia Mellon, niece of the United States Secretary of the Treasury, who ranks as one of the world’s richest men. was married yesterday in Pittsburgh in a setting which established a new record for splendour in this country. According to the published rhapsodical descriptions of the reception it outshone in magnificence any similar event in the annals of European royalty. After a simple church ceremony the young couple and more than 1,000 guest sassembled in n pavilion .specially erected at a cost of £20,000 on the estate of the bride’s father. .Mr Richard 11. Mellon. PILLARS OF GOLD.

The centre of the pavilion was occupied by a vast ballroom, from the high arched windows of which those present were able to gaze on a fairyland of tropical gardens brilliantly lit by an artificial moon. The ceiling of the ballroom was a lofty dome, supported on curved pillar sot gold, each pillar hearing a great light, while from panels flared enormous electric candles, with bulbs siniuating flames. Outside in the fairyland myriads of lights were so arranged that clouds appeared to drill across the sky from time to time. Ihe value of the wedding gifts is estimated at £ KXk 000. The bridegroom is Mr Alan Magee Scaife, a member of an extremely rich Pittsburgh family.

ROYAL JEWELS PAWNED. ST. JEAN RE LUZ, Nov. 21. The author of the mbbeify at the royal palace in Madrid (rejiorted on Nov. S), when King Alfonso’s magnificent Order of the Golden Fleece, other insignia, and a number of cigarette-cases of great value presented to the King liy the monarclis of other countries, disappeared, lias been arrested while enjoying an excursion with a motor-car acquired out of iho proceeds ot his thefts.

The thief is stated to he a trusted oflieiiil of the palace. The robbery was first discovered by the Kins himself when he wanted to wear the Golden Fleece at a great ceremony, and was unable to find it in its case. Search then showed that other articles were also missing. Detectives who were investigating the case went to the official pawnshop in what appeared to be almost a hopeless search, but found to their surprise that the assistants there had accepted most of the jewels, despite the fact that they were inscribed with the King’s name, with dedications. The thief was traced to Seville, where he gave away several of the jewels at night clubs. Later be met with a motor accident while driving hack to -Madrid in a high-powered machine. He abandoned the car on the roadside and the police found there a number of the stolen jewels, which led to his arrest and confinement in prison at Madrid.