WEDDING BELLS.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XVII, Issue 1849, 8 March 1898, Page 4

WEDDING BELLS.

There is always a certain amount of interest in marriages, but more particularly so when the lady is, herself, a public favorite and her parents are old and highly esteemed residents of a place. All three conditions obtained in the case yesterday, when Miss (Margaret Agnes) Davidson, eldest daughter of Capt. and Mrs Davidson, was married to Mr William Bassett, an employe of the firm of Morrow, Bassett Ji Co., Christchurch—the Rev. M r McAra officiating. St. Paul’s church had been very tastefully decorated, in part, a noticeable piece of floral work being a handsome monogram containing the initials of the bride and bridegroom worked into that of the surname oi the latter, the device being surmounted with hearts conjoined—indicating the union. The sides of the pathway from the road leading up to the church were decked with flags, finishing, at the top, with a very pretty arch. The arrival of the bride (escorted by her brother—Mr James Davidson, jnr., the Captain being present, but incapacitated through weakness) was heralded to those—some hundred in number—in the Church by Mrs Sandford playing, as a march, the wedding chorus from ‘ The Huguenots.’ The bride looked very pretty and bright, exquisitely attired in cream figured Sicilian, trimmed with ehiffonne and lace, with pearl trimmings, and wore a handsome veil with orange blossoms. She carried a lovely bouquet of white clematis. The bridegroom’s gift was a gold barred brooch studded with pearls and emeralds, that of her parents’ a gold brooch with a beautiful topaz. The bridesmaid, Miss Mary Davidson, (sister of the bride) wore cream oatmeal creponne trimmed with cream silk and lace, cream hat (with handsome feather) to match. The bridegroom’s gift was a gold barred brooch, opal and pearls, and gold bangle. Mr Kenny Bassett attended bis brother as groom’sman. Mrs Davidson, mother of bride, wore a beautiful black silk trimmed with heliotrope and bonnet to match ; Mrs Bassett, mother of the bridegroom, black silk trimmed with white, bonnet to correspond ; Mrs Scott black silk, heliotrope, bonnet to match ; Mrs James Davidson, jnr., black silician trimmed with white, and bonnet to match ; Miss Bassett, fawn trimmed with blue silk, and cream hat; Miss Myers (Wellington), white spotted muslin and sailor hat; Mrs G. Rorrison, black; Mrs McAra, black figured lustre trimmed with green, bonnet to match : Misses Tottie and

Aggie Davidson, nieces of the bride, electric blue and cream.

The interesting ceremony over, — concluding with the pronouncement of the union, the blessing, the osculatory sealing of the contract and the signing of the register—the newly wedded pair left the Church to the strains of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March, and had. to make their way to their carriage, amidst a perfect fusilade of rice. By taking an unexpected route on their way to Caledonia House, Capt. Davidson's residence, they escaped another broadside at the West End, where a large number of well wishers had assembled to express their congratulations huzzas and with showers of rice. In consequence of Capt. Davidson’s ill-health the breakfast (a sumptuous spread) was only attended by members of Capt. Davidson’s family, Mrs Bassett (mother of the bridegroom), the Misses Bassett and Myers, Mr Kenny Bassett, the Rev. Mr and Mrs McAra, and Mr and Mrs G. Rorrison. The Rev. Mr McAra proposed the ‘ Ths Bride and Bridegroom ’ in felicitous terms, the ‘ happy man ’ suitably responding. Other toasts were the Parente; the Bridesmaid ; the Rev. Mr McAra and wife: Mr and Mrs Rorrison. The happy pair left for Christchurch at 1 p.m. (driven by Mr Alex. Creed), with a ‘ tbousand blessings.’ The bride’s travelling dress was a grey covered coating costume and white silk vest, with a grey toque trimmed with white ostrich feathers. The newly wedded couple have the heartiest good wishes of everyone in Kaikoura. The gathering at the church was a thoroughly representative one. Two vocal items were sung by the choir of St. Paul’s, of which the bride was once a prominent and valued member, the numbers being the Anthem * Heavenly Father,’ and the hymn ‘O, Father all creating,’ Mrs Sandford ably presiding at the organ, The presents numbered over (wo hundred, their respective and collective worth being gratifying.