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Nelson Evening Mail, Issue 27, 3 February 1869, Page 2

Under the heading of 'Marriage in High Life' the Wellington Post gives the following description of a Maori wedding which took place Dear Napier: — The bridegroom, iD the morning, had on the costume of a gentleman of the early part of the century, but after breakfast it was changed for the handsome uniform of the kupapa cavalry —blue serge shirt, tipped with red cuffs and collar, cord pants, and boots. The bride wore a train of white silk, trimmed with red and blue fringe, which looked exceedingly picturesque; a petticoat of rich poult desoie, studded with white roses resting on turbans of willow. The roses were emblematical of purity, and the willow of tbe uncertainty of life iu a time of war. Headdresses: bands of scarlet and velvet with a goose feather at side. The bridesmaids, of whom there were three, were dressed iu the same 'ground' as the bride, ornamented with a variety of colors which space will not permit us to particularise. The parents of the bride were never more joyful, exhibiting their satisfaction in very fantastic and very pleasant performances which we admired greatly. The bride, after breakfast, took her seat at the piano, and put the company into roars of laughter

by playing with fire and spirit, "I'm coming to bring you, Peggy,'' after which she made the party very mournful by giviug the "Lament of Tasso." The wedding cake deserves notice. It was made especially for the occasion — a basso-relievo of a .pa surrounded by palisades, out of which rose a Norman castle, with mai-mai on the top of each turret, thus showing the hlending of the two races; and in front of the castle two Maori women performing a kunni-kunni. As the festivity was going ■on, an incident occurred which caused a great flutter among the bridesmaids. A native, called Kuna-kuna, rush iu among the company, and coming iuto violent collision with the table, upset nearly every glass, and spilt the liquor over the ladies' dresses. The purport, we are informed, of Kuna-kuna' s speech was that 'Colonel Whitmore bad sent in an order that the cavalry were to go out iu half an hour. We are glad to fiud that the tide of public opinion is beginning to turn iu favor of Col. Whitmore, and that, iu a •quarter where it might least have been ■expected. The Wangan ui Chronicle of the 14th instant, bays: — Col. Whitmore -has achieved a decided victory on the East Coast. We have great pleasure in saying so, and in referring to the particulars in another column ; all the more, indeed, that hitherto our references to this .gallant officer have frequently been the reverse of complimentary. That the natives have ably seconded his efforts, and in fact doue the greater pare of the work, is quite true, yet the public will not be disposed to look narrowly into a victory, which, so far as we can judge at preseut seems as if it were to get us coßclusive riddance of a horde of murderers. Col. Whitmore deserves great praise there is -nothing succeeds like success, and he has been successful -under considerable difficulties. We have frequently beard it stated that "Colonel Whitmore is a man who has seen no service ; the following extract from the Army List will show what amount of reliance is to be placed ou such an assertion : — Major Whitmore served in the Matter part of the Kaffir war in 1847. Was in the action of Boem Plaats in 1848. Served throughout tbe Kaffir war of 1851—52, and was present with the 2nd Division in nearly every affair, including •the storming of the Iron Mountain. Commanded Sir Harry Smith's escort from March to November 1851, during which time he was repeatedly employed as a staff officer with the various columns on patrol. Acted as Major of Brigade to the 2nd Division from November ISSI to October 1852 ; and as Brigade Major to the ■Cavalry Brigade iu the expedition uuder Sir George Cathcart, ending in the battle of Berea. He has had two horses shot under him in action, and has been repeatedly thanked iu Brigade aud Division Orders, as well as in the General Orders and Despatches of Sir H. Smith aud of Sir G. Cathcart (Medal). Brevet Major, -and 4th Class of the Medjidie, for Service with the Turkish Contingent. The Napier Races are advertised to take place on the 2nd, -3rd, and 4th March, The programme, we imagine, will provo sufficiently attractive to collect horses from all parts of tlie colony, the public money to be ruu for, amounting to £450. We wonder whether holiday time in Nelson is productive of sickness to the same extent that it appears to be iu Melbourne. Perhaps our medical men can answer the question. A correspondent of a Melbourne paper says ; — Talking of amusements reminds me of the race-day. It is curious that so many people fall ill about that time. A gentleman of my acquaintance^ — he lives, luxurious dog, in a neighboring coalshed — came up to me as I was ruefully contemplating the last atom

of the last plug of Barrett,s twist that hard fate had left me, and sat himself dowu on a convenient doorstep. He began to laugh immoderately, ' What is the matter ?' I asked. ' I was comiug up Collins-street just now,' ssiid he, 'and I saw a mau at one of the doors asking "if the doctor w.ns in ?" 'No, said the | servant,' he has sroue to a consultation in i *- | the country.' ' I have been to four others,' j said the applicant, 'and they have all j gone to consultations in the country too.' } *But he'll be back at six,' said tbe domesj tie, the ghost of a smile hovering about j his lips. '0 yes,' returned the patient I with a contemptuous laugh, 'they'll all be back at six !' ' I looked at rny friend j and silently pressed the tobacco into his I hand. He had made a social discovery. | The Abyssinian Expedition is the j groundwork of* a drama being played at ; Astley's Theatre. It was one night being j played pretty smoothly wheu suddenly { King Theodore came dowu to the foot- ! lights in forming the audience that he bad i not received his weekly salary nnd asked I how it was possible he could support his ; wife and children upon nt) thing a week. Re- | ceiviug no satisfactory reply, he said be i could not undertake to play his part. j Thereupon the manager rushed upon the I stage iu dressing gown and slippers, and j pushing the fierce Theodore aside, said he would play the part himself (in dressing ! gowu and slippers) rather thau his audience j should be disappointed. Eveutually the original Theodore, upon the promise of so much on account, resumed the performance of his part. By tiie arrival at Liverpool of the screw I steamer Tycho-Brahe, from the Brazils, we learn tbe total loss of the splendid Australian clipper ship Australia, while on her voyage from Sydney to London. The wreck occurred about 13S miles north of Baliia, but as to the cause of it no particulars are given. The whole of the cargo, however, has been lost, but all the specie on board is reported to have been saved. The Australia, uuder command of Captain Vollar, sailed from Sydney for London ou the sth September last, and would appear to have been making good progress when the disaster occurred. The Auatralia was built at Aberdeen in 1866. was 1010 tons burtheu, and was classed A1 at Lloyd's. She was owned in Aberdeen by Messrs Duthie, Sons, & Co., and was celebrated for the quickness of her runs between London and Australia. The crew and passengers were ail saved. The London Guardian states that ' the sombre colors of Westminster Abbey were relieved on a day in October by the presence of an Indian prince, dressed in his native costume, with his prime minister and attendants, who came for the purpose of strewiug Lord Canning's grave with flowers. The servants bearing tbe trays containing the flowers, held aloft in Easteru fashion, were very picturesque. After expressing his deep love of Lord Canning, aud his grateful remembrance of his rule in India, the prince knelt aud himself strewed with flowers the stone slab which covers the remains of Lord Canuiug, and also of his father (George Canuing). The dean pointed out the spot in which the monument is to be erected—a fact which was of much interest to the ludian strangers. After bending in prayer, the prince, bent down and kissed the stone, followed in the revereut act by his retaiuers. This is, perhaps, the first act of Mahammedau worship which the abbey has seen within its walls.' Even Jerusalem is going ahead. A letter from the Land of Promise states: — ' I am now employed at a steam mill which has been lately brought to Jerusalem A macadimised road has been made from Jaffa to Jerusalem, and an- American of the Java colony drives a small omnibus on it — the only carriage on the road yet.'

An irreverent contemporary remarks: — The piper that played before Moses, would we think, be considerably astonished if he saw the steam mill in full work, and the I enterprising Yankee cracking his whip and smoking his cheroot as he coaches his team aloug the macadamised road. — Indian Pioneer, Oct, 26. i