A WEDDING AT THE BLUFF

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 15, 14 July 1894, Page 6

A WEDDING AT THE BLUFF

SHALLCRASS—NICHOL. The first wedding held in the new Presbyterian Church lately erected at the Bluff, was celebrated at noon on Wednesday, the 4th of July, 1894, when Mr Charles E, Shallcrass, Inspector of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, Dunedin, was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Elsie E. Nichol, eldest daughter of Mr Samuel Nichol, of the firm of Nichol Bros., merchants, Invercargill and Bluff. The Church, which was densely packed with spectators, was most artistically decorated with flowers, ferns, and evergreens, the platform having the appearance of a fern bower, and during the presence of the br.dal party, made a picture which had but to be seen to be ad-

mired. The .decorations were carried out friends /_ ahd relatives of the happy couple, <under the able supervision of Miss Glen, of the Bluff, whose taste is deserving of great praise. . , The bride looted very pretty in a white silk dress trimmed with chiffon, and the customary wreath and veil, which was fastened ( high with a coronet of pearls, the gift of the bridegroom.' She also carried a beautiful shower bouquet. The bridesmaids. -—’ Miss Grace Tucker (chief), Miss Ethel Kingsyvell, Miss Mary Me Lachlan, and Miss Louie Nichol (sister) were dressed alike in cream crepon and heliotrope silk, picture hats trimmed with cream watered silk and violets. All wore pearl brooches and carried lovely bouquets, gifts of the bridegroom. Miss Louie Nichol, the little bridesmaid, accompanied Master Lance Raymond, who was dressed as a page, in a black velvet suit, lace collars and cuffs, and large white felt hat with plume. Mrs Samuel Nicliol wore a black dress trimmed with dove-coloured brocaded silk and stylish bonnet to match. Mrs Kerr, sister of the bridegroom, was dressed in black silk and wore a most becoming hat.

Mr S. Nichol gave his daughter away. Mr Henry, of Dunedin, acted as best man, and was assisted by Mr J. Wales, Dunedin, and Mr Ernest Nichol (brother) as groomsmen. After the ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. J. A. Gardiner, the wedding party, consisting of relations only (owing to a late, bereavement) returned to Morningside, Bluff, the home of the bride’s parents, where the breakfast was laid, the most important item in which was the handsome “four tier” wedding cake. The following were the guests: The bride and bridegroom (Mr and Mrs C. E. Shallcrass), Mr and Mrs S. Nichol, Mr and Mrs G. Kerr, Mr and Mrs I. Raymond, Rev. J. A. and Mrs Gardiner, Dr Torrance, Mrs Howorth, Misses M. Tucker, G. Tucker, Ethel Kingswell, M. MacLachlan, A. Nichol and Louie Nichol; and Messrs Geo. Nichol, Henry, J. Wales, P. Raymond, E. Kingswell, E. Nichol, A. M. Croucher, and Master L. Raymond. Justice having been done to the good things provided, the following toasts were disposed of ;—“ The Bride and Bridegroom,” proposed by the Rey. Mr Gardiner in a most appropriate and happy speech, to which the bridegroom neatly responded, and concluded by proposing “The Bridesmaids,” Mr Henry ably responding on their behalf. Dr Torrance, with a few well-chosen remarks, proposed “ Mr and Mrs S. Nichol,” Mr Nichol feelingly responding. “ The Ladies,” or, as was interjected by a gentleman, “ The good old ladies !” was left in the hands of Mr G. Kerr, and proved to be in the right place, Mr J. Wales gallantly responding. Each toast was received with musical honours. At the conclusion of the breakfast Mr and Mrs Shallcrass left for a tour in the North Island amid hearty congratulations and showers of rice and flowers. Mrs Shallcrass’ travelling di*ess was a fawn Amazon cloth, trimmed with brown velvet and fur, with stylish hat to match.

The presents were very numerous and costly.