Married by Proxy

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 974, 17 May 1930, Page 18

Married by Proxy

Bride and Groom 9,000 Miles Apart.

If AEYSamP*UI JVIDED by 9.000 miles of sea and continent, and I All'll finding it impossible to get married under ordin[l ary conditions, two lov I ers evolved a novel scheme to overcome their difficulties. The arrangement was that the girl. Miss Olive Shadford. of Hanover Street, Beckham Rye, London, should be married by proxy to her lover, Mr Jack Sieblinck, a Dutchman, who occupies a responsible position with the Java Government railways.. Until recently Miss Shadford, an attractive girl of 20, was working in a big Holborn store. While staying at Bexley Heath with her aunt, Mrs. Hutson, and preparing- for her voyage to Java as a married woman, sh’o excitedly awaited a cable conveying the information that, she had been married in Samarang, Java. It was arranged that the message should be sent by the bridegroom, Mr. Sieblinck, immediately after lie had gone through the ceremony—with a married woman at his side? Mr. Hutson, speaking-of Ills niece’s unconventional romance, stated: “Mr. Sieblinck and Olive fell in love when

Ceremony Possible Under Dutch Law.

! they met a couple of years ago, but Mr. Sieblinek’s business lias tied film to Java since then. So tlie courtship wqs. continued, and flourished by post, and 'eventually Olive accepted his offer of marriage. It was impossible for him to return to Loudon for the wedding, and they agreed that it would be more convenient for her if she travelled out to Java—where a bungalow home is ready for her’—as - married woman. “Accordingly, this marriage by proxy is being carried out under Dutch law at the Dutch Commissioner’s office at Samarang, following the signing by my niece of a number of documents, which were sent to the Consulate in London. When Miss Sliadford arrives in Samarang she and her husband will go through the marriage ceremony at the English church there.” Miss Shadl’ord’s romance recalls to mind a “marriage by telephone” -which was performed in America a few weeks ago. The bridegroom telephoned from Cleveland to Waco, Texas, where the bride, the magistrate who performed the ceremony, and witnesses were on extension lines.