TE AROHA NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 122, 20 April 1897, Page 2

TE AROHA NOTES.

|Bv The Pokcuimnel

Ox Wednesday afternoon, 14th inst., was witnessed the first wedding ceremony iu the To Aroha Wesleyan Church on the occasion of the union in holy matrimony of the Rev. \Y. J El'iot, of Balelutha, to Mss Gertrude Fianeis Maingay, second daughter of Mr J. T. Maingay, an old and highly respected settlet in Te Aroha district. The church was tastefully decorated with flowers, ferns and evergreens, a pretty arch in front of the altar, having a bell of pure white chrysanthemums hanging from its centre, adding greatly to the general effect. Sometime before the cerenvny commenced the church was packed to the doors with relativei ami friends of the biide and bridegroom. The Rev. S. Lawiy, of Auckland, officiated, assisted by the Rev. S. Grifliths. resident minister. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in a creme serae costume with court train, trimmed with silk lace and pearls. She also wore a flowing br.'dal veil caught with orange blossoms, and carried a beautiful bouquet of choice flowcis. The bridesmaids were Miss M. Maingay (sister of the bride), white Indian muslin dress trimmed with creme lace, and pale sea-green silk sash and white lace hat ; Misi Bell (cousin of the bride), pale tca-treeu silk dress relieved with creme silk lace, and picture hat set off with white ostiich feathers; Miss Elliot (sister of the bridegrcom), ctetne silk lustre trimmed with silk lace to match, and picture hat tiimmed with ostrich feathers. Mr G. Ediot capably filled the position of best man. Among the wedding guests were Mr and Mrs Elliot (parents of the bridegroom), Mr Elliott, jttnr., and Mr and Mrs W. S. Aden. Miss Vuglar, of Pacroa, in the absence of Miss Hirst, presided at the organ. The service throughout was a most impressive one, and at its conclusion the Rev. Mr Grifliths, on behalf of the church trustees, prisented the bride with a handsoniely-bound copy of the Holy Scriptures and a copy of the Wesleyan hyn.n-bcok with times complete. These gifts were in comnit morat.on of the fiivt wedding in the church according to the cus'om of the Wesleyan body. The numerous guests were entertained at a sumptuous breakfast spread within a large marque erected iu the grounds adjoining the residence of the bride's parents. The happy couple were the recipients of a large number of valuable and useful presents. Early in the evening the bride and bridegroom orovo off in route for their new home, nni'iUt showers of lice, obi slippers, and good wishes, iu wh'ch "The Forcup.uo" heartily jo : ns. The local brass band was conspicuous hy its absence from the Domain on Sunday afternoon last. It was greatly missed by expectant visitors who had assembled "in force, only to be disappointed. Mr C. H. Lawn, manager of the Tui Cross gold mines (Limited) left To Aroha on Thursday morning en route for Reefton, where he will join the ranks of the benedicts. Mr Lawn is expected to return with his bride in the course of a month, and he will no doubt receive the hearty congratulations and good wishes of the whole community in which he has become deservedly popular, not only as a zealous promoter of musical entertainments but a!so as a private ei izen. We are threatened with the annual infliction of what is known as the " catapult nuisance," which generally commences with the opening of the shooting season. It may not be generally known that catapults are by act of Parliament proi.ounccd to be illegal toys (or as oftimes happens weapons of torture). Therefore it behoves our boys who arc on mischief bent, to keep outtide the town boundaries while inani pulating their dangerous playthings, for they will find some difficulty in " dodging the constable," who is bound to keep a sharp look-out for them. On Thursday last we experienced several very heavy downpours of ra : ll in Te Aroha, and it was during one of these that I discovered a gocd reason why it costs such a large expenditure ot public money to keep our streets in repair. First <:f all, I noticed that the watertables in the main thoroughfare were literally choked up in places with grass and silt, consequently the water coming down from the higher side streets (in many cases coursing down the centre), not having an outlet through the quickly stopped up gratings, backed up until it was high enough to make channels for it eH across Whitaker-street, thereby doing considerable damage to the roadway. I further noticed that in several places the water was rushing across the footpath on the eastern side of Whitakerstreet, which not only damaged the sidewa'k, but put pedestrians (ladies especially) to great inconvenience, for in one place particularly near Wallace's smithy, it was impossible to pass without getting wet-footed. lam merely giving the Works Committee the benefit of my observations in order that they may in their leisure moments formulate some scheme to prevent the best of onr streets and footpaths being washed away during the forthcoming winter months. The foundation for Mr J. Howe's new butchery in Whitaker-street, has been taken out ready for building operations, which will be commenced toon after the East' r holidays. The contractor is making good headway with Messrs Ehrenfricd Bros', new family hotel, the outer walls, roof, chimneys and spouting all being finished, Although the building is a fine one it looks very bare looking without a balcony, and as it occupies a commanding position overlooking the Te Aroha Hot Springs Domain, a baclony would be a great acquisition to tourists andinvalids especially.