OHAUPO

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 323, 4 August 1898, Page 2

OHAUPO

WEDDING.—On Monday last, the first diyof Spring, a very pretty wedding (weddings are always pretty) took place at the little Presbyterian Church at Ohaupo. There is no mistake, a church is the proper place to get married in ; there is nothing to be ashamed of. In this case the church was crowded with the friends aud relatives of the bride, who is the eldest daughter of an old and respected settler, Mr Thomas Cowley, of Ohaupc. The contracting parties were Mr Theodore Jephcoate, son of Mr Tlios. Jephcocte, of Birmingham, England, and Miss Clara Cowley. Mr Alfred Cowley acted as best man, and Miss Jennie Cowley was the bridesmaid. The bride wore a smart travelling dress of snge green, beautifully trimmed and a very becoming hat, and carried a boquet of orange blossoms, the bride's maid being dressed in a similar manner. As the party entered the church the wedding march was played by Miss Stnrges. The Rev. Walter Smith was the officiating clergyman, and scarcely bad he finished tying tiic knot and before the benediction was pronounced, the young man gallantly kissed his bride, the best man making a noble effort to get the first kiss, but failed, amidst the titter of the audience. After the ceremony was over and the register signed, the young couple had to run the customary gauntlet of rice aud old shoes, and departed amidst the cheers of the crowd to the residence of the bride's parents, where a sumptous wedding breakfast was served. After which the happy pair dsparted for their home at Otorohanga by the afternoon train, many remarking they were a fine looking pair. I certainly wish them all the joy and happiness in the world. Ckmeteries.—Oh ! What a jump from weddings to cemeteries, but there are three great events in one's life, viz., birth, marriage, and death. Well, lam led to write this article after paying a visit to God's Acre, the public cemetery of Ohaupo. In visiting a well-kept graveyard it fills one with feelings of a sort of pleasant sadness, but I cannot express my feelings after visiting the enclosure they call a cemetery at Ohaupo. Now. I shall try and aive a brief history of this piece of ground. Just thirtyfour years ago when I first saw it, h was occupied as a redoubt, containing a company of soldiers ; after the war it was made a cemetery reserve, but has not been properly gazetted, although I understand trustees had been appointed. The place is all fenced (about five acres), with trees planted all round, and the old earthworks are still iu the centre (which could be left as a relic of by-gone days). Sad to say the whole is overgrown with fern and scrub, that may at any time catch fire, aud everything would be swept clean. Those who have, relatives buried there would hardly like that. Now 1 will make a suggestion ; never mind waiting for the Government to put the matter right, just let some of the residents of Ohaupo call a public meeting appoint a committee with power to act ; then raise iuirds, either by subscription or give a concert (the public always respond for a laudable object), the object in this case being to properly fence in, say, a quarter of an acre, as that would be sufficient for the wants of this district for the next twenty-five years. This could be kept in perfect order with very little trouble or expense. The balance of the reserve could be laid down in grass and rented, the proceeds going towards keeping the burial part in order. Let us take pattern by the Paterangi people who are putting their little sacred plot in proper order, and so takeaway this reproach that is a standing disgrace to the Ohaupo district, I myself sharing in that disgrace. —(Own Correspondent).