THE LOWER VALLEY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4732, 29 May 1894, Page 2

THE LOWER VALLEY.

A Popular Wedding, ■ (From Our Own CorrcsponWt,) Inmy former notosof my ramblesover tho Pihauteaes(ato,l had anlioipated the events which I am' about-tochjnielp. Onthoprovions occasionlWintfifc desirable to only briefly allude to the fine old Pihaii-. tea Homestead, to prevent my letter becoming too lengthy, but really Ihope your Mede and Persian rules arc- like nil other " hard and fast "• rules—they havo an exception, for without much further preamble, I'. hope that my few introductory notes havo prepared you forwhat is likely' to follow. Unfortunately, I cannot, even in this instance, only give the 'preliminary touches to my picture; . of Pihautea, for, alas! your-space will not admit of more, Doubtless most of your numerous readers are aware-I think I might say more positively that the lady: portion of them an fully aliyo to thai fact-that Mr W. E. Bidwill/hal joined tho ranks ofthpftenediefs.- r might in tho piclous, event took placo at Napier on tlio 30th April last, at tho residencepfthe brido!s mother. Don't be disappointed my fair readers, I am not going to describe the'ceremony, nor tho fail 1 bride, 6r bridegroom, Suffice it to say that, the now Mrs William E. Bidwill was the youngest daughter of Mr Rhodes, of Napier. I anticipate tho verdict of my lady readers: "What a formal uninteresting description it is," I beg their kind indulgence this time, , and in my next notes touching a , wedding ceremony, I will enlist the i services of a lady friend. To resume, , I learnt that after the wedding cere- , mony was over, that the happy couple left on a honeymoon tour, to visit the woudoiiaiid of this the northern portionof our future Britain of the South. To describe a thirty days'tour, under a', cloudless sky, ' travelling hither and thither in all I tho modern forms of locomotion : from an express train' to a Maori canoo; witnessing the world wide famous geysers in proximity to Lake Taupo ( wherefrom ono recently discovered isspjpdßSam and boiling water at an angle of about 45 degrees, every few hours, with such force that a log of wood if cast into it, is ejected fifty feet abovo terra ■ firma; (Note. - This is without - adornment. With usual adornment . twico fifty feet.) Inspecting supl posed extinct craters and viewing l craters that are not extinct; exaniin- . ing the sulphurous springs; ice-cold i water, within close proximity to . boiling springs; are a few of the I many sights seen by the subjects of i my brief sketch or any of tho many . tourists-that-arc on siglit-seoiug ) bent, I I must now reluctantly draw-tho curtain on this portion of description, ns, uptothoprasent,itiß only an introduction to the real subject I had j in my mind when.l took up my pen to send you a little more copy. ] learnt that the employees of Palinutea' determined that they would take tho favourable opportunity ol 1 tho absence of one of their worthy f employers to give him a littlo sur- ,- prise on his return home with his s bride, and also as a welcome tol'ir. I The ncciMtoiMd _fojpjft Ke ] C oni( —a token acconlpaiireoTby an address • -was quickly decided upon, and all - the necessary arrangeinonts a; 3 quickly made for it, overything being 1 ready they were anxiously awaiting Mr and Mri Bidwill's return. Tlit 3 eventful day came at last. Electricity - conveyed the intelligence' that "thoj c would arrive at Pihautea at noon or I Tuesday, tho 22nd ultimo. All - preparations for a suitable! re' :. ception having been arranged, Mi f P. Penrce, the redoubtable horser man, with four-in-kano', met the - bride and bridegroom at the Feather- ? ston Station; To be exact, in 3c" minutes from tho time they left the • Feathcrston Station they arrived E safely at the Pihautea Homestead, ; But to got there they, first had to I pass under a triumphal arch that had been erected by the woi-kmon, , over the.entrance gates; tho arch s was composed of largo tree forns, i and many varieties of native foliage, i Entwined among the. leaves were 1 somo lovely chrysanthemums, over ; which proudly rose several handi somo flags, the centre ono being the • flag that has "braved a thousand ! years the battle and the breeze"— ! tho Union Jack of Old England, c Spanning tho Wad archway, was the banner bearing tho following > inscription, "Welcome Homo," I underneath which was the emblem, . tlie rose, shamrock, and thistle, this ■ fine piece of artistic work was tho . individual labour of Mr B. A, Shaw, i After passing through the archway, ! tho Greytownßrass Band-stationed ! in front of the house on the fine lawn . -immediately struck up that most • appropriate air "Truo as Steel," By this time they had safely ' filiguted from the vehicle, and the happy greeting they received on doing so. will, I nm confident, bo chonshedas amongst the happiest moments of their life. At this stage of the proceedings the dinner bell rang, when ono and ■ all did not lose much time in adjourning to satisfy tho inner man, ibis portion of the day's proceed', mgsover, everyone looked pleasant (a'characteristic trait of a true Britisher). The members of the Band suggested a drive to the future hoiim of the bride and. bridegroom, to'bo known as Many availed themselves of the favoured opportunity to look over this fine residence and picturesque locality,of which in my foraieriiotos I gave a brief description, 'ilr and JlrsW, E, Bidwill accompanied the Band, Presently all returned to the Pihautea; homestead and by this time tea was ready, to which about 50 sat down and did ample justice to a liberal repast, The appointed time for presentation (7 p.m.) was now close at hand, A very largo room, equal in size to many halls in embryo townships, had been tastefully decorated with m)j conceivable native shrub available. At one end of the room were fixed tho bannors and flags and a small neat fable on which was placed the token about to be presented to its future owner, Precisely at 7 p.m. the bride and bridegroom arrived, and they received quite an ovation on entering the room. It is with reluctance I forego the pleasure of describing the. bride's appearances my fail-readers would like her described, but the most casual obsete could not fail to. notice how chiming and happy she looked while standing by the side of her husband, to share in the homage about to be paid to him. Seated round tho room were about thirty ladies and thrice thirty of the sternersex,when.Mr W. S, Wakelin came forward and said "Ladies and gentlemen, a very pleasant duty has devolved upon me this evening ajrd

subject more justice. I need hnvcll tell you that we have met to partak of the hospitality provided fovusb JfrnndMre William Bidwill. C course, at present, Mrs Bidwill is •■•comparative stranger amongst in but I know you will all heartily en dorse.my sentiments in welco'min nei' to Pihauton, and I feel ccrtai : that-the longor we know her Ch move zealous mllhecome the kind! «el l ii ? hetwe.onl!k'liMrßi(hvill' „ case' it is another matter, for w ■ wive, most of us, long and favour ■ <% know him as a member off nm-of liberal employers of labour Without detaining you too lonj 1 should like to mention a few °f the names of the workmcr J™' tlio time they have beer in the omploy of Messrs Bidwill. «nd I think you will agree witli me that no better proof could k given of the good feeling that must necessarily exist, between employers nnd employed. First on the'list ■ -came Messrs Collins and Thompson with a record of over thirty years and ho .was pleased to say they'were present that cvenivj The next was Mr J, Andrews with about 24 years a, MrTHvard with about 22 years. from 12 years to 12 ;' months, tCMgjffg of course anxious to converttlftir months into years, am! it was very likely they might do so, for the general impression was that when once a person got ... on at Pihautea they never left it. He should like to mention that when lie was entrusted with the commission to ascertain the fueling of the workmen towards showing in some small degree n slight recognition for many kindnesses received, that he had never had a more pleasing duty, for not only were all the employees on the station at the present time anxious to join, but nil those who had been working on it at some time or another. The feeling that prompted them to do so spoke for itself. He would not detain them any longer but'ask them to all till their glasses and join him in drink- . ingtho health and happiness o{ Mr • and Mrs "William Bidwill, to which bo should like to couple their family circles." The whole company responded in •„• a most, hearty manner and finished by all joining in singing 'IFor He's a Jolly GooclFcJU." . After the enthusiam hlHPidcd.Mr Wakclin presented the following address, (to which was subjoined the names of the donors, 42 in number). W. E. Bipwill, Esq., Pihautea. Dear Shi—On the occasion of your marriage, we deem this a fitting opportunity of showing the respect and esteem in which you arc lipid l>y us, mid the appreciation of the kindly and harmonious feelings which have always existed between us as employer and rmplovcrs during our stay at Pihautea, anil it therefore affords us the greatest pleasure on this auspicious occasion to beg your acceptance of this address and the accompanying token, in recognition of the excellent and sterling qualities which you havcahvayscxhibdttllowards us as an employer of labour, and as n small mark of the grateful esteem and lasting regard in which you are held. That Mrs Bidwill and yourself may long be spared to a life of health and happiness is the sincere and general wish of lours very truly, etc., etc. Having finished reading the address, ill' AVakeliii banded the present, which was a very handsome plated combination breakfast dish, to

.„ Mr W. E, Bidwill, mid begged his * -kjiml agd""™ nf it on behalf of t be •. cmplojWTTitt inscription on the piece of plate was as follows: " Presented to Mi- and Mrs W. E. Bidwill , by the employees on the Pilmutea estate on the occasion of their marriage, 30th April, 1894." The address, which was neatly engrossed on parchment, was executed gratuitously by Mr J, L. Bees, of Greytown. Mi' W. E, Bidwill, on 'receiving , tlio presentation) said as a rule lie did not feel norvous when addressing an assemblage on public matters, but (he kindly manner in which the toast to his wife, himself and friends had been responded to, and tlio whole affair being such a surprise, he. hoped they would look leniently on any shortcomings, for no words of his could express the gratitude lie felt on the present occasion to all concerned, for the hearty welcome accorded. Coming homo at any time was a pleasure to most people, and personally he thought there was "Noplace like.. Home," but to receive such a welcome as his wife and he had had that day, made it the happiest moment of his life, He could not altogether acceptitasnpersonnl present for he felt sure* was intended as a mark of respect for his family generally, Mr Wakelin had been' happy in his reference to the time some of the workmen had been in his employ. Unfortunately thero was a • tendency at the present among a certain class of people to break up the harmony and good feeling between employers and employed. What they had witnessed that day was certainly a proof that thero was a kindly feeling between the workmen and their employers on Pihantea. (Cheers of approval.) Referring to the remarks about the duration of time of workmen in their employ, he remembered on one occasion tlie late Mr Levin feelingly spoke of the pleasure it gave to see men in one's employ until their hair became grey, Tho best of feeling must necessarily exist for them to do so,

[Your correspondent liatl the extreme pleasure of being present when the late Mr Levin made the allusion referred toby Mr Biclwill, The oc- . casion was at a sumptuous dinner given toli|jj|\vn employees and those of Pihautca during a friendly cricket mateh between tliem at his country seat, Featherston.] Mr Bidwill, continuing, said that if possible thSy should like to see the same faces in their employ next year and for many years, He could not help feeling that it was intended as a general present, but as it was presented to his wife and himself ho must speak personally, and ho would like to say that when they got into their new house that if any of those present wished his advice, if it would be of any value to them, he should bo only to happy to render them assistance, Ho concluded by again feelingly thanking them all. Tho acclamation on his taking his seat was enthusiastic and prolonged. The happy couple then took the token and address, and the social of the evening began in earnest. The programme was opened with a polka, Mr W,S,Wnkolin leading olf with th bride, followed by about 30 more couples to the excellent music of tho Greytowu Band, The dancing was continueifjwithout intermission till half-paw ten, when an adjournment was made to the supper room, and such a supper! It is. certainly not one of tho simplest affairs to provide for 120 persons out of a town, but the table would have done credit to even the caterers of a Greytown Hospital Ball, The refreshments wero of a most varied description, all of fruits and • totals .tafiuit all tastes, '

The 'supper over cveryono folt happy and retraced their stops to the ball room whero dancing was kept up with spirit till3a.m. Messrs Shaw, Jagb, and Brickell gave sovcral songs in good style. Mr, Geo. Brickell made a most ellicient and obliging M.C. Three cheers were called for the Band before leaving, which were heartily responded to, and so ended one of tho most cociablo gatherings it has been my pleasure to chronicle.