Queanbeyan Age (NSW : 1867 - 1904), Wednesday 14 August 1878, page 1


MARRIAGE OF MR. A. K. FINLAY AND MISS ROBINSON. (From the S.M.Herald.) On Wednesday the marriage of Mr. Alexander Kirk-man Finlay of Glenormiston, Nooral, Victoria, with Miss Nora Augusta Maud Robinson, daughter of his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, G.C.M.G., Governor of New South Wales, was solemnised in St. James's church. Only once before in the history of the colony have the nuptials of a daughter of the re-presentative of her Majesty the Queen in New South Wales been celebrated in Sydney in the marriage of the Hon. Sir Edward Deas-Thomson, C.B.,K.C.M.G., with the daughter of Governor Sir Richard Bourke; and though under any circumstances such an event would excite a large amount of public interest, the rarity of such a ceremony and the great regard felt by the people for his Excellency the Governor, drew together an assemblage of persons that must have numbered about 10,000. Long before noon people began to congregate and take up stations about the church and other places from which any view of the wedding-procession was likely to be obtained; and as the time fixed for the marriage-ceremony ap-proached, King-street from Elizabeth-street to Macquarie-street was thronged, and it became ex-ceedingly difficult for the police, who were present in considerable force under Mr. Sub-inspector Ander-son, to preserve anything like order. Not only was the street thronged, but the balconies and the win-dows of the houses opposite the church were filled with sight-seers, the stone wall and railings enclos-ing the church were thick with people, and even the roof of the supreme court gave footing or a precari-ous support to adventurous individuals who were determined to see all that could be seen of the vice-regal wedding. The crushing towards the church was enough to endanger life and limb. The per-sistent efforts made by the crowd to get within the railed enclosure caused the churchwardens to lock the gates and to refuse for some time admittance to anybody, and even the guests specially invited to witness the marriage-ceremony were subjected to much inconvenience and delay before they could reach the church-doors. This however was almost unavoidable, for the crowd and the crushing were such that the severest measures were necessary to prevent the church being rushed by the people. The bridal party began to arrive at a quarter to one o'clock, the first carriages bringing the Hon. Lady Robinson, Mrs. St. John, Captain St. John, A.D.C., and the Hon. H. S. Lyttleton, private secre-tary, who were received with loud cheering. Next came a. carriage containing the bridegroom and Captain Standish (chief-commissioner of police in Victoria) as best man; and immediately afterwards, amidst hearty cheers from the people, the carriages containing the bride and his Excellency the Gov-ernor and the bridesmaids, Miss Nereda Robinson and Miss Neva St. John. The bride was attired in a magnificent train of white old English brocade, with underdress of white Ottoman silk trimmed with very deep Brussels point flounces - this lace inter-mixed with crepe lisse also ornamenting the train; a tulle veil, very long ; and a wreath of orange blossoms, myrtle, and heath. The bridesmaids wore pale blue silks, draped with damasse of the same shade, and ornamented with bouquets of heath and heather, with hats to correspond. Each wore also a large gold locket (presented by the bride-groom) with a broad band of brown enamel edged with dark blue down the centre, and on the brown band large diamonds. The Hon. Lady Robinson's dress, very handsome, was of very dark brown faille, elaborately trimmed with cream pillow lace, after the old English pattern, with bonnet and parasol to match. Mrs. St. John wore a dress of rather quaint style, the train of rich brocade, the colour reseda, trimmed with gros royal and clarte du soleil fringe, with bonnet and parasol of corresponding colour and make. As the bridal party were on their way from Gov-ernment House, joy-bells were ringing from the tower of St. Mary's, and on entering the church the organ pealed forth a welcome which lasted till the bride and bridegroom and those who were with them had taken their stations at the altar. Then the scene was very pretty. With exquisite taste a number of spreading ferns and beautiful pot-plants and flowers from the Botanic Gardens had been grouped at the back of the altar or chancel and placed in the pews at the sides; the pillars sup- porting the gallery, immediately above the chancel, were entwined with ivy and other creepers; while stretching from one side of the gallery to the other, above the headt of the bridal party, were festoons of leaves and flowers. Crowned as it were with these garlands, the bride and bridegroom stood at the altar railings before the officiating clergymen, the bride holding in her hand a magnificent bouquet of' white camellias, white violets, daphne and snowflakes. Captain Standish being on the right of the bridegroom; his Excel- lency the Governor and the bridesmaids on the left of the bride and the Hon. Lady Robinson and Mrs. St. John; with Captain St. John on the right and Hon. H. S. Lyttleton on the left standing imme-diately behind. On either side of the church, and particularly below the choir, which was (also prettily decorated with flowers and leaves, the pews were filled with well-dressed ladies and gentlemen, and the gallery seats had a large number of occupants. Among those present in the pews near the chancel were the Hon. Sir Alfred Stephen, C.B., K C.M.G., M.L.C., Lieutenant Governor, and Lady Stephen; Commodore Hoskins, C.B., A.D.C., and several other naval officers; Colonel Roberts, N.S.W.A.; the Hon. Sir John; Hay, K,C.M.G., President of the Legislative Council, and Lady Hay; the Hon., Sir

George Wigram Allen, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and Lady Allen; His Honor Sir William Manning and Lady Manning; the Hon. Professor Smith C.M.G., M.L.C., and Mrs. Smith; the Hon. R. Molyneaux ; the Hon. Sir George Innes M.L.C., and Lady Innes; Mr. Edward Hill, and Mr. Ed-ward Lee. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. Canon Allwood, B.A., assisted by the Rev. W. Hough, and throughout its progress was watched with the greatest interest. The responses were intoned by the choir, and with organ accom-paniment, the effect was very striking. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the bride turned to his Ex-cellency the Governor, who kissed her, and to the Hon. Lady Robinson, who also kissed her ; and then the bridal party left the church, the organ pealing forth the joyful notes of the Wedding March. King-street was still thronged with people, and it was with great difficulty that the carriages of the vice-regal party could leave the precints of the church, but after a little delay an opening was made for them in the crowd, and they drove into Mac-quarie-street and towards Government House amidst more cheering from the populace. At Government House the wedding breakfast was given, and there were present the bride and the bridegroom, his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson G.C.M.G., the Hon. Lady Robinson, Miss Robinson, and Master Robinson ; Captain St. John, A.D.C., Mrs. St. John, and Miss St. John ; the Hon. H. S. Littleton, private secretary ; Captain Standish. chief commissioner of police in Victoria; the Hon. Sir Alfred Stephen, C.B., K.C.M.G., M.L.C., LieutenantGovernor, and Lady Stephen ; Commodore Hoskins, C.B., A.D.C. ; his Honor Sir William Manning and Lady Manning ; the Hon. Sir Edward Deas-Thom-son, .B., K.C.M.G., M.L.C., and Lady Deas-Thom son; the Hon. Sir John Hay, K.C.M.G., president of the Legislative Council, and Lady Hay; the Hon. S ir George Wigram Allen, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and Lady Allen; the Hon. Sir Geo. Innes, M.L.C., and Lady Innes; ColonelRoberts, N.S.W.A., and Mrs Roberts; the Rev. Canon Allwood. B.A., and Mrs. Allwood; the Rev. W. Hough Mrs. O'Brien, Mr. and Mrs. Gatewood, C. Davis, the two Misses Campbell, the Hon. Professor Smith, C.M.G., M.L.C., and Mrs. Smith ; the two Mrs. Mann, Mr. Edward Lee, Mr. Brock, R.N. ; and Mr. Edward Hill. Mrs. Hoskins was absent on account of severe illness, and Mrs. Edward Hill was unable to be present in consequence of domestic bereavement. The health of the bride and bridegroom was proposed by Sir Alfred Stephen, and Mr. Finlay responded and gave the health of the bridesmaids, to which toast Captain Standish replied. Sir Edward Deas-Thomson then proposed the health of his Excellency Sir. Hercules Robinson and the Hon. Lady Robinson ; and his Excellency having responded, preparations were made for the departure of the newly-married couple on their honeymoon, which they are spending at Eurimbla, Botany, the house having been kindly lent to them by Mr. George Lord. The carriage containing the happy pair left Government House at about four o'clock, the travel-ling costume of the bride being a princess dress of dark-brown silk trimmed with blue, with bonnet and parasol of the the same material. Mr. Alexander Kirkman Finlay, the bridegroom, is a large station-holder in Victoria, and is the second son of Mr. Alexander Struthers Finlay of Castle Toward, Argyleshire, Scotland, who for many years represented the county in the imperial parliament, eventually retiring in favor of the Marquis of Lorne. The grandfather of the bridegroom, Mr. Kirkman Finlay, also was a member of the imperial parliament, and represented time Glasgows boroughs before the passing of the Reform Bill. He was also elected Lord Rector of Glasgow University for the year 1817. Mr. A. K. Finlay was educated at Harrow, and at Cambridge, where he took an M.A. degree. He came out to Victoria on completing his education, about nine years ago. The wedding presents, which were numerous andcostly, forming a magnificent collection, consisted of the following : - A diamond hoop ring, ruby and diamond ring, large single ruby gipsy ring, handsome gold enamelled lady's watch, and a handsome dia-mond cross, from the bridegroom ; a massive and handsome gold bracelet, from his Excellency the Governor; a large gold necklace and locket, from the Hon. Lady Robinson ; a set of ivory brushes and a looking glass (of fine workmanship, with monogram) a white satin pincushion (with monogram), and a large blue satin sachet (embroidered, with mono-gram), from Mrs. St. John ; a Dresden figure, from Miss St. John ; a gold locket, set with pearls, from Captain St. John, A.D.C ; a large and beautifully painted fan, from Miss Nereda Robinson; a silver pencil-case, from Master Hercules Robinson ; a handsome travelling clock with exquisitely worked Japan-ese panels, from the Hon. Henry Lyttleton ; a gold pencil-case, from Lord Ronald Gower; a double silver-mounted scent bottle, from Viscount Ebring-ton ; a very handsome blackwood and oxidised-silver writing set, and an easel photograph book, from his Excellency the Marquis and the Marchioness of Normanby ; a gold ormolu photograph frame, from the Hon. Sir Alfred Stephen, C.B., K.C.M.G., M.L.C. Lieutenant-Governor and Lady Stephen ; a Japan-ese necklace, cross, brooch, solitaires, and earrings, from the Hon. Sir George Verdon, C.B., K.C.M.G.; a gold thimble, set with coral and pearls, from the Hon. Lady Gordon ; a very handsome gold bracelet and pendant, set with amethyst, diamonds and pearls, from the Hon. Sir George Wigram and Lady Allen ; a silver chatelaine, from the Hon. Professor Smith, C.M.G., M.L.C., and Mrs. Smith ; a set of silver salt-cellars and spoons, from Mr. Charles Bright and the Hon. Mrs. Bright ; a gold cable bracelet, from the Misses Mitchell of Etham ; a sil-ver necklace, from Mr. and Mrs. Alger; a velvet photograph book, from Miss Alger; a: Shetland shawl, from Miss Mabel Alger; a set of Mosaic soli-taires, from Mrs. Hoskins ; and a gold-mounted whip from Commodore Hoskins, C.B., A.D.C. ; a beautiful gold locket, with diamond, centre of shamrocks, from Mr. and Mrs. William Gilchrist; a handsome silver and ormolu inkstand, from Mrs. O'Brien ; a crystal box and inkstand, set with pearls, from Mr. and Mrs. Montague Levy; a white satin sachet, with forget-me-nots and name worked upon it, from the Misses Levy; a sapphire and diamond ring, from Mrs. Salamon; a card-case set with a watch, from Miss Salamon ; a diamond bracelet from the Hon. John Campbell; a majolica and silver salad bowl with fork and spoon from Miss Campbell; a silver card-case from Miss S. Campbell; a jewel-case with monogram in silver from the Hon. Charles Campbell M.L.C.; a gold necklace from Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Joseph; an ivory card-ease from Miss Joseph ; a set of gold and pearl earrings from Miss Edith Joseph ; an oxidised silver photograph-book ] from Mrs. Henry Moore; a silver egg-boiler from the Misses Moore; a purse with monogram in silver from Lieutenant Brock R.N.; two gold cuff- brooches (pigs) from Lieutenant Bower R.N. ; soli-taire large diamond earrings, very handsome, from Captain Standish ; a gold bracelet, with large dia-mond star, also very handsome, from Mr. Sahl; a silver card-case; with monogram, from Lady Man- ning ; a gold thimble from Miss Manning ; a silver card-case, with monogram, from the Rev. C. Meysey Thompson; a 'gold necklace and diamond locket from Mr. Reginald and Mr. Samuel Bright; a gold

bracelet set with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald from the Hon. Sir John Hay K.C.M.G., and Lady Hay; Mosaic earrings and brooch from Mr. and Mrs., Edward Hill; a very handsome set of gilt Indian ornaments from the Hon. Sir Edward Deas-Thomson C.B., K CM.G., M.L.C., and Lady Deas-Thomson; a work-basket from Mrs. Beattie; a handsomely fitted basket from Mrs. Edward Mann and Mrs. Partridge ; a handsome travelling-clock with Sevres panels from Mr. and Mrs. William Robertson of Colac Victoria ; a pair of opera-glasses from the Hon. Sir George Innes M.L.C., and very handsome ormolu and oxidised stands from Lady Innes ; an ormolu and oxidised casket from Mr. and Mrs. Gateward Davis; a Dresden Theiere from the Misses Manus ; a carved casket and carved ivory brushes from Mr. Eden ; a very handsomely-fitted morocco travelling-bag from Mr. Edward Lee; a pin-cushion from Mrs. Allwood; a set of d'oyleys, painted from subjects in Alice in Wonderland, exceedingly pretty, from Miss Allwood; a white muff from Mrs. Pedley ; a dresspiece of silk made from the product of Australian silkworms from Mrs. Bladen Neill; some Indian trimming from Mrs. Alexander; a silver-mounted walnut-case, with cut glass perfume bottles, and beautiful silver mono-gram in shamrocks and thistles, from Colonel

Roberts N.S.W.A.; a carved mother-of-pearl and white satin fan in gold enamelled casket from Mrs. Roberts; oak and silver butter - dish from Mrs. Mann; a myall and silver fan-case, with mono-gram, made and presented by Captain Mann ; Mal-tese cross, pendant, and earrings, with diamond centre, from the Hon. Alexander Campbell M.L.C., and Mrs. Campbell; a silver shell butter-dish and silver casket from Mrs. Robertson of Coreen ; an embroidered pin-cushion from C. and K. Bastin; a diamond and pearl bracelet from Mr. and Mrs. A. Thompson ; a handsome butter-dish from A. Bray, the butler at Government-house ; and an antique electrotyped biscuit-box, with an oval plateau tank-ard and cup and a rosewater - dish of the same manufacture, each of exquisite workmanship. The wedding trousseau included several dresses worthy of mention :- An evening dress, in the princess style, of pale blue faille, draped with damasce of the same shade and ornamented with fringe and crepe lisse ; a very stylish visiting dress of silver grey corded silk, trimmed with black velvet and clair de lune; a ball-dress of cream damasce and lace, or-namented with dark maroon velvet; a black net dress, trimmed with satin and real old "rose point," and dresses of homespun and trimmed silk.