Menu
Mock wedding at Kotuku. 1st of October 1935 .
Expand/collapse
About this image
DescriptionOn the 1st of October 1935 an unusual Wedding took place at Kotuku, and the Bride was played by Miss Jane Molloy (my mother) and her aunt, Mary Ann Mears, played Jane's mother.
Bride, Miss J. Molloy; bridegroom, Mrs Geary; best man, Mrs. Priest.Rev. Tiemup, Miss B. Nestor; bridesmaid, Mrs. Dalziel; fathers-in-law, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Dense, mothers-in-law, Mrs Jack and Mrs. Mears. Following is an account (mostly true) of the ceremony. R
The following Report is a little long, but worth the read.
On Tuesday evening, members of the Kotuku W.I. entertained about 60 guests at a mock wedding, followed by a social evening. Contrary to their usual custom, only feminine visitors were admitted. Friends were present from Aratika, Moana, Ruru and Christchurch. Those taking part were: Bride, Miss J. Molloy; bridegroom, Mrs Geary; best man, Mrs. Priest. Rev. Tiemup, Miss B. Nestor; bridesmaid, Mrs. Dalziel; fathers-in-law, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Dense, mothers-in-law, Mrs. Jack and Mrs. Mears. Following is an account (mostly true) of the ceremony.
The mock wedding took place in Jack’s Hall on Tuesday evening, of Blossom Witestone Turnip and John Henry Pumpkin. The bride wore a priceless frock of embroidered calico belonging to her great-grandmother, rucked and pintucked across the bodice, tightfitting round the waist, and falling with soft bumps to the ground. Her long flowing veil of mosquito net was fastened to her hair with trails of dandelions and creeping Jenny. She carried a beautiful Victorian bouquet of closely packed creamy white blossoms surrounded by green foliage, resembling a huge cauliflower (which it was). She entered the hall to the strains of Daisy, Daisy, sung by the entire congregation. The frantic efforts of the bride’s father to give her away before the bridegroom could change his mind, nearly interrupted the ceremony, which however, happily proceeded without any further hitch until the solemn words were pronounced, “These two who have been joined together, they both have made a blunder.” The dole workmates of the bridegroom formed a guard of honour and the happy couple passed out of the hall beneath an archway of crossed shovels. Later, at the wedding breakfast, the Rev. Tiemup, when proposing the health of the bridegroom and his happy bride, concluded his speech with the following advice: “Now, John Henry, you have taken this tender Blossom to your bosom to cherish and protect. You have heard her promise to love, honour and no baby. Remember a woman will bear a great deal, but there are some things which cannot be born. If ever you feel like losing your temper, remember you should go just so far, but no father; and you, Blossom, should you ever meet with adversity, think of that good old proverb, “When the wolf comes to the door, don’t let the stork fly in the window.” In responding, the bridegroom said he could offer no reasonable excuse for his idiotic action in proposing to the bride except that it had been a dark night, and he had also been led to believe that she had a thousand shares in the Kotuku oilfields, as well as 500 in the Maori Gully dredge. He realised that he had now gone too far to draw back, but he intended to Shoulder his burden like a man. He appreciated the way his friends had rallied round him in his sorrow, although he suspected that the prospect of getting a free feed was the real reason for their presence. He was especially grateful to the bridesmaid, Miss Rose Radish, who had come on her scooter all the way from Billygoat Flat in order to be present. Speeches were also given by the best man and respective fathers. Numerous telegrams were received, among them the following: Mr. and Mrs Pumpkin, “Don’t be like us. In the course of time, have more than a picket fence running round your garden.” (signed by a local resident). Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin. Congratulations. One couple less to haunt the dryer, (signed) G. Jack. Mr and Mrs. Pumpkin: Free beer, all guests invited to sit round my fire and toast the bride, (signed) Proprietor, Hotel Chateau. Another telegram arrived, addressed to the minister, who explained that the senders had evidently been under some misapprehension regarding the serious nature of the duty he had that day performed. It read: Rev. Tiemup. Greatly interested in your remarkable experiment. If successful in crossing the turnip with the pumpkin, would suggest naming the new vegetable “Turmkin,” or “Pumnip.” (signed) N.Z. Farmers’ Association. Another one, from Aunty Liz, daring John Henry to ever bring that woman near her house, was hurriedly thrust out of sight. A telegram from Uncle Joe urging the early return of the fiver loaned for wedding expenses, met with a similar fate. The bride, who is an energetic member of the Kotuku Women’s Institute, was the recipient of many beautiful and valuable presents made by fellow members, among them being, handkerchiefs made from salt bags, daintily crocheted with silk unravelled from an old jumper, supper cloths and bedspreads made with dyed flourbags, rag mats, fire screen made with cotton reels, powder bowl and jewel case made from tobacco tins, lampshades made with beads and old silk stockings, etc.’ Amidst showers of sawdust, and shingle, the happy couple, laden with billy and blankets departed on their bikes fur Punakaiki, where they intend spending their honeymoon on the rocks.
In the photo are from Left to Right: Mrs. Sullivan (Father of the Bride), Mrs. Flora Priest (Best Man), Mrs. Mary Ann Mears (Mother of the Bride), Mrs. Gladys Geary (Groom), Mrs. Connie Dense (Top Hat. Father of the Groom), Miss. Jane Molloy (Bride), Mrs. Bessie Jack (Mother of the Groom), Mrs. Blanche Dalzell (Bridesmaid), and Miss. Belle Nestor as Marriage Celebrant.Date of Photo1st of October 1935Map[1] ContributorGeoffery Bell
Bride, Miss J. Molloy; bridegroom, Mrs Geary; best man, Mrs. Priest.Rev. Tiemup, Miss B. Nestor; bridesmaid, Mrs. Dalziel; fathers-in-law, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Dense, mothers-in-law, Mrs Jack and Mrs. Mears. Following is an account (mostly true) of the ceremony. R
The following Report is a little long, but worth the read.
On Tuesday evening, members of the Kotuku W.I. entertained about 60 guests at a mock wedding, followed by a social evening. Contrary to their usual custom, only feminine visitors were admitted. Friends were present from Aratika, Moana, Ruru and Christchurch. Those taking part were: Bride, Miss J. Molloy; bridegroom, Mrs Geary; best man, Mrs. Priest. Rev. Tiemup, Miss B. Nestor; bridesmaid, Mrs. Dalziel; fathers-in-law, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Dense, mothers-in-law, Mrs. Jack and Mrs. Mears. Following is an account (mostly true) of the ceremony.
The mock wedding took place in Jack’s Hall on Tuesday evening, of Blossom Witestone Turnip and John Henry Pumpkin. The bride wore a priceless frock of embroidered calico belonging to her great-grandmother, rucked and pintucked across the bodice, tightfitting round the waist, and falling with soft bumps to the ground. Her long flowing veil of mosquito net was fastened to her hair with trails of dandelions and creeping Jenny. She carried a beautiful Victorian bouquet of closely packed creamy white blossoms surrounded by green foliage, resembling a huge cauliflower (which it was). She entered the hall to the strains of Daisy, Daisy, sung by the entire congregation. The frantic efforts of the bride’s father to give her away before the bridegroom could change his mind, nearly interrupted the ceremony, which however, happily proceeded without any further hitch until the solemn words were pronounced, “These two who have been joined together, they both have made a blunder.” The dole workmates of the bridegroom formed a guard of honour and the happy couple passed out of the hall beneath an archway of crossed shovels. Later, at the wedding breakfast, the Rev. Tiemup, when proposing the health of the bridegroom and his happy bride, concluded his speech with the following advice: “Now, John Henry, you have taken this tender Blossom to your bosom to cherish and protect. You have heard her promise to love, honour and no baby. Remember a woman will bear a great deal, but there are some things which cannot be born. If ever you feel like losing your temper, remember you should go just so far, but no father; and you, Blossom, should you ever meet with adversity, think of that good old proverb, “When the wolf comes to the door, don’t let the stork fly in the window.” In responding, the bridegroom said he could offer no reasonable excuse for his idiotic action in proposing to the bride except that it had been a dark night, and he had also been led to believe that she had a thousand shares in the Kotuku oilfields, as well as 500 in the Maori Gully dredge. He realised that he had now gone too far to draw back, but he intended to Shoulder his burden like a man. He appreciated the way his friends had rallied round him in his sorrow, although he suspected that the prospect of getting a free feed was the real reason for their presence. He was especially grateful to the bridesmaid, Miss Rose Radish, who had come on her scooter all the way from Billygoat Flat in order to be present. Speeches were also given by the best man and respective fathers. Numerous telegrams were received, among them the following: Mr. and Mrs Pumpkin, “Don’t be like us. In the course of time, have more than a picket fence running round your garden.” (signed by a local resident). Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin. Congratulations. One couple less to haunt the dryer, (signed) G. Jack. Mr and Mrs. Pumpkin: Free beer, all guests invited to sit round my fire and toast the bride, (signed) Proprietor, Hotel Chateau. Another telegram arrived, addressed to the minister, who explained that the senders had evidently been under some misapprehension regarding the serious nature of the duty he had that day performed. It read: Rev. Tiemup. Greatly interested in your remarkable experiment. If successful in crossing the turnip with the pumpkin, would suggest naming the new vegetable “Turmkin,” or “Pumnip.” (signed) N.Z. Farmers’ Association. Another one, from Aunty Liz, daring John Henry to ever bring that woman near her house, was hurriedly thrust out of sight. A telegram from Uncle Joe urging the early return of the fiver loaned for wedding expenses, met with a similar fate. The bride, who is an energetic member of the Kotuku Women’s Institute, was the recipient of many beautiful and valuable presents made by fellow members, among them being, handkerchiefs made from salt bags, daintily crocheted with silk unravelled from an old jumper, supper cloths and bedspreads made with dyed flourbags, rag mats, fire screen made with cotton reels, powder bowl and jewel case made from tobacco tins, lampshades made with beads and old silk stockings, etc.’ Amidst showers of sawdust, and shingle, the happy couple, laden with billy and blankets departed on their bikes fur Punakaiki, where they intend spending their honeymoon on the rocks.
In the photo are from Left to Right: Mrs. Sullivan (Father of the Bride), Mrs. Flora Priest (Best Man), Mrs. Mary Ann Mears (Mother of the Bride), Mrs. Gladys Geary (Groom), Mrs. Connie Dense (Top Hat. Father of the Groom), Miss. Jane Molloy (Bride), Mrs. Bessie Jack (Mother of the Groom), Mrs. Blanche Dalzell (Bridesmaid), and Miss. Belle Nestor as Marriage Celebrant.Date of Photo1st of October 1935Map[1] ContributorGeoffery Bell
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)KotukuPersonJane Molloy Miss B. NestorMrs GearyRev TiemupMrs GearyMrs. PriestMrs. Dalziel Mrs. Sullivan Mrs. DenseMrs. MearsMrs Jack Mary Ann MearsEventMock wedding at Kotuku
Category Information
Category TagWedding
From Facebook
Date Created10th June 2024
Editing is temporarily disabled
Cancel EditClick on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
West Coast New Zealand History (10th Jun 2024). Mock wedding at Kotuku. 1st of October 1935 .. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 25th Mar 2026 23:42, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/33535