"Lovers' reconciliations have often been made under odd circumstances, but perhaps the oddest was made [just days ago] when a transport of reinforcements was leaving Port Melbourne.

"A man and a girl who were engaged had fallen out and broken off their engagement some time previously. The girl, having some feelings of tenderness for him, went down to the pier with her mother to bid him "bon voyage". In the course of this leave-taking all was forgiven. Their only regret was that they had not made it up before and been married.

"The man raced off to find his captain to ask him if he could be married. The captain said that as they were within a few minutes of sailing, it was quite impossible. As the man turned sadly away, the captain's mother said, "Why don't you let the poor man get married?" So the bridegroom-to-be was called back.

"A Methodist minister just handy to the pier was found, and off they went to the church, where the knot was duly tied. There were no bridesmaids, no flowers, and the bride was married just as she was. There were some bystanders, who, hearing about it, hurriedly bought confetti and showered the newly married pair on the pier. They were just back at the transport in time, and the ship sailed away, separating again the pair who had been so briefly reunited."