THE CATHEDRAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6533, 3 February 1882, Page 5

THE CATHEDRAL.

+ A large stained glass window, presented to the Ohriatohuroh Cathedral in memory of the late Mr Joseph Hawdon, was received from 1 England, via Melbourne, a few days ago, and the work of putting it in i position was begun yesterday. It is plaoed at I the western end of the building, on the north I side of the door. The window contains two lights, eaoh about 13 feet in length and two feet in width. The left hand light contains a large figure of St John the Baptist, beneath which is portrayed a scene from hit life. On the right hand light is a representation of St Philip, and beneath the figure a group illustrative of the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuoh. Under these are two inscriptions, separated by a band of ornamental work, "In memory of Josoph Hawdon, who died at Ohrietohuroh, April 12,1871," and " Bepent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand ; believe that Jesus Christ is the eon of God." The window, whioh is a fine specimen of art, is from the establishment of Messrs Clayton and Bell, Begent street, London. The organ belonging to the ohurch of St Mary, Merivale, whioh is at present in use in the Cathedral, will be removed to Merivale early next week, and is to be opened in that church by a special service on Feb. 21. The erection of the Cathedral organ is so far advanoed that a portion of it will be ready for use en Sunday week. Several rumours have been recently circulated in Ohristohuroh as to the damage done to the spire by the recent shocks of earthquake, and the consequent insecurity of the structuro. It is asserted that the spire, on the oooasion of a ringing praotioo, has been seen to sway about in an alarming manner, and that it was so muoh damaged by the shocks it has already reoeived that a very little more would bring it down. Undor these oiroumstances, it may perhaps be as well to state once again tlw amount of injury the spire has really sustained. First, it may be premised that no damage whatever was done by the shook on Wednesday last. The first of the two rather smart shakes some weeks ago, broke off a portion of the stone oap just below the iron cross. This cross is firmly fastened to an iron rod 22 feet in length, passing through the upper portion of the spire, whioh is oomposed of three solid blocks of stone. At the point where the hollow part of the spire begins is a kind of iron plate, to whioh the rod above mentioned is

fired. From, this plate prooeed four iron bars embeddsd in the walla of the ipire, and braced together at tho lower end* by means of ban running aoross. Thus the whole upper portion of the spire may be regarded as one solid mass. Tho shook caused the rod bearing the cross to vibrate, and as was before mentioned, broke off a piece of tho stone cap. A part of one of the stone ribs on tho outside of the spire was also br >ken. The oross, on aocennt of losing part of the support of the cap, though perfectly safe from falling, is, as it were, more susoeptible to any vibration than when the cap was intact. Accordingly, when the bolls are rung, this cross, but not the stonework, sways slightly, and its movements, whioh are occasionally visible from below, are supposed to result from a motion of the whole structure, instead of being, as is really the case, confined to the cross alone.