FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 10

FIFTY YEARS AGO

PLACES OF WORSHIP ' buildings in' CITY gl CATHEDRAL AND SYNAGOGUE ! Important developments in Ihe pro-' gress in the city of the Roman Catholic and Jewish faiths took place hall a century ago. when extensive additions to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Wvndham Street were being carried out and final arrangements were made for the erection of the present Jewish synagogue? in Princes Street. St. Patrick's Cathedral was the first Roman Catholic church in Auckland, the foundation stone being laid by Bishop Pompallier in 1846, and the building completed in 1848. Additions were made to the structure in 1884, amounting almost, to a ne.v building, and again in 1908. The Hkrai.u 0 f September 16, 1884. contained the following paragraph.— "Good progress is being made by the contractor with St. Patrick's Cathedral. The roof is almost on, and the tower is assuming dimensions which make it a striking landmark in the city. It i s now up about 130 feet, 15 feet more brickwork has to be added, and when the cross is placed in position the height will be almost 150 feet. . . The new building runs into the old edifice at a right angle, and part of the side wall will be knocked in and ornamental pillars erected to support the roof. The church proper will then be in the form of an L, with the sanctuary at one end of the present building." Prior to the opening of the present building in Princes Street in 1886, the synagogue was in Emily Place. In the same issue of the Hf.RAT.d was the following item: —"Yesterday afternoon the final arrangements were made at the office of Mr. E. Hartley, architect, in connection with the erection of the' new Jewish synagogue, Mr. Thomas Colebrook's tender for its erection being accepted at £3OOO. About £ISOO is still required, in addition to the present subscriptions, before the synagogue will be clear of debt, and at the annual meeting of the Hebrew congregation on Sunday about £l3O additional was subscribed for the same praiseworthy object."