RELIGIOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 658, 3 October 1884, Page 5

RELIGIOUS.

PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL. The works in connection with the restoration of Peterborough Cathedral are progressing rapidly. An oblong underground chamber —not a tomb—has recently been discovered. It has sides ot stone and lime, a floor of stone flags, and a roof formed of the floor of the cathedral itself. This chamber measures 6 feet 3 inches in length, by 4 feet in width, and has a depth of 6 feet. A curved range cf steps of about two yards in extent, and hitherto quite concealed, leads down to an entrance on the flank side of the cavity. The chamber was filled with lumber of all descriptions, including fragments of the famous choir screen which fell a prey to Cromwell’s zealots, scraps of leathern work, iron, steel, half-charred wood, and a quantity of bones. Some people think that it was formerly used to keep valuables, and others that it was connected with the water storage of the monastery.

THE DOME OF ST. PETER’S, ROME. An important piece of work has just been brought to a successful conclusion in Rome in the complete renewal of the leaden envelope of the dome of St. Peter’s Church, in Rome. It has occupied twelve years, and has cost over 200,000 lire (£8000). The original covering was applied to the dome in an imperfect fashion, which made continuous repairs a necessity ; and at last it was determined to strip off the whole envelope and substitute a new one on a better system. New lead was imported from Spain and mixed with the old lead, in the proportion of one part old to two parts new. The total weight of the new cover is given at 354,305 kilogrammes ; and if it were spread out flat it would occupy an area of 6152 square metres, or about an acre and a half. In stripping off the old plates, three of them were found to be of gilded copper.