Religious

Otago Witness, Issue 1383, 1 June 1878, Page 5

Religious

THE PROPOSED CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

At St. Joaeph'a]Ohuroh, pa Sunday, 26th ult. tho "Very Rev. Dr Moran made some remarks with reference to the above subject. He said, the Bite selected ' at the corner ' of Smith and Kattray streets for building the Cathedral was the only suitable piece of property that, ceuld be obtained for that purpose in the city. The foundations would necessarily have to be sunk to a considerable depth, but the cost would not be much more than if the building was raised under ordinary circumstances on level ground. Pillars would have to be sunk in concrete to the rock beneath, and after the foundation stone was laid the walla would be raised. When finished, the total length of the Cathedral would be 193 ft, the breadth 100 ft, and the height, including a central tower with spire, 193 ft. The height of the interior would be 44ft. There would be two towers at the main entrance from Smith street rising to a height of 80ft, and the style throughout the building would be Gothic. The estimated cost was L 26,000, and about 2000 paittte could be accommodated. What he intevMd to do for the present was to erect the navt and the aisles of the Cathedral immediately, which were to be 80ft long by 55ft wide, and that portion ought to suffice for the wants of the people for some years. It would cost L6OOOJ and be seated for 800 people. The con gregation had promised to give within a ve.ry short time L3OOO, and he himself had undertoken to bo answerable for LSO0 — thafc was L 3500, a little more than half the amount that was required for the first part of the building. It would be with some little hesitation he engaged in such a responsibility as building a Cathedral with such a small amount of funds if he was dealing with a congregation he did not know, but when he remembered what that congrega tion had done since he came to the Colony, he bad no fear whatever. No money was in hand when the Bishop's Houje was bought, but the congregation promised to pay the money needed, and more than the amount promised was paid. He- trusted implioitly to the word of hb people in this matter, knowing that they would keep their promise now as before, He expected the foundation of the Cathedral would ba finished by next Spring.