THE NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 10

THE NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

It was announced at St. Joseph's Church on Sunday that che ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the Roman Catholic Cathedral will take place on the 26th inst-, provided the weather is favourable, and if not, on the first fine Sunday following. A procession will be formed about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the order to be observed is as follows :— First, the cross-tearer, followed by the children of the Catholic schools ; then the Society of the Children of Mary, the Hibernian Society, and the members of the congregation, with the Christian Brothers, priests, and acolytes in the rear. The Right Rev. Dr Moran preached at the morning service at St. Jsseph'a yesterday, and prefaced his sermon by a few remarks concerning the Cathedral. He said, when finished the edifice would be moßt extensive and very beautiful, having a total length of 200 feet It would resemble in shape a cross, and the length of tho transept would be 100 feet, and its width 40 feet. The aave and aisles would have a tatal width of 65 feet, and the height of the building from the present foundation, which has been laid to the apex of the roof, would be about 66 feet. The central of the three towers will be at thetraniection of the nave and the aisles, and will have a height of 200 feet. The other two towers will be each 80 feet high, and divided into storeys to contain the baptismal font, all documents belonging to the diocese, the bell, a library, and a staircase to the organloft. The central tower in the f utureisto contain a peal of bells. All this, the Biphop contiuued.would of course demand on the part of the congregation of the diocese generally, long, patient, and generous exertion ; but a great church such as the one they were ereoting could not be built in a diy, or even a few ye»rs. It would be the work of a lifetime, perhaps of many; As far as he was conceded, he did not think he would live to see it finished, but he only whhed to have the increasing congregation aeaommodated, and the ceremonies in connection with the Church performed in a proper manner, according to their circumstances. The portion of the chireh to be built first would be comfortably seated for 909 people -twice the accommodation of the present building-and he was happy to say that in all probability, when fiuished, itmtyhtbefoundtoo small, and they would be under Ihe necessity of at once starting the remainder, for the congregation was rapidly increasing Some months ago the new .church at BouJ.h Dunedin was erected, and he thought it would give considerable relief o St. Jei-eph's ; but the latter was always full, notwithstanding that 300 persons attended the South Dunedin church. The foundations, as they were now laid, had cost £1780, and a small sum still remained from the contributions received.