THE CATHEDRAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4163, 24 August 1881, Page 4

THE CATHEDRAL.

At fche Synod yesterday, the annual report of the Cathedral Commiasion was read, as follows : —

" Ifc ia with feelings of grateful satisfaction thafc tho Cathedral Commissioners find themselves, on the present occasion, in a position fco announce fco this venerable Synod the completion of tho major portion of the cathedral. U*o enlarge upon this bo far successful undertaking would be superfluous, seeiug that the building is recognised on all hands to bo not only a beautiful aud instructive ornament to the" city, bufc whicli iB of far moro importtance, a lasting testimony of the religious feolings of the community, and of the desire of a large section thereof to do honour to Almighty God by aßsi.ting to raise up a structure in his name, wherein all comers can publicly worship free of restriction. Tho date for the consecration and opening of the nave of the Cathodral for Divine h.rvice haa been announced by His Lordship the Bishop in his addresa — Xhurßday, October 27 next, being the time fixed upon, 'i he following report by the Architect will inform the Synod moro in detail as to the worka which have been oarried on since last session : —

" ' During the last ten months I am able fco I report that good progress haa been made j towards bringing the present worka towards a conclusion. Since my last report the tower, which waa then aboub forty-three feefc high, haa been taken up to its full height ; and the stone spire (the gift of the family of the late George Rhodes) waa commenced soon after the completion of the tower, and waa finiahed, so far aa tbe building was concerned, by May 20, 1881, thia being the date originally fixed for fche completion of the first contract tor nave and aisles only. The spire since then has beon cleaned down, and is now a finished work. The masonry work of the tower is completed, bufc the floorß and stairoases have been kept back in order fchafc the belle might be hung in their proper places, as fche position of the stairs depends on the spaco left by the bell-frame. The ten bellß are now delivered, and fche erection of the frame is now proceeding. An additional work— viz., tho north porch, erected afc the expense of Archdeacon Wilson, has been done ainco my last report. The main contract for navo aud aisles is also completed, except some iron work and fastenings to tho dc ore, and a small temporary addition to the vestry, which matters will be executed in about a week. All tho windows of plain glaas have beon fixed, bufc tbo stained glas3 for the rose window, and for tho Hassal and Hawdon windowa not having arrived, I have closed the openings with oiled calico. The chairs aro in the Cathedral, and fchey will be pufc together directly. The daiß for tho stalls in the chancel ia ready for the stalls, which last are now in hand, aa alao the Bishop's throne and other fittings. The gasstandaida are the only matters now to be done to render the building fife to bo used, and there will be proceedod with immediately, so that all will be completed by tho second week in October. B. W. Moukteobt, Reaidenfc Architect. Augu.t 13, 1881.' " It will be seen from the above that both tower and spire, tho munificent gifts respectively of Mr B. H. Rhodes, aud the children of the late Mr George Bhodes, are now completely finished, with the exception of soma internal arrangementa. The addition of the north porch contributes materially to the beauty cf the building. Tbis handsome gift by tho Venerable Archdeacon Wilson, iB raised to fche memory of hia deceased son. The fine peal of ten belle, by fche celebrated foundera Measra J. Taylor and Co., of Longborough, England, are now being hung. Eight of fchese are given by Mr R. H. i.bodea ; tho other two, being the treble bella, have been kindly added by Mr Edward Miles, of the firm of Messrß Milea Brothers and Co. The psal, thoroughly tested, previoua to leaving the makers' handß, has boen pronounced by competent authorities, to be very superior in sweetness of tone. Our thankß aye due to Mr 0. Acland Hoyte for hia greafc zeal in furthering the object of the donors, which was to secure a3 good and suitable a peal of bells as possible. The Oommisdon hive not entered the cosfc of erection of the bella and liability in the accounts herewith, as they aro uncertain whether tho donors will reliovo the Commission of this charge on their very limited means.

" The organ, which Messrs Hill and Sons, of London, have undertaken to build afc a coat of £1450, will, ifc is presumed, shortly be ready for shipment. The necessary charges for freight, insurance, and setting up of the instrument, will probably amount to an additional £120, making tho wholo indebtedness on fcho organ account £1570. The sum of £637 17s lOd repreaenta tho total of subscriptions paid and promised to date towards tho organ fund. In addition the Bishop has agreed to advance £250 towards meeting the above claim. Thia ia by way of loan free ol interest, and ia a moiety of fche donation of £500 by Mr F. G. Dalgety for goneral church purposea within the Dioceße. Messrs Hill and "ions required a cash deposit of £725, but have liberally agreed to allow any portion of the cost of the organ beyond that aum to remain unpaid for two yeara, oarrjing interest at 5 per cent. They, however, anticipate that fchis debt will be gradually reduced as freeh subscriptions come in. The Commission express a hope thafc before many months have elapsed this charge will be liquidated by the receipt of further donafciona. "The sum of £90 waa paid by Dean Stanloy nofc long prior to his death, telegraphic newe of which sad event only reached ua a short time ago. This money will soon be handed over, and goes to pay for a stone font, erected to the memory of hia brother, Captain Stanley, of the Boyal Navy, who hoiated the National flag at Akaroa in 1840, po taking posaeaaion of the Middle laland of Now Zealand in the namo of Great Britain. Effortß are being made to raise funds for defraying fche cost of a stono pulpit as a memorial to the late venerable Bishop Selwyn. The Hon H. B. Gresson, of Waiora, will be glad to receive subscriptions in aid of this object. The amount at present available, say £150, iB insufficient to complete this work in accordance with a handsome design by Mr B. W. Mountfort. Funda for two columns and aroheß of the nave have been supplied by tho Cathedral Guild, and by the Maria Thomson Fund— administered by the Dean— cosfc £300 in each case. Columns only, coßting £100 each, have been given by the following :— Tho late P. Hanmer, Hon J. Barton A. Acland, C. T. Dyke Acland, Archdeacon Willock, the late John Fletcher, the Weatenra family in memory of their deceased parents, a family in memory of a deceased father, a Pilgrim. The children of the late Dr Barker have subscribed £700, the cost of one of the large columns. Sundry pilgrims have contributed £479 2s lOd towards the coat of the second big column ; it is expected that ofcher Canterbury pilgrims will aupplemenfc thia to the necossary. amount. One column and aeveral archea in the nave are etill unappropriated. "The rose window is-fco he filled with stained glass, the gif fc of Mr and Mrs L. Harper. The glazing of west window to the north is fche gift of Mrs Hawdon, to the memory of her lato husband. That to the aouth ia to be provided by Lady Wilson, in memory of the late Sir J. Cracroffc Wilson. The southwest window is given by friends of tho lote Mr T. M. Hassal, also as a memorial. Thut four windows are provided for, leaving eight in the baaement and twenty-four lights in the clerestory of the nave to be filled in by future benefactors. The stained glaaa windows ore boing made and elaborated by Messrs Clayton and Bell, of London, after carefully prepared designs by Mr Mountfort, whoso general schomo has beon approved by tho Bifhopond other members of the Commiasion. Of a total sum of £1252 which has been expended on seats, fittings, music, furniture, '

surplices, kc for the Cathedral, £970 has been contributed by private individuals in the way of separate articles. Our thanka are duo tothe Union Bank of Australia for transacting buaineas in connection with fche Cathedral free of commission; also, to the New Zealand (.hipping Company, and to Messrs tihaw, Savill and Co., for bringing out goods at half freights. Much expense has also beon saved by the liberality of the proprietors of fche Lyttelton Times and the Press in charging for the first insertion only of a lengthy advertisement of certain subscriptions, which has so frequently appeared in both newspapers for the last sixteen months. It will be for the Synod to determine, during tho presonfc session, fche very important question as to the period when the functions of the Cathedral Commission shall cease, and when the responsibilities, which havo hitherto devolved upon the Commissioners, should be assumed by the Ohapter. The facfc fchat of late several questions of a debateable nature i have arisen between the two bodies, makes it the more imperative tbat a definite decision heroin should be shortly arrived at. Both bodies having severally agreed as to the necessity of shortly relieving tho Commissioners of their onerous duties, and of charging the Chapter therewith, you will be asked, therefore, to legislate in the direction indicated.

"In conclusion, tho Commission desiro to express their earnest hope that the Cathedral will not be allowod to continue in itß present unfinished condition ; bufc that churchmen and others will realise the importance if oniy from an architectural point of view, of completing the building within the nexfc few years. Ifc ia roughly calculated thafc a aum of £15,000 would finish the building of the transepts and chancel in accordance with the design of Sir Gilbert Scott. Tho amount could bo easily raised if the good example Bhown by a wellknown colonist and his relatives, wiio have largely contributed of their means to provide the cost of the mosfc prominent features of the building, were followed by ofcher members of the community more or less wealthy."

Tho following summary of receipts and payments from March, 1863, to August 17, 1881, on account of the Cathedral Building Fund, was also laid before the Synod : —

Eeceipis.

£ s. a.. Local subscriptions 23,454 10 0 English do 1,258 0 3 ] By the Bishop from tho Publio ' Grant for Ohurch Building, 1861 1,000 0 0 Synod grants on acoount ... 18,325 0 0 foundries 643 9 0 Total £44,680 19 3 Payments. Contractors (Bundry) 28,906 12 2 Works carried on by day labour 9,423 16 6 Material for interior, including tiles, glass, chairs, furniture, &o 1,436 19 6 Plant bought from contractors 160 0 0 General charges 4,063 2 9 Bank interest 136 8 4 Temporary deposits 495 13 5 Credit, balance at Union Bank of Australia, August 17, 1881 58 7 1 Total £44,680 19 3