ARROW TOWN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 30, 22 November 1873, Page 8

ARROW TOWN.

On Sunday last, the 9th inst., tlie foundation stone of anew church was laid and its foundations blessed, in this town, by the Most Rev. Dr. Moran, Bishop of the Diocese. His Lordship was assisted by the Rev. John Mackay, pastor of tlxe districts of Queenstown and Arrowtown, and the Rev. J. Carden, of Invercargill. At 11 a.m. Mass was said in the PuWio Library, by the Eev. J. Mackay, after -which the Bishop preached, and administered the Sacrament of Conu*rmation; Afc 3 p.m. a la-vge assemblage had collected ronnd the site of the new church on the terrace, and immediately after a procession proceeded from the Catholic School-house to the place where the foundation st jue waslo be laid. The ceremony as prescribed in the Roman Pontifical was gone through, and ufc its conclusion tlxe Bishop delivered a discourse, in which he congratulated the pastor and people on the progress' that had been already made— for the greater part of the nave had been already erected— on the beauty of tin • design of the new church, and ou the faith and generosity that had provided the funds for the work so far. if e said it afforded him the greatest pleasure to come amongst the Catholics of the Queensfcowi aud Arrowtown dig* tAott to do the work he was tlieu engaged, in, and to giye them every

help m bis power to bring, it to completion. The people of these dutnets, he continued, had on all occasions reepbnded moat generously to the many calls he had made upon them, for the general purposes-of the diocese, and,, he was now most happy to be able to, aid them in a ' work undertaken for the special benefit of their own district In conclusion, he said : "So far I have complied, throughout the function of to-day, with the directions given in the Roman Pontifical; and "now it only remains for me to obey the last direction I find amongst the Rubrics for such an occasion as this— and it is that I should address you, and urge you to contribute towards the erection of this church which will be dedicated to God under the name and in honor of Bfc* Patrick." After having spoken for some time on this subiect his' Lordship announced that a subscription list would be opened and' that he would head the list with his own subscription of £20, stating at/the same time that he regretted his inability to give as many hundreds as he now gave pounds, and declaring that he would not feel tho least jealous at finding the amount of his subscription exceeded by m&nv amongst them. ' *n<*ujr The people came forward with alacrity, and in about ten minutes the handsome sum. of £148 7a 6d was laid before his Lordshin as 1 foundation stone offering. - f ° » In our next issue we hope to be able to give a complete list of the subscribers and the amount contributed by each one. In the evening, at six o'clock, there were devotions, after which the Bishop delivered an earnest exhortation to the practice of Christian life. The 'Wakatip Mail' gives the following description of the building -.—The church is situated at the corner of Hertford and Merioneth streets, and is in a fine commanding situation. The plan eon sists of a nave without aisles and a chancel, having the principal entrance in the west front. On either side of this entrance are the choir and baptistery, the former leading up to a gallery designed for organ and choristers. At the east end is the sanctuary, which occupies the entire width of the nave, and has a beautiful rail of ornamental ironwork The chancel, which is approached by two rows of steps from the nave is octagonal in plan, and has a large arch, springing from columns with foliated capitals and bases. The roof is open timbered, of single snan and consists of principals, with large arches springing from pinamental rxba at walls. Externally, the church is divided into a series of W 8 by buttresses on each side, with lancet windows between. The west front has a large projecting doorway, with ornamental wrought-iron hinges, lock-plate handles, &0. ,- the ingoes have bold mouldings and the doorway is finished with moulded tabling and cross. Above' this a handsome circular window occupies the remaining portion of the gable. This w-.ndow is richly traceried.'the design being intersected triangles and quatrefoils. It is recessed back from main wall and is enclosed by large arch, with moulded caps and bases. This cable finishes with a rich cross, and moulded and gabletted base On the south-west corner is a bell-tcwer and spire, octagonal in plan having i large buttresses on angles. The spire terminates in an iron finial in J the form of a cross. Two rows of ventilators are placed in the roof and on each is a small finial. The extreme length of bnilding is 63 feet, by an average width of 25 feet; 34 feet high to ridge- and 50 feet high to top of bell turret. The materials employed are local stone, plastered inside, and finished in Portland cement outside. The present contract with Mr Walker does not quite complete the buildine but it is expected to be altogether finished shortly.