The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1879. THE NEW CATHEDRAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 300, 31 January 1879, Page 13

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1879. THE NEW CATHEDRAL.

§N Sunday last the Most Rev. Dr. Mouan, assisted by the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, Bishop of Wellington, and the clergy of the Diocese of Dunedin, and in presence of about ten thousand people, blessed and laid the foundation stone of a new Catholic cathedral in this city. This is no ordinary event, and it deserves, therefore, a special notice. The full particulars of the event will be given in another column, but we may here call attention to a few circumstances which take it out of the ordinary run of even remarkable things. The Catholics of the Diocese of Dunedin are neither numerous nor wealthy. Nevertheless they have undertaken the erection of a cathedral which when completed cannot fail to reflect very great credit on all who had any part in its erection. It is of large dimensions, and all who have seen the admirable design of the architect, Mr. F. W. Petbe, have readily admitted that it will be both imposing and of very great beauty-. The design is gothic highly ornamental, and its dimensions are : — Length, 230 feet ; breadth of nave and aisles, 55 feet ; length of transept 100 feet ; breadth of same, 40 ; length of sanctuary, 60 feet : height to ridge, 65 feet, of main tower and spire, 200 feet, and of the two front towers 83 feet each. It will afford ample sifting room for 2,000 persons, and will

be furnished in admirable style, and provided with sacristies and everything else requisite in a cathedral. About twelve months ago, the first collection for funds to enable a beginning to be made, took place in the building now used as a church at St. Joseph's, and on this occasion the sum of £3,500 was promis_ed and paid in part. From time to time since, the subscribers. t have paid instalments of their subscriptions as calls were made upon them, and the remainder will be forthcoming when required. The works of the foundations were sufficiently advanced to enable the bishop to bless and lay the foundation stone on last Sunday, and at his Lordships invitation many members of the congregation, as also several from other parts of the diocese advanced to the newly laid foundation stone and placed on it their contributions. The result was the magnificent offering of £2,700 of which amount no less a sum than £874, eight hundred and seventy-four pounds in cash, was paid down on the spot. This is an earnest of what is to come, and authorises the expectation that large as is the undertaking, it is not too large for the willing hands and hearts of Dunedin Catholics. Fully conscious of this, and feeling that this was preeminently the occasion to give expression to this consciousness, Bishop Mokan gracefully and gratefully availed himself of the opportunity of proclaiming to all the world his trust in his people, and his great appreciation of their faith and charity. When, after having blessed and laid the foundation stone, he addressed them, he did not set himself to prove to them their obligations or to appeal to their enthusiasm for the Church. Not at all, nor did he array arguments meant to remind them of their duty, he simply told them he had no duty to perform further than to congratulate with them on the ceremony of the day, and to explain to them the mode in which they were to make their contributions, saying he knew they would do now as they always did — that is, their duty ; and they would do it in a spirit of great generosity. He told them that had he not known his people thoroughly, and relied on them implicitly, he would never have undertaken so large and expensive a work ; and that he had undertaken it in consequence of his knowledge of their generosity towards all good works in the past. This is high praise, but not higher than is deserved. The result proved the accuracy of his estimate of them. They came forward calmly, respectfully, but with an air of edifying earnestness, and in answer to his Lordship's invitation to observe a time-honoured practice, and deposit their offerings towards the cathedral fund on the newly laid foundation stone, placed on it in cash the sum of £874, and in promises £1,850, making a grand total of £2,724 ; with the exception of £5 55., this is the contribution of the Catholics themselves exclusively. It may also be stated here that in tAvelve months, a comparatively small body of Catholics, not birdened with much of the superfluities of this world have borne the splendid testimony to the faith which is derived from contributions to their cathedral fund, amounting to six thousand pounds sterling. True, all this money has not yet been paid, but nearly one half has been paid, and the other half will be forthcoming when required and asked for. Such facts as these should not be permitted to remain hidden in one little corner of the world — such a testimony to the Catholic faith should not be permitted to lie hidden in these days of unbelief and irreligion.