CEREMONY AT WREY'S BUSH, SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 4, 18 May 1883, Page 23

CEREMONY AT WREY'S BUSH, SOUTHLAND.

On Sunday, the 13th inst., the ceremony of laying the foundation etone of a Catholic church at Wrey's Bash was performed by Rev. Father Kehoe, pastor of the district. This event was looked forward to for some time back by the residents of this new settlement as a partial realisation of their anxious wishes to have a church in their midßt ; and although the weather was anything but propitious, it was wonderful what a large number put in an appearaace on the occasion. It was one continued downpour of rain during the morning. Towards 10 o'clock it changed into occasional showers, and rained heavily during Mass and sermon. It was not surprising that the spirits of the congregation seemed somewhat damped. The piiest, however, did not appear to be much put about, as in referring in his sermon to the events in connection with the festival of the day, he took occasion to draw the attention of his audience to the disturbance in the elements that took place at the coming down of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles, adding that the heavens seemed now to approve of the work they had taken in hand. And as if to prove the truth of his words, scarcely was Mass finished when the rain ctased. The procession was then formed, and wended its way from the school to the site of the church. The laying of the foundation stone was carried out according to the Roman Ritual. The patron of the church is St. Peter. On the conclusion of the ceremony the pastor gave a short, earnest, and, judging from the'results, telling address. The respectable sum of £39 10s. was contributed to the building fund on the occasion. Although the church will not be of a very imposing style of architecture, the interior accommodation will be all that can be wished for. It will seat about 200 persons, and there- will be sanctuary, confessionals, and sacristy,— the architect being F. W. Petre, Esq , of Dunedin. The foundations, of concrete, are already put down, and seem to be done in a substantial and workmanlike manner by the contractor, Mr. W. Markey. The Messrs. Kean, Egan, Hailes, and Cody are energetic members of the Committee, and are always at their post when wanted. The church will be finished by the end of September next. The Most Rev. Dr. Moran has promised to open it, and I may add the people here will be so glad to give bis Lordship a hearty welcome.