ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 5, 31 October 1890, Page 20

ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL, DUNEDIN.

On Friday evening, at 7 p.m., the stations of the cross recently received from Munich, were canonically erected by bia Lordshin the Bishop assisted by the Rev. Fathers Lynch. Adtn., G.lden and O Neiil, in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin. We have already spoken of the stations a<? admirable samples of the particular branch of art Some further details, however, may not be uointeres ing to oar readers" Bach atation.f ramed in a Gothic arch of white and gold.supportedon pillars, and surmounted by a cross, forms a group in relief, the prominent figures standing boldly out— those of less interest seen behind them not being quite co mucn raised from the back-ground, which is painted bo as to suggest the surroundings among which the particular event toot place. The first station shows us our Divine Lord led away from niate a judgment Beat. His ia a sublime »nd beautiful figure, clad ma white vestment, with a mintle of led, and wearing round hit bead the crown of thorna. The figure of the Saviour, we need not say, occupies the chief place in every group, and the identity both of person and dress is well preserved all through. Pontius Pilate is shown discharging his responsibility by washmg his bands in a basin presented to him by a page. He is arrayed in a robe of light buff colour. His air is imperious und grand, and suitable to the position be occupies. The low-standing of the guard, or executioner, into wnose keeping the Savi ,ur has beeo committed, iashowa by his seminude condition. He, however, wears a kind of tunic, green in colour in the second station two of these low officials are seen placing the cross on Jesus' shoulders. In the back-ground, under a blue eky, the buildings of a stately courtyard are represented. In the wira station the Saviour has fallen to the ground, looking pathetically out upou the people. A half-naked guard raises a scourea to strike hin*. and two Rum in soldiers are seen in the background— that of a street. In the fourth station the Blessed Virgin meets oar ix>rd. She wears a snow-white veil, a mantle of blue, and an undergarment of pale purple ; Her teet are bare. The artist, as also in the case or the Jsavtour, has succeeded in giving her a face and figure of sublime beauty, delicate and pure in *n extreme degr c. In the Odcfc-ground, at the foot of a tower, one of the holy women is seen clad in a red mantle. Tbere is also a soldier and the guard or executioner. In the fifth s'aticm Simon of Gyrene appears, a quaint figure clad in a purple tunic. Iv the sixth, Veronica, kneeling at the toet ot Jesus, presents him with a white cloth. Her attitude is graceful. Sac wears a turban of pale yellow and blue; a white handkerchief is round tier neck, hor mantle is green with gold stripes and her under-dress dark pink. Simoa of Gyrene, with an effort, holds up the eros«, but the ex-cm ioner is impatient, and plica bis scourgp. In the seventh station the Saviour has fallen the second time : tt,e executioner agai > plies his scourge. The back-ground is a "Kingly preity, with white clouds in a blue sky, feathery trees, and tar-off bills—but the sinister figure of a Jewish elder is also seen tnere, dark, lowering, and sardonic. In the eighth station, a woman in a gl een dress, with t» half-naked child, kneels at ihe Saviour's .eet. He holas up His baud ia blessing. Another woman, in a blue mantle, is seen behind the cross, appealing by her attitude to heaven in every station one or iwoif the executioners is close beside toe saviour. In the nioth station, the Savour has fallen for the third time— now completely exhausted. Simon of Cyrene, still holdios the cross, alao appears fatigued. The executioner clutches the baviour s vestment roughly, and drags Him up, also plying his source A Koman soldier, with drawn sword, stands io the back-ground In the tenth station two executioners strip the Saviour of His vestment while Uis face is turned upwards in mute proest. In the eleventh station the Saviour is stretched on the cross.to which His feet have been nailed. H IS hands are still free, but two execunoaera grasp His arras iwo figures ot Jewish elders are seen in the backgrouni both imposing m a high degree. One, with a flowing black beard wear* a turban and robe of buff, and carries in his hand the paper on which the letters, I. N. R. 1., are written. The other is clad in purple, aud his beard is grey. Farther back stand j a Boman soldier. The twelfth station shows toe Saviour dead upon the cross. The Blessed \ irgin stands on His right, St. John on His left, and the Magdalen clasps His feet. The figures, beautiful and pathetic beyond description, are well thrown oat by a background, in which the blue of the eky has been obscured, suggesting the supernatural darkness that occurred. The thirteenth station is also Bublimely pathetic and beautiful. ,Tne dead Christ lies upon His mother's knees. A speechless agony is written on the Virgin's face. The dead body lies as pure and peaceful as that of a little child asleep, but the right arm hangs hfelpsa down, and in the hand is the print of the nail The mark of tne spear is also in the side. In ihe fourteenth station the body of the Saviour ia laid in the sepulchre by two disciples the one an aged man, representing Joseph of Arimathea, the other young and handsomely attired, representing Nicodemus The Blessed Virgin, comfoi ted by St. John, stands in the background We do not pretend, however, to have described the stations in full detail. To do so, would need more time and space than we have at our disposal. Wethiok, nevertheless, we may claim io have given such particulars as will furnish our readers with a fair idea of them

Mr. P Burke announces that be has taken a long lease of Barrett's Hotel, Christcburcb. The house is well know* as conveniently and agreeably situated, as well as afford.ng ample accommodation of the most approved kind for a very large number of guests. It will now be renovated and rendered still more deaervine if possible, of a high reputation. The culinary department which Mr. Burke is particularly w^ll qualified to superintend, will be especially attended to, and will leave nothing to be desired. The house will in every department be among the first in the colonies. Mr. Davitt has sent half a million cabbage plants to districts in Ireland moat affected by the potato blight. Chinamen who passed .through Montreal in bond lately spoke very bitterly of being treated with such indignity, and said their Government would be likely to retaliate.