OPENING OF NEW CHURCH AT RANFURLY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 18, 3 May 1900, Page 6

OPENING OF NEW CHURCH AT RANFURLY.

4 (Speoial report ) Royal weather favored the ceremonies connected with the opening of the new Catholio Chnroh of St. John the Baptist at Ranf urly on Sunday hist. The new Bacred edifice is a handsome and well-finished building, placed on an excellent Bite quite olose to the fast-growing township which has sprung up within the past two years on each side of the .railway line that outs its way through the Maniototo plain. The work of erection of the church was intrusted to Mr. James Mitchell. The transept is 40ft long by 24ft wide, and the chancel 14ft by 28ft, which includes a sacristy with outside entrance, whilst the porch or main entranoe is commodious. The chancel is divided from the main building by arches. These with the lanoet-shaped windows give the building a very nioe appear* anoe. The ohuroh is of timber, with concrete foundations, the walls being 12ft above the floor level. The roof rises to a height of 24ft. The walls and ceiling are close lined and panelled and finished with oornice. The whole of the interior is painted and relieved, and gives a pretty effect. The ohuroh will accommodate about 150 persons. The workmanship and materials are of the best, and reflect credit upon the contractor. The clergy present at the opening oeremonies were his Lordship Bishop Verdon, the Very Rev. Fathers Sheehan and O'Neill, and Father Murphy, Adm., St. Joseph's Cathedral. Father Howard was unavoidably absent on sick duty in a distant portion of the district. The churoh was crowded in every part at the Pontifical High Mass at 11 o'clock, at which the Bishop was celebrant, Very Bey. Father Sheehan assistant priest, Very Rev. Father O'Neill deacon, and Rev. Father Murphy subdeaoon. The Mass— Webbe's in G— was tendered in excellent style by a choir from Naseby. Father Murphy preached the occasional Bermon— a telling and appropriate discourse on the words of Jacob in Genesis xxviii., 17 : 'How terrible is this plaoe I This is no other but the house of God and the gate of Heaven.' The rev. preaoher opened with detailed references showing the great reverence entertained by the Jewish people of old for the Temple of Jerusalem, and in the development of his theme dwelt in forceful and eloquent terms upon the vastly greater dignity of the Catholic, as compared with the Jewish faith, and showed the necessity for greater reverence in a Catholio church which becomes the dwelling-place of the Saviour of the world in the great Eucharistio Sacrament and Sacrifice. He concluded with local references suitable to the occasion. In the evening there was again a crowded congregation from every part of the district. After the recitation of the Rosary solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by the Bishop, assisted by Very Ut- v. Father Sheehan and Father Murphy. The music proper to the occasion, as well as several appropriate hymns, were nicely reudered by the visiting choir. The sermon was preaohed by the Very Rev. Father O'Neill from a text in the Gospel of the day (John x.) : ( And other sheep I have that are not of the fold ; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voioe, and there shall bo one Fold and one Shepherd.' The sermon was a powerful exposition of the unity which has down through all the ages of the Christian era been one of the distinguishing marks of the Holy Catholic Church. At the close of the Benediction an address was read to the Bishop by Mr. P. Bleach, on behalf of the Catholics of the district, congratulating his Lordship on his safe return from Europe, and his success in securing the services of so many young priests for his extensive diocese, and thanking him for his practical interest in the spiritual needs of the Catholics of the Maniototo. His Lordship, in reply, thanked them for their kind address, congratulated them on the evidences of material progress which he witnessed all round in a place where two years ago there was neither township nor church, and complimented them on the happy selection of a site for their new church, which was most convenient for the district. The moneys collected in connection with the opening functions amounted to £130. The new church, which cost between £400 and £500, is not alone well-finished, but is well furnished besides, with handsome seats, a fine new American organ (£25), with very ornamental case, etc., and is now practically free from debt. After the close of the ceremonies in the evening, when the members of the congregation were returning to their several homes, two sad accidents occurred which cast a gloom over the district. In the pitchy darkness of the night, a drag conveying visitors back to Naseby was overturned, with the result that one of its occupants, Mrs. B. Sullivan, had both legs broken. On the Wedderburn road the driver of a buggy endeavoured to pass another going in the Bame direction, when the home attached to the latter took fright and bolted. Miss L. T. Mcßride, who was going on a visit to her sister at the Wedderburn Hotel, was thrown out of the buggy near the township. When she was picked up life was found to be extinct, and from the terrible nature of the injuries to the poor young lady's head her death is considered to have been instantaneous. The deepest sympathy is felt for the relatives of the deceased. May her soul rest in peace.

Tussioura. — The most wonderful remedy of the age for ooughs, colds, bronchitis, influenza, and all other affections of the throat and lungs. Those suffering should obtain it at onoe. Give it a trial.— # *« The first lager beer brewery in the Colony has been started in Auckland by Messrs. Hancock and Co., who are now prepared to Bupply a beer which, it is claimed, is superior to the imported artiole. It is a matter for consideration, too, that nearly the whole of the money spent in the produotion of this beer is circulated in New Zealand, a strong argument in favour of supporting local trade. — ***