WAIMATE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3, 30 January 1908, Page 12

WAIMATE

A NEW CHURCH AND A NEW PASTOR

(From our Special Reporter,)" Last Sunday was mar iced by several special ceremonies at Waimate— the induction of the new; rector of the parish (the Rev. Fathter Aubry, S.M.J, the administration of the Sacrament of L.onlirmation, and the laying of tlu foundation stone of the fine new church which is to be the chief architectural adornment of that prosperous So ath Ctiuerbury town. On the next page we 'present an engraving of a perspecli e view of the sacred edifice, as it will be when completed. The drawing was prepared specially for us by the. architect, Mr. Frank; W. Petre, of Dunedin. INDUCTION OF "REV. FATHER AUBRY. __ Just before the beginning of the 10.30 Mass, the Very Rev. Father Reg-nault, te.M. (Provincial), welcomed his Lordship the Bishop to Waimate, congratulated him on his restoration to health, and expressed the fervent hope that the Almighty God Wjould, long preserve him to continue the gocd work in the diocese in which he had now. been engaged for over twenty-one years. But the ]0y which he (the speaker) had in welcoming his Lordship was not unmixed. Speaking with much ' emotion, he said; that he felt great giief at the fact that he must resign into his Lordship's hands the authority which h'e (the Bishop 1 ) had confided to him nineteen ..years ago. He (the spea .er.) had been sent to the parish when still young and inexperienced, to follow in 1 the footsteps of one who was a wise counsellor and guide to the people,- who was an ornament to the ranks - of the priesthood, and who had done heroic woric for God and souls in South Canterbury and throughout New Zealand. Yet his ( (the speaker's) difficulties were notf, after "all, so great as' he had feared they would be. His saintly predecessor had instilled Catholic principles deep into the hearts of the people, and they extended to him (the speaker) the^ same loyalty, and (he -had almost said) the same affection as they had extended to the V«rv Re-v. Father Goutenoire. They helped him in carrying out the works that were necessary for the progress of religion and for the promotion of .the glory of God in the ip&rish. True, he hid had his difficulties as well as other priests. But the loyalty and love of the Catholic people of W?imate had enabled him to over- - come th~m all. He would not spea^ in detail of the work* that was done, in the parish, daring the past nineteen years— he would only mention • one,' the first that -he had performed there, namrly, ,bringing into the diocese and the rarish the' devoted "Sisters of - St. Joseph. Their wort h^d afforded him' the greatest" consolation in Waimate ;i it was a work of whi.?h he was most proud, and for whirl; he had iniwiy reasons ""Tjo thank Almighty God. Their schools had fTeen efficient, " especially since the advent of the .Sisters, and they stood in the front rank' of the schools of Canterbury as _the examinations by the State Inspectors testified, and - as the number -of- their puriis that occupy prominent and resr-onsible positions testified. The Sisters of St, Joseph were the best auxiliaries and co-operators 'with the priest' in every good wor?-, and if some of the parochial institutions wpre brought to a successful completion it was d.ne mainlv to thp Sisters of St. Josenh " Father" Regnault al*o thanted the assistant priests that had been sent to him from time to time— lhree of them wpre present that day, and another, though absent/was with them in spirit.. They were model priests- • zealous faithful in the performance of the- work entrusted to them. If he (the sreafcer) felt any consolation in his

number of representative persons there thab day. Thar beloved Archbishop and Metropolitan had sent one of his priests to represent him ; the dg voted Bishop at Dunedin had sent a representative ; oth^r priests had come ftom various parts of the archdiocese and of 1.1x3 diocese of Ohiistchurch ; and he (the speake,r) had. reason to 'know that other members of the clergy w.oulri have been present from the diocese of - Dunedin and Lhristchurch and from the North had not these ceremonies fallen upon a Sunday, lhat showed the high esteem in which) they hold Dean Regnault, and how they" recognise what a happy choice has been mads, in him, for a Provincial. Although, owing to the exi- . gencies, of his oiuce, Dean Hegmault was to remo\e to a more central position, he would continue to taV-e a . Leen interest in that parish and diocese, lhat would help to mitigate their regret at h'.s defarture. It would also tend to soothe their sorrow tlut he was succeeded by one who was as well kuown in the dioces,e— by Father Aubry, who had been 22 years, in Mew 2 ealand, and 15 years in the diocese of Christchuruh. He (the speaker) felt sure he would be a worthy successor to two eminent men, the outgoing rector and.- Father Goutenoire. His Lordship concluded with brief references to th l3l 3 dignity and th.? responsibilities of the priestly state, and with an exhortation to his heirers to ac cord a loyal and affectionate co-operation to their new rector. He then formally invested Father Aubry with the office of rector of the Waimate missionary disUict. Father Aubry expressed his sincere thanVs to his - Lordship for the high honor conferred upon him. He had felt highly flattered at the request to become successor in Waimate to the Ver.y Rev. Father Provincial. He thanked his Lordship for his .paternal advice, - for his confidence, his en oura&ement, and would enter upon the task of rector with a certain amount of satisfaction because it was not the first time that he had discharged priestly duties: in-Waimatc, and expressed the hope that his labors there would be fruitful. He had received a kind welcome from the peopl?, and he earnestly prayed that ha might be able to continue the good worK which Father Goutenoire and the Father Provincial had done there for the glory of G-od and the pood of souls. Having referred to the monumental work whic'i was begun by Dean ißegnault with the help and presence and blessing of his Lordship, Father Aubry said it .would be a great comfort to his hearers to know thit the ties of love that bound them to the Father Pro\iv cL.I were not to be broken ; his duties called him to another sph'ere of labjor, in which he would have the cars of many churches, and therefore of theirs. He expressed the hope that the Father Provincial would extend to their new church till its completion the benefit of his prudent counsels, his experience in the build : ne: of churches and his knowledge of the generosity of the reorle. Speaking of the Catholic schools, Father Aubry said that wherever he went he was comforted by the great work done by them, and. he saw the devoted teac.iers spending themselves imparting to children instruction in piety and good manners. It was the greatest sfSprf nW 0 T him 2° £r en T his acquaintance with the Sisters of St. Joseph. He had, always found them exf?r e ?hp a SS«f fll " 1 £ nd hh ' 6 eslee J ned lt »* honor- to wor'.: tew of £t P tV* 6 Sphere ol labor as the Sisters of St. Joseph. The co-operation of the people ii proofs g o? it W0 . r n+ Wa l W ? H w n( ? Wn; there proots of it not only m Waimate, Hit in oth-r churches of the district, and now in the laying of the fonntoration to perfect health ' Cr s res " /-■ LAYING -THE FOUNDATION STONE The foundation stone,, duly inscribed -orifi, a ± foundation .tone there were "placed aunSr^olns of th*e

p.ainful severance from Waitnate, it was that one of them, who knows the. people well, was to receive the authority that had once been confided to him tthe spea -- er). He hoped that, before leaving Waimale for good, he would ha\ c an op] ortunity of celebrating Mass in the Church, the foundation stone of which was to te laid that day. He would ha\e other opportunities of speaking to them, but, he could not now gi\e expression to 'the feelings th.it iilltd his heart. Once more he welcomed his Lordship, than ed him for his many kindnesses, and said that he vas .joined by the faithful of Waimate in praying that his Lordship might be spared for many years to come. His Lordship the Bit ho v ) thanked Father Regoiaulfc and the people for their cordial welcome and their kind wishes, which were so many prayers that he might have health and strength to curry on tho work imposed upon

him by God and the Apostolic Sec. A two-fold duty • was imposed upon him th.it day, and he appioachcdil '- with mangled feelings of rainful regret and of assured ', hope — of regret that what was "a greater good be ! a local and diocesan loss, through the departure " oE •] cne .who had labored so long and so faithfully amongst | them. Ot all his appointments" that was one. of his "■ (the speaker's) first, and- he had never hid reason to , rngret what he had done when he sent' DeVn Re- iia'iH from HoMtiVa, whrre he. had been assistant to .the pas- • toral charge , of Waimate. As the Dean h^d s-dd with . characteristic, modostv, greit woxJc had been done -there ' by the dtevoted priest whose name, was a household ■ word there and through a great part of New Zealand, and who was known by the familiar name of i' Fath-r John.' It required one of great zeal and prudence to

undertake the -task -of filling the place so long -filled by Father John. He (the speaker) would not say how i-»e \ircues and qualities possessed in so' high a degree by Father John were possessed t also by his successor. -Th.y (his hearers) ' Knew. The works" done by him at Waimate and in -the outlying districts of tine -parish testified' to his- srtill, his devotedness, his untiling energy, . his prudence. From his (the speaker's) knowledge, acquired during difftrent visitations of the parish, he was able to say that Dean • Regnault had spent ncaily £12,000 on works' ef education and religion in the district, exclusive of- the expenditure on the new church now in course of "erect'on ; he had acquired sedions of land amounting at the pressrt tinny to over 30 acres— lß in Waimate,? at the Waiau, 5 at Makikihi, and one or two" at Hakataramea. Materially, this was a splendid record!" ' All'

honor and praise/ said" his Lordship.,* .' to hinr;an;l to you.' He (the. spca'\er) -was greatly touched by t'.ie praise bestowed by Dean Regnault on the Sislers . of .°t. Joseph. Eh Lordship paid it was a happy inspiration to bring them to the district, .paid, a high" tribute . to their worth and work, and commended them to ..'the - in-coming' rector. Referring once more to, Dean Regnault, his Lordship spoke of the latter's appointment to the— responsible position of representative of the Superi-or-General in the Province - of New Zealand, inclrding the archdiocese of Wellington and -(he diocese of Christchurch. The fact that' his nomination was-' received (a<; the speaker had reason to 1 now) . both by ecclesiastics and by laity with sentiments of deep regard, showed clearly that the authorities of the Order had put the right man in the riglit place, and accounted for- the

realnr,, copies of the ' N.Z. Tablet ' and the local papers, . and a Latin inscription, of which the following is a translation : ' Pius X. being Supreme Pontiff, happily - reigning ; Edward. VII. King of England,; Wil-\ liam Lee -Pluiuaet Governor of Mew Zealand; Joseph Ward Prime Minister ; John Manchester Mayor of Waimate ; and Peter KegnauH, Provincial of the Society of Mary, Rector of the .parish ; the Revs. Paul Aubry'and James Tymons assisting ; the foundation stone of| this church to be -erected in honor of St. Patrick, was ' blessed 1 and laid" .in the presence of a great gathering of people biy the Right Rev. J. J. Grimes, Bishop of. Uhristchurch, -on the 26th day of January, 1908. Eranuc Petre architect ; Murtagh, Ford, and Mills contractors. J. ,J. GRIMES, S.M., Bishdp of Christchurch-; P. .uegnault, S.M., Frov. ; P. Aubry, S.M. ; Jas". Tymons,S.M. ; Henry W. deary; N. B. Moloney, S.M. ; F. J. Morrell, M.S.LV; John Francis O'Connor, S.M. ; J. Manchester. His Lordship the Bishop said it was a most gratifying sight' to see such an immense gathering in spite of the inclement weather. Numbers had come to mark their appreciation of the work done by Dean Regnault,' and to assist at the impressive and solemn Scriptural ceremony, for it was taken from the words of Holy Writ. That ceremony appealed to the sympathy, the faith, hope, arid love of a Catholic people. It would be ungracious on his part and unfair to them to detain them long on such a" day, but he would ex-, p.ress his deep satisfaction at the number present. His Lordship referred to the new church as an evidence of the spirit of progress among the people, pointed outthat it —was rendered necessary in order to mcct 1 the ~ necessities of worship, and appealed to his hearers 1 to show their appreciation of the great work which Dean Regnault had undertaken in a spirit of trust in them and of faith in Almighty God, and he felt sure, that neither Dean Regnault nor his successor would feel any difficulty in securing what was required. In conclusion, he urged them to give generous donations, - quoted the old motto that he who gives quickly gives twice. He had asked God in the sacred rite just finished to shower His blessings, both .temporal and spiritual, on those who would contribute. They had observed old and 1 hallowed riles in that imposing ceremony." -It carried them back to the time when, in the old lands, civilisation! and faith had fceen brought haitd in hand by missionaries sent by the Popes. They came in, the same vestments to-day and -.used the old, undying language of the Church, and taken the words of the ri,te from the Old and New Testaments. '" His Lordship concluded by emphasising the need of prayer and of thankfulness for all the good gifts received from on high, and by expressing the hope that the great work of that day would be crowned with blessings for time and eternity. Dean Regnault expressed his gratitude at the numbers that" had gathered there, despite the inclement • weather, flroon pa-rts of tih;ei district and Jxo^n towns dn South Canterbury and North Otago. -He was I also yiery grateful that so many members of other denominations had come with friendly feelings and • material amd assistance in that great work. In- that district people of different religious beliefs were in so-- . cial matters all one, with friendly feedings towards", one another. Catholics had shown great.. generosity ; members of other denominations, -before they were cal- , led on, had sent their cheques. . He thanked them one and ,all. The style of the church was unique so far as churches in. this "country were concerned. It was Lombard o-Romanesqaie". "The cost of it would-be between £6000 and £7000. The" present contract was for £4000. At present the . means at their disposal amounted to about £2100 ; by "the time they would leave he honed it would be something, like £3000, and £1000 would* remain to be raised by bazaars and collections. The first amount raised for the new -church was £560 raised by a bazaar conducted by Father O'Connell six or seven years ago ; the next £800 left by the will of the late .Mr. N. Quinn ; -and lastly, £435 left byvthe will of Mr. M. McGovern. Interest lon the bequests brought the sum up to £2100. Dean - Regnault then intimated that Sir William Steward and the Mayor of Waimate would speak. - Sir ' William. Steward saidi.it ~was a red-letter 'day. for Waimate and the Catholic Church here, and one that- hvould long s be remembered by those present. Waimate was singularly fortunate in possessing in the Catholic priests that had been in the district for the last thirty years Christian men who were not only - lovied by members of their own Church, but by all other believers .of other ' branches of the Christian , Church. They all remembered Father John, who did such, evident service not only to the Catholic Church, but to the cause of Christ and of humanity in the district. The speaker paid a high tribute to the worth . s and work of Dean Regnault, and enumerated the

churches erected by him in various parts of the dis--trict. He also passed 1 a warm eulogium on the excel- , lent work done by the lecal Catholic school, under the Sisters of St. Joseph, and said that in no other district in the diocese was so much woork done in. so short a period as in Waimate. Speaking as a member of another congregation, he rejoiced in the prosperity of the Catholic Church there ; he rejoiced in the good his friend Dean Repnai.lt was doing there, he rejoiced in his success, and congratulated him and his Lordship on that day's proceedings. He suggested a brass tablet in the church, when completed, as a reminder of him— he would subscribe to such a tablet. But the Dean wanted no monument of brass — he had a better monument, that which was written on the ,tablets of their hearts, and that would remain as leng as life would list, and te kept for generations to come. Sir William concluded with an earnest appeal for substantial offerings of gold and silver for the new." church. The Mayor of Waimate (Mr. Manchester) also addressed the gathering. ]n the course of his remarks he stated that he had not often addressed such a body of divinity as he saw there, but as representative of Waimate, it was to him a duty and a privilege to tender his congratulations to the Catholic Church. Having referred to the fine property secured by the; Church in Waimate in the» early days, he, said that while all the local churches were good, that one would be the best of all by a long way as far as cost was concerned. He looked on all churches and sanctuaries as a great asset for the places where they stand— they were the joy of the whole earth. He sipoke of the early days in 1850 or 1860 when Father Chataigner used to tramp on? foot from Timaru to Waimate, crossing rivers, creel's, and flax scrubs, visiting ri'? people and- administering to them the ordinances of religion. There were only one or two houses in Waimate then and a few sawyers in huts in the bush. The Catholic clergy set an example in the work they did, in visiting their people, also in the schools ,in the face of many disadvantages. The speaker concluded with a fervent hope that the whole -world would meet and clasp hands on the hill-top of victory and "pin in a universal song and crown Christ Lord of all. The sums contributed on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone amounted to £900. Style and Dimensions. The new church is one of a style which has been seldom used in the Dorrdnion — the Lombard-Romanesque, one of the many variations of Romanesque to be found throughout Southern Europe, and one which has \ the merit of being imposing if of sufficient size by the frequent use of the arch, the solidity of its detail, and the simplicity of its decoration. In these points it has, for the purpose of a medium-sized building, advantage over the* somewhat mere imposing lines and proportions of the Byzantine of Eastern Europe, and at the same time it is not so expensive. The new church will have a nave, 36ft x 72ft ; a sanctuary, 22ft x 32ft, with a height in both from floor to flat of ceiling of 32ft. On either side of the sanctuary- will be the sacristies, each 15ft 6in by Ifft Bin, and two confessionals will be placed * one on each side of the nave, and built out from the main walls. The nave walls, both internally and externally, will be each constructed of four largo arches, having main piers of 36in x 36in, masonry and brick, with two subsidiary piers, each of 27in x 24in, with an 18in brick panel containing the windows. The arches and piers on the outside will be constructed of Oamaru stone, plain blocked, and the voussoirs of the arches splayed with an impost cap of moulded and carved stone. Similar finish will show on the inside, only done in plaster. The ceiling of the nave will be finished in embossed metal, arranged in three shallow domes, surround.cd with shallow cofiers, the domes risine; an additional five feet, so as to make the total ceiling height at this point 37 feet. The coffers will add another - 14in to the general height of the ceiling. The whole ceiling will be carried on, a deep, decorated metal embossed cornice. The nave windows will be eight in number, each of cast iron, I2ft x 6ft, placed high up from the floor level, and provided with double openings arranged to admit two separate currents of fresh air. The sanctuary end of the nave will have an arch 18ft x 3Qft, with recessed side altars on either side. The sanctuary will have an apse formed in a 'semicircle, springing from the piers of the two arches similar to those of the nave, which vwill form the two sides of the sanctuary. The wall of Vthe apse will have seven windows, each 4ft x lift, besides two windows at the side walls similar to those of the nave. On each side of the .sanctuary will "be placed large folding doors communicating with the sacristies. The satnetu'ary ceiling; will be finished i*n enVbossed metal as described for the nave, except that there will

be only one dome in it. The front of the church building will form its chief feature. The porch will pass right -across the end of- the na\e, being- 4.9 ft 6in x £ft 6in, entered by -means of three arched openings, each 10ft x 15ft, and will be closed in by means of three pairs of hammered iron gates. • (her the central of these arches will be constructed a larger arch, , carried on two massive masonry ] iers projecting three feet from the face of the wall, containing the entrance arch, so that the" .whole rises to a height of 33 feet from the ground level. Set back in, this . arch, and filling "its head, will 1!- rlaced a wheel window, 10 feet in diameter, .filled in with stone tracery and lead light work., On each side of this central arch will i be a." similar arch, . only projectirg from the. wall face six inches, and containing two round-headed windows, each '9ftx6ft, filled in with store tracery and lead-light work. The central arch will be surmounted with cornice and pediment, over which will *be'^ placed the bel-" fry tower, having- twel\e. 10ft x 3ft lorn re windows, above which will be placed four' clock- fices, and the whole surmounted with a snuill eisjht-sided, dome, with a cross on top, . the whole rising to a height of 91 feet from the ground level. Inside. this end of the' building will be the choir gallery, ;9ft x3Cft, and" the/ organ loft, 15ft x 12ft, above which will be the ringing : floor, then the belfry and clock floor.' On. one side 'of 1 the organ loft, will be placed the choir room, 15ft 6in x 9ft, and a stair- hall of similar size. The whole building will te built in the most substantial manner, "the base to the floor level, which will be 5 feet aiboive the ground level, will - be> of monolithic concrete. The floors of the sanctuary, organ- ' loft, choir - room, stair._ lobby, and tower rooms floors will be all of armoured concrete, reinforced with steel bars and 1 expanded steel. The walls' throughout- will be of brick and, stone, hearted with cement concrete, armoured internally with' iron bands. The roofs will ■ be of Marseilles tiles, and the dome of the.- tower ~ covered "with copper. ( . ■ The first "contract, which has been signed, and whicWis now well begun, provides for completing ' and roofing ■in, finishing the interiors, t dcors, and floors, of the whole building except one the belfry and dome, and also the metal ceilings. The contract has been let" to Messrs. Murtagh, Ford, and Mills, of Oamaru, who are now. carrying out t^he building from plans drawn by Mr. Frank W.Petre, architect, of— Dun^din, and under his supeni.ion.