THE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE

New Zealand Tablet, 3 February 1916, Page 35

THE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE

As was mentioned in our last issue, his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate, his Lordship Bishop Verdon, Right Rev. Mgr. Mackay, V.G., Rev. Dr. Ormond, Rev. Dr. Kaldewey, Rev. Father Sherin, and the Very Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., left for Queenstown on Wednesday morning. They had beautiful weather for the trip, and his Excellency and the other visitors were greatly pleased with the country through which they passed. The trip to the head of the Lake was made in splendid weather, and all were delighted with the beautiful scenery. They returned to Dunedin on Friday evening, and on Saturday morning his Excellency, accompanied by his Lordship Bishop Clearv, Rev. Dr. Ormond, Rev. Dr. Kaldewey, and Rev. Father Sherin left for the north by the second express. Right Rev. Mgr. Mackay, V.G., accompanied them as far as Oamaru. They were seen off at the station by his Lordship Bishop Verdon, Very Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., Rev. Father Delany, Rev. Fathers Morkane, Corcoran, and D. O'Neill, and a number of the Catholic laity. BLESSING OF A CHAPEL. In the forenoon of Tuesday of last week his Excellency the Most Rev. Archbishop Cerretti, Apostolic Delegate, blessed the new chapel at the Sacred Heart Home, Anderson's Bay. There were present his Lordship Bishop Verdon, his Lordship Bishop Cleary, and a number of the local and visiting clergy. Considering that" it was a week-day, there was a good attendance of the laity at the ceremony. An event of considerable interest to the community and the inmates of the Sacred Heart Home for the Aged at Anderson's Bay has been the erection and completion of a beautiful little chapel. Since the erection of the main building, a, large room in the building itself has been used as a chapel, but the Little Sisters of the Poor had always looked forward to having a permanent chapel erected. The work of designing the new chapel was entrusted to Mr. H. Mandeno, architect, Dunedin, and, judging by the appearance of the chapel, and the comments of visitors, the result has been most satisfactory. The style adopted is Norman or English Romanesque. This, besides being the type usually adopted by the Order of the Little Sisters of the Poor, is peculiarly adaptable to this type of building. The exterior is finished in picked, pressed red bricks, and some interesting detail has been introduced by the use of clinker bricks and herring-boned pattern round the upper part of the sanctuary. The cornice is carried out in concrete, and has the well-known scolloped Norman ornament. The roof is covered with tiles, and is surmounted by a wooden ventilating turret and a neat belfry, the latter being built in reinforced concrete. Turning to the ' plan of the chapel, the principal entrance is from the main floor of the old building. The porch here is tiled with black and white tiles, that make a pleasing entrance.;. The main body of the chapel measures 60 feet by 30 feet, and is surmounted by a most beautiful , barrel ceiling, which was specially modelled in fibrous plaster by Mr. R. S. Wardrop, of the Dunedin Fibrous

Plaster Company, from designs supplied by the architect. In this ceiling bold carved, ribs, enclosing the roof trusses, span the ceiling at centres of twelve feet. The infilling is kept fairly plain, with the exception of an arcading design, which is in harmony with the rest of the architectural design of the building. The whole of the ceiling is tinted a delicate cream, and this gives a very soft and pleasing effect. The floor is in narrow red pine, which has been all hand-dressed and oiled. A small gallery is provided for the convenience of the invalids, who will be taken in in their chairs. The walla are panelled up about five feet with picked kauri, and this forms a pleasant contrast to the plastered walls. The mouldings, columns, and decorations are carried out in Keene's cement, which allows of the arrises being kept sharp and true, a feature which is essential in all Gothic work. The sanctuary is the chief point of interest. It is semi-circular in plan, with a groined ceiling, also executed in fibrous plaster. It is lofty, and a pleasing feature is obtained by the introduction of leaded-light windows on either side, which throw a soft diffused light on to the altar. The floor of the sanctuary is of oak parquetry of herring-bone pattern, which, when polished, gives a very pleasing effect. The altar rails are of kauri, and the arcading is the motif of the design. The sanctuary is flanked on either side with octagonal sacristies, finished in red pine oiled, and provided with safe, lavatories, cupboards, and all conveniences. The color scheme of the chapel has received very careful attention. The long circular headed sashes are glazed with soft amber glass, the walls are tinted a light amber, the woodwork is oiled, and the whole, with the soft- tinting of the ceiling, produces a delightfully soft effect. The building is heated with hot water, and lit with electric light, a special feature of the latter being the introduction of electrically lighted candles and similar fittings for the illumination of the various statues. A small mortuary chapel, with a tessellated tile floor, is provided under the building. Messrs. Wood and McCormack are the contractors, and they are to be complimented on the care and interest that they have shown in their work, the woodwork being deserving of especial praise. Mr. Denis O'Connell has carried out his duties as clerk of works very satisfactorily. Altogether, the Little Sisters of the Poor are to be complimented on possessing such a beautiful little chapel.