ST. PATRICK'S, PALMERSTON NORTH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 45, 12 November 1924, Page 33

ST. PATRICK'S, PALMERSTON NORTH

THE ASCENT OF THE CHURCH SPIRE (Part IX. (From our own correspondent.) The spire was completed on October 15; would you like to climb right to the top before the scaffolding is removed? Come along then and we’ll have a great old time. Well here we are at the door, but it’s locked. “Coo-ee Mr. ,Hickey,” you know who he is don’t you? foreman of works on week days and “guide” on Sundays; and a “jolly good fellow” all the time. Here comes Mr. Hickey and he anticipates our request; “Want to go up?” The door is unlocked and off wo go up the concrete steps to the choir. “Do you wish to ascend on the inside or the out?” asks the guide. “The inside is safe but decidedly “tame”; and the outside —well you can’t go up if you’re the “giddy” sort.” “The outside Mr. Guide, we’re not at all “giddy” ; and the more “thrills” the better” is the decision of all. A ladder in the choir takes us out through the windows on to the scaffolding; now be careful and don’t break your neck; Mr. Hickey doesn’t carry “'spare parts” in his pockets. There’s Father Doolaghty down on tire footpath ; and it’s worried he’s looking.” Cheer up Father! we’ll be alright.” Rather breathless with the unusual exertion we reach the top of the first ladder; we are now at the base of the niche which will soon be occupied by a life-sized statue of Saint Patrick. Ladder no 2 ends at the top of the niche and the finish of the tower; the spire begins here; and as we go up the next ladder we pass what is already christened the “bell-room.” Up, up we climb; the bell-room is beneath us now. Another ladder —the last long one, brings us a series of “thrills” for it wobbles and bends at every step. About three parts up this ladder we come to the end of the spire proper ; it breaks no now into what we’ll call three “spirettes” (hear Mr. Hickey’s voice

"smiling" at our crude description of architecture). They are made of solid concrete and the centre one is much higher than, the two outer ones. Finishing the wobbly ladder we come to' a nice little short one; putting it beneath us we arrive at the top of the crosses on the outer "spirettes." Another short ladder • brings us to our journey's end — summit of the. centre cross; it is 175 feet from the foundation and 160 feet from the footpath level. The cross itself is 8 feet high and has a span of over 5 feet. Well, how do you feel ? as though' you were standing on the crest of Mount Everest? or perhaps Caesar's words suit the occasion: Veni, vidi, vicil But honestly don't you think the spire looks much higher than it really is? one would enjoy a climb three times as high. It is not a good day for a view but we can see every part of the borough; how small and quaint everything looks! The sight of these three crosses towering so high above the town must bring a. thrill of pleasure to every Catholic heart. All good things come to an end and we must start on the downward journey; it only takes a few minutes and here wo arc at the church door again. All is over; and there's Father Doolaghty still standing by the fence. "We didn't set anvwliere near to heaven, Father." "Well it's a mighty long time you were coming back; "and I've been Availing all this time in case you fell off the ladder and I'd be "needed." "Faithful priest! a martyr to duty! we didn't need you this time, but thanks, all the same." Let's move a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. M.- Hickey for acting as "guide" ! and off we trot to our homes. The climb was worth the trouble wasn't it? How nice it will be when the centuries have slipped by and this church is falling into decay; and "when some traveller from Mars stands on the broken arch of Fitzherbert Bruise and sketches the ruins of Saint Patrick's "to tell how" once upon a time" we ascended the spire of that historic building. But we'll be pretty "historic" ourselves by that time.

NEW CHURCH OF ST. PATRICK, BROAD STREET, PALMERSTON NORTH, Now in course of erection at an estimated cost of' £31,000. The steeple is 160 ft high, and will be the highest land-mark in the Manawatu district. The building will comfortably seat 900, and will accommodate twelve to thirteen hundred people if required.

WEDDING BELLS NOONAN—PULLAR.. St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Dunedin, was the scene of a very pretty wedding on July 30, when Mr. John Joseph Noonan, only son of Mrs. and the late Mr. J. Noonan, Dunedin, was united in the bonds of Holy Matrimony to Miss Phyllis Winifred Pullar, second youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Pullar, Dunedin. Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Delany, who also officiated at the marriage ceremony assisted by Rev. Father Tylee. Mr. A. Vallis presided at the organ, and during Mass Mrs. S. Foote sang Gounod’s “Ave Maria.” The bride, who entered the Cathedral on the arm of her father, wore her Child of Mary’s cloak, placing it at the foot of Our Lady’s shrine on approaching the altar. Her frock of ivory georgette was tastefully arranged with one sleeve of silver lace caught at the low waist line with orange blossom and forming a side panel falling almost to the ground; the other sleeve and waterfall being heavily embroidered with crystal beads. The veil was arranged in place with guipure lace and orange blossom, and she carried an early Victorian bouquet of spring flowers and maidenhair fern. The- bridesmaids were Miss Mildred Pullar (sister of the bride) and Miss Cissie Noonan (sister of the bridegroom) the former wearing a frock of peach taffeta and silver lace, and the latter amethyst taffeta with silver lace. Both wore grey georgette bats to tone, and carried

early Victorian bouquets. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. J. J. Foley, as best man, and Mr. J. V. Toomey (Invercargill) as groomsman. After the ceremony the guests were received by the bride's parents at the Strand Salon, where the Rev. Father Delany presided, and proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom. Congratulatory telegrams were received. Musical items were rendered by Mrs. S. Foote and were much enjoyed, Miss Cissie Noonan acting as accompanist. The bridegroom's present to the bride was a fur coat and ivory-bound prayer book and the bride's present to the bridegroom was a solid leather suit case. The first bridesmaid received a gold wristlet watch, and the second bridesmaid a gold brooch set in rubies and pearls. The wedding presents were numerous and costly, including several cheques. Later Mr. and Mrs. Noonan left by motor for the North, the bride travelling in a fawn frock heavily embroidered and trimmed with fur, and smart spring hat to tone.