NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 10

NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.

The accompanying illustration is a reproduction from a beautiful drawing prepared by Jlr. John S. Swan, architect, and shows'the exterior view of the proposed new Cathedral. The original drawill" is now on exhibition lit the }*ew Zealand Academy of l'ino Arts. It is now thirteen years since the old St Marv's Cathedral in Hill Street was destroyed by lire, and his Grace and tho Kom.'u'i Catholics of the Fmpire City fee that tho time is now npo to proceed witli the erection of a building that will be a credit not only to themselves but to the city generally. With this object in view, Mr. Swan was instructed to design a modern Basilica building, to _ be erected on the corncr of Buckle and Tory Streets, capable o| coating 2000 ectsom

To be crecicd at the corner o£ Buckle and Tory Streets, Wellington.

nOPED TO MAKE A START NEXT YEAR,

in the nave, and arranged so that each person would have a view of the high altar. Tho style of the building is "Roman," bordering on to "Florentine Kenaissance," treated in a liberal manner, and the plans liavo been approved of by Archbishop liedwood and the Cathedral trustees. Tho design was prepared to suit the site 011 the corner of Buckle and Tory Streets, but wo understand a new site is now under consideration by his Grace and tho trustees. The plans show a commodious wellplanned building, of extreme length 217 feet and extreme width 120 feet. The nave is CO feet wide by 00 feet high, and tho side aisles each 1!1 feet G inches wide. Eight entrances or exits are provided, and tho navo will aeat 2100 persons, l'ivo ctmpols aie provided for iu addition to

the Sanctuary. Tho estimates provide for steel frame ami reinforced concrete ; construction, the outside facing of walls ■ of pressed brick, and the inside facing of stone. This will give a building practically fire and earthquake-resisting. Tho ceilings will be of stamped zinc, aiiil . the roofing of slates, 'ilie two towers 1 will bo each 130 feet: high, and the wall between the towers 75 feet high from the ■ ground-line. Tho accompanying drawing of tho south and west elovations gives an excellent idea of the style and iniprcssivo dimensions of the Cathedral, it has not vet been definitely decidcd when a start will be raado with the erection of tho Cathedral, but it is hoped that tho construction of n section of the building will bo common cod next year, ,