WAIWHETU PROGRESS.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 38, 27 February 1930, Page 5

WAIWHETU PROGRESS.

OPENING OF NEW CATHOIJXJ

CHURCH HALL.

Further progress in. the settlement of the- Waiwhetu . district was made on Sunday afternoon when the now Catholic Church hall was opened by Si» Grace, Archbishop O 'Shea.

The Archibishop was met outside tke hall by the parish priest of the ChuTeh of St. Peter and, St. Paul, Father Daly, and by Father Fallon, and meia* bers of the local £hureh Commatte«, and was invited to onicially unlock the door of the tall.

Followed by the large congregatio»> His Grace marcihed np the centre* of the 'h-alli, and after robing, proceeded to, bless, the building.

I Father Daly..'-extended a jwarm ■weir teotae to tie^AreliTbisliop and thanked. (him for the honour of ihis presence. He said that for, theVpast 16 months kJ/tus3 had been celebrated" in the State School arid he expressed his thanks to the authorities for their consideration. During that time the congregation 'had .grown very rapidly .in the district and it was foujad necessary to provide ■better accommodation. The hall^; which was now-opened/had been, commenced in Oet'pfber last, the contract; price whicii was' £1674. .: ' -

/Ar&hlbishop O'Shea said-it-was a great pleasure -for- him to be present on this memorable occasion, and that it was a sign ;of their faith in itho f utm'e '- of this district 'and of ;^ tho

church. ' The progress of t&e district had been phenomenal and he was quits sure that -ha would not be disappointed in 'the manner in which t-he ; people would carry out their obligations. Whilst. there were great signs of material prosperity in the district, that alone, was. not enough, as they .must have spirifbaal prosperity if t&ey ■vpould Succeed as a nation. -History was full of examples of nations that, had'neglected their spiritual needs and they had air ended in ruin. Christian greatness, he said,-is the only true prosperity. vOne need not be a prophet to say that in a very fey years tihis will be the-centre of\a great parish, he continued; -■ HeuTged his hearers to make good use of the hall, both for tt-eit spiritual needs, and for their social enjoyment. Speaking of t>he sacrifices they had made iri building the hall, Hij Grace reminded his hearers that the happiest people are not those 'who £rave ample pleasure,, >bui those: who make sactfifices for their i religion.. In conclusion he. congratulated the on the good work they had undertaken; also jFat-her Daly who," he .said, had shown great foresight in securing sfticir a fine property, and said that of. all the works he. had undertaken in the parish, none were greater than this. He ; also congratulated tie architect, Mt. T. J. McOosker, and the builder, Mr, T. McKillip^ oh the manner in which the building had: been carried out. Se had "much pleasure in declaring the hall open and hoped tlhat *f or many years it would be of profit,-to the people. : -^ '■- . .■

The Very Rev. Father'Connolly V.F> (Kilbirnie) congratulated the people on •theitvgood wpTk and said that''they were pioneers and, would derive great satisfaction .from the fact and a ciiarm

that could never* be taken from them.

Mr. O'Connor secretary of the Churcfe Committee, voiced the pleasure of the people and thanked His Grace for his presence. He spoke of the developments tthat had taken place in the last few years and thanked those who had assisted in bringing about tihe building 6f the. hall.-. He hoped** that in a few more, years His Gface would-be called upoii to open further additions to. the building. ' . . ■ '"■

Tdi'e hall has a frontage to the Wai-w-hetu Road and; is of very neat design. Tibe-main hall is 60ft x 30ft and is finished with sft heart of rimu dado, the walls and ceiling being plaster •board. A very pleasing appearance ia given to the walls by a colouring of light green which "is very restful to tie. eyes. The anti-rooms include a ■vestry leading .from the chancel; "a spacious kitchen, -dressing!rooms and all

necessary, conveniences

Mr. T. JT. McCosker is the architect, and Mr. T. M,cKillip the builder.