NEW CATHEDRAL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1931, Page 5

NEW CATHEDRAL

PROGRESS AT NELSON.

STONE BUILDING IN GOTHIC STYLE. NELSON, May 16. Nelson’s new Cathedral, designed to lit* as worthy a piece of ecclesiastical architecture as there is in Netv Zealand, is necessarily a work of years, Imt the present stringency has maw the task of finding the necessary funds more difficult. It was a courageous act of faith for Bishop Sadlier and his people to setout to build such a structure m a diocese where resources are limited. Already more than (half 1 the £BO,OOO set down as the original Estimate for the completion of the work has been spent, but Jess -than a quarter of the construction has been done. Undaunted, however, the Church authorities carry on and the solemn stone pillars of what will, in a few years, be a glorious monument to all those who worked for it, continue to raise themselves to the sky as- the stonemasons proceed with their work.

The contract has been so arranged that divine services can he held in tne front part of the old wooden cathedral while construction is going on on the rear of the- new one. So far, about half oif the nave has been finished. Should n financial, scheme now being ( come \bo fruition another || £IO,OOO will he made available from a 'i Church bequest for the Contimtnnoh of the work, GOTHIC IN DESIGN, 'The building is Gothic in design, It wil Iseat approximately oi L thousand people. The spire, which will be in the centre of the Cathedral, will be about t*en fil.t higher than that of the Christchurch Cathedral, and this added to . the fact that the site itself—the Church Hill—has an elevation of about eighty feet, will make it easily, the nighest Cathedral in New Zealand, ft is on a fine commanding,, site which seems to stand sentinel over the whole of tiie town of Nelson. The stmeture is of ferro-concrete, *fa.Ud with -Tabaka marble. This ;s an nustre-looking stone, c-f a bluish hue, which keeps its colour and surface much better than does Oamaru J. stone. The stone pillars for the inter- r ior are now being erected, so that stone ..masons are busy with their'chisels and their diamond-studded saws. Mi*'Frank Peck, formerly of ' London,,, is the architect, Mr G. F. Diehl, who supervised the e action of the Bridge of Remembrance in Christchurch; is in charge of the work.

DESIGN OF INTERIOR. The interior will resemble, the intei*ior of the Christchurch Cathedral In will not he left rough as they, are there. Bush-hammered concrete will make an riven-finishing ? "surface- rln harmony with the dignity of the built} ing- • ..... At the near portal the likenesses of . prominent ecclesiastics associated withthe Diooese of Nelson are being fashioned. Bishops Selwyn, Hobhouse, Suter, Mules and Sadlier are to Be there, while the heads, in effigy, oi Archbishop A vet-ill and his Majesty King George wil mlso find a place. TO RESIST EARTHQUAKE. That portion of the building which was erected when the big earthquake, ,- of 1929 occurred stood the shock well and the contractors ' anticipate -no trouble from this source. As a safeguard, however it lias been planned to build the steeple in some light steet fabric. At the present rate, of progress the nave should be ready for use In about two years. The present plans are that a temporary roof' shall be built over it so that it can be used when the remaining portion of the old wooaen building is pulled down. It will be cut off and the chnnc-el moved up into position for use in the new building. < With a temporary roof over; the. part ■ which is finished there should Be reasonable facilities for Divine service tintil a magnificent new Cathedral, set on a site as grand, marks the centre of Church life in the Diocese of Nelson.