DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 51, 21 December 1899, Page 4

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own (correspondent.)

December 13.

The Rev. Father Kimbell of St.| Patrick's College arrived here during the week, and is at present the guest of the Rev. Father Marnane at St. Mary's. Hia Lordship the Bishop made several brief visits to the city during the week. He presented the prizes at the convent schools on Thursday and Saturday, and presided at an important meeting of the Cathedral Coinmirte* on Friday.

The pupils of the Convent of Mercy, at Lyttelton, gave an entertainment on Tuesday last in the local Oddfellows' Hall in aid of their prize fund. A well-arranged programme of vocal and instrumental music, recitations, and two farces was submitted to an appreciative audience. The roisßinn services held at Oxford by his Lordship the Bishop and the Very Rev. Dean Foley were well attended. On Tuesday last a visitation was made to and a mission was commenced at Kaiapoi, which was continued throughout the week and terminated on Sunday last when the Sacrament of Confirmation was administered.

Mr. F. W. Petre, architect, of Dunedin, who was passing through to Wellington, was present at the meeting of the Cathedral Committee last week, and exhibited a plan of a Basilica, which if adopted as the proposed building would have capacity (to use the architect's own words) of containing within its walls any church at present existing iv the Colony, and would prove by far the most imposing structure in the city. Provision is made for a crypt, and seating accommodation for 3000 persons. Massive Corinthian pi Hare adorn the front. The main entrance would be reached by means of nine steps, and from this floor further nights of steps would lead to a gallery almost encircling the interior. The materials used would be Oamaru stone faced with blue stone, with concrete foundations. So far, however, nothing definite has been arranged.