WAIHI NOTES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 11, 13 March 1902, Page 19

WAIHI NOTES.

(From our own correspondent.) March 3. The Rev. Father Brodie celebrated the first anniversary of his arrival in Waihi yesterday by saying Mass for the first time in St. Joseph's new church. The church is a handsome building, and a credit to the contractors, Messrs. Mitchell and Eltringham. The dimensions are as follows : — Main building 81ft x 31ft, gallery 14ft x 30ft, sanctuary 16ft x 30, sacristy 14ft x 12ft, porch 10ft x 10ft. The walls are 16ft in the clear. The building is constructed entirely of kauri. The interior is lined with mountain rimu. The church is estimated to hold about 700 people. Yesterday morning the choir rendered Winter's Mass, and were assisted by Missea Lorrigan (2), and Misses Knight (2), of Auckland, and Misß L. Featon, of Te Aroha. Though the church is the third largest in the Auckland diocese, it was taxed to its utmost holding capacity. The Rev. Father Brodie preached an eloquent sermon, taking his text from the Gospel of the day, ' Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.' He prefaced hia discourse by returning thanks to the congregation for their co-operation in the building, and congratulated the contractors on the satisfactory way they had finished their work. He was deeply grateful to the members of other denominations for their kindly interest. At the evening devotions the church was even more crowded than at the morning service. After the rosary Miss Annie Lorrigan sang • O Divine Redeemer.' For an Offertory piece Miss Featon sang ' The Nightless Land.' The dedication of the church is to take place on April 20, and the ceremony will be performed by his Lordship Bishop Lenihan. The contract for the erection of a convent has now been let for £635 to the same firm who so satisfactorily completed the building of the church. Messrs. Mahoney and Sons, of Auckland, are the arohitects.