DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 12, 20 March 1902, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) March 17. The members of the St. Patrick's branch of the H.A.C.B Society received Holy Communion at the seven o'clock Mass in the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday in honor of the feast of Ire* land's patron saint. After Mass an adjournment was made to the neighboring nail of the Order, where breakfast waa partaken of. As guests of the occasion were his Lordship the Bishop and several of the clergy. I am told that at a conference of the clergy held on Tuesday last at Leeston two priests of the diocese offered to go to South Africa as chaplains, in the interests of our troopers. Hia Lordship the Bishop, who presided, was understood to explain, whilst sincerely thanking them for the zeal and devotion to duty which pro* moted the offer, that the necessity of such a course did not exist, as our Catholic trcops were well cared for at the various mobilisation camps and ports of embarkation, and that at the seat of war a number of Catholic army chaplains were on duty, so that the spiritual welfare of our Catholic soldiers would be well attended to. The Pro-Cathedral was crowded to excess on Sunday evenings last when Vespers were commenced ha'f an hour earlier. A very fine panegyric of Sfc. Patrick, Aposile of Ireland, was preached by Rev. Father J. O'Connell, of Waimate, after which Rossini's 'Stabat Mater, in its entirety, was rendered in a very praiseworthy manner by the choir under theconductorship of Mr. H H. Loughnan, Miss Funston presiding at the oreran The soloists were : — Soprano, Miss J. Moir ; tenor, Mr. Dossiter ; bass, Messrs. McNamara, and Whitworth (la f e of Hobart), Quartets were sung by Mcwdames Mead and H. H. Louphnan, and MeFsrs. Schwartz and McNamara, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by his Loidship the Bishop, assisted by (he Rev. Fathers O'Connell and" Gralerne. Owing to the inclemency of the weather the throwing open for inspection of the works of the new Cathedral announced for March 1) was postponed until last Sunday. After three o'clock a large number of people availed themselves of the opportunity afforded and assembled on the site to view the immense work that has bo far been accomplished. His Lordship the Bishop and several of the clergy were present, and a number of collectors busied themselves receiving contributions to the building fund, about £70 being thus received. The plans by Mr W. F. Petre, architect of the Cathedral, were hung up at the eastern end of the building, and were explained by Mr Jamieson and Mr Hickmotb, clerk of works. His Lordship Bishop Grimes gave a Bhort address. He expressed his great gratification at meeting so large a concourse for the first time within the walls of the Cathedral. He could not but refer in terms of praise to the admirable manner in which the work was being carried out by the contractors. They had imported a good deal of machinery, some of which had not been before used in the Colony, and the work was progressing in a most satisfactory manner. As regarded the plans which had been prepared by Mr Petre, who had won a high reputation as an ecclesiastical architect, they had been the subject of admiration by several architects who had seen them. As to the all-essential item of money, they bad now some £24.000 in cash and promises. Of this they bad £15,000 in cash. It was just about a year ago since the foundation-stone was laid, bo the work both of collection and of carrying on the building had been pushed on as rapidly as possible. He urged that as the system of collecting carda now adopted simply meant the payment of sixpence per week, that all who were in receipt of wages should endeavor to subscribe that amount. If this were done they would have the whole amount of £40,000 collected in two years.