Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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St. Mary's Cathedral, Hill Street, Wellington, was founded by the Very Rev. Father Petitjean, one of the old French missioners, in 1851. Bishop Viard, the first Bishop of Wellington, was consecrated in the Society of Mary in 1839, appointed Vicar Apostolic of Oceanea in 1845, Apstolic Administrator in 1848, and Bishop in 1860. Under his care the St. Mary's was enlarged considerably. The good bishop died on the 2nd of June, 1872, and lies buried within the precincts of the Cathedral. He was succeeded about 1873 by His Grace Archbishop Redwood as Bishop. Since this time St. Mary's Cathedral has been further enlarged and restored; a beautiful altar, a fine organ, and many chaste ornaments have been placed in position, mostly at the expense of the Archbishop. The Cathedral will seat about 500 worshippers, the choir gallery will accommodate about twenty-five. St. Mary's is the only Catholic Church in the Thorndon Parish. Great attention is given to education in this as in other districts. The Convent High School, which is under the care of the Sisters of Mercy, has some thirty-five or forty boarders, and about sixty day scholars, the total number of pupils being little short of one hundred. The Parish Elementary School, which is also conducted by the Sisterhood, and is under the management of the Very Rev. Father Dawson, is attended by from 130 to 140 children. St. Joseph's Orphan and Industrial School, under the Industrial Schools Act, is cared for by the Sisters, under the direction of Father Dawson as manager. The waifs and strays who live in this institution number from ninety to one hundred. The flourishing school conducted by the Marist Brothers, in Boulcott Street, belongs to this parish. Besides the ordinary subjects usually taught, geology, algebra, Latin, and French are imparted as extra subjects at this well-managed institution, which is more fully described under the heading “Educational” elsewhere in the Cyclopedia.