SOCIETY OF ARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 154, 2 July 1896, Page 2

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

ANNUAL MEETING.

Last evening the annual meeting of the Auckland Society of Arts was held io tha room of the Society in the Ark Gallery, There was a large attendance of members, Mr E. W. Payton, President), occupying the chair.

The aasual report, read by the Secretary (Mr Stuarb), showed thab there were on tha roll 79 honorary and 115 working members as against 68 honerary and 91 working members last year. The report statsd th*6 the results of the last exhibition were very satisfactory, the attendance being the larges b for some years past. The statement of accounts showed thab tho receipts for tbo year amounted to £428 9a 7d, which left after defraying all expenses, a substantial balance of £74 19s 6i to carry forward.

Io moving tho adoption ot the report, the Cbairmaa made refereuco to some letters by correspondents in the press attacking the management of the Society. Ha said that the artinte would be glad of the cooperatioa of the public in any way is the management, and compared the position of the Auckland Society with those in fcha South to chow the success that had attended tha management of tns Joed Committee. Mr Gregory seconded theadoptien of the report and accounts, and the motion wai carried. Officers for tho ensuing year were then elected as follows:—President, Mr E. W. Payton (re-elected); Vice-Presuientß. Dr. Purchas and Mr H. Brett; patrons of la** year alao re-elected; Treasurer, Mr E. Bartley; auditor, Mr J. Bancroft; Comuiitfcee, Messrs L. J. Steele, C. Blorofield. F. Vt right, Rl. Trenwith, G. Gregory, W. A. Bollard, R. M. Ftipp; Mir S. Stuart res.

elected Secretary. . ' Reference was made by several member! to the necessity ef a room being obtained1 in a central position in* the city wliefa artiste' pictures Blight be shown, eta Th« president thought that the expense of ,prOviding a suitable building would be aooui £'2,QCO. Assistance had baen given by the Government to both the Wellington and Christchurch Societies. The Auckland Society had £200 in hand towards a build-1 ing fund, and this Ue believed might easily be made £500 if a definite plan was formulated. Mr Bartley expressed the opinion that the Auckland Technical School and Lhe Art Society might conjointly put uj> * suitable building. A suggeation of increasing the building fund by holding entertainments was referred to the Committee to consider daring the year, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceeding?.