SOCIETY OF ARTS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8072, 15 January 1892, Page 3

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

ANNUAL MEETING. The tenth annual meeting of the Canterbury Society of Arts was held in the Art Gallery yesterday afternoon. There was a large attendance of members, and in the absence of the President the Hon. E. C. J. Stevens was voted to the chair.

Mr R. C. Bishop stated that the Hon. Sec. and Treasurer, Capt. Garsia, was absent on a visit to Mount Cook, and he had been requested to act in Capt. Garsia's capacity. The report and balance-sheet were taken as read. The report was as follows : — "In presenting to members the annual Statement of Accounts, the Council has much satisfaction in recording that the efforts of the Society have. again met with signal success—by the acquisition from the State of additional land : by the increase in the number of its members, and by the good results of the Exhibitions held under its auspices. At both Exhibitions sufficient excellent work was shown to prove that art in Canterbury has a most promising future, and that many earnest workers were to be found among its students. One of these, Mr W. E. Chapman, has recently proceeded to Paris to prosecute his studies, and the Council wishes him every success. In April the annual Exhibition, with about 200 works, was formally opened by the President, Mr R. Beetham. In November, the Black and White, with 120 works, His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Lady Onslow, was pleased to declare open and to express his appreciation of the work the Society was doing. At this Exhibition the north, and west walls were hung for the most part with sketches and studies and finished pictures by Mr P. Van der Velden, an artist of European celebrity, who has come to reside* among us, and to whose courtesy the Council was indebted for the loan of so large a number of charming works. To him the very hearty thanks of the Society are now offered, as also to Mr Spackman, for the loan of some admirable examples of English masters, and to the several ladies and gentlemen who, by contributing much enjoyable music, added in no amall measure to tne charm aud to the success of the exhibitions. Soon after the completion of the Gallery in 1890 the Council realised that to carry out the work contemplated by the Society, additional buildings would have to be erected, and also that it would be necessary to apply to Parliament for an extension of land, as the whole of the site granted in the previous year had been built over. A Bill "was accordingly introduced last session, and by it the Society obtained a section adjoining its gallery, on which will be erected, as soon as circumstances permit, a gallery for the permanent collection, and some other necessary buildings. In view of the liability that must be incurred in this connection, the Council proposes to withhold the. issue of free art union tickets to members for the ensuing year. One picture, *' After a Long Tramp," by A. H. O'&eefe, was added by purchase to the Society's Permanent Collection, and a design for a medal for the purposes of the Society was obtained ; for this a prize of three guineas was offered. Six competitions were received, and that by E. F. Temple was awarded the prize. There are now on the roll 10 life, 124 ordinary, and 83 working members,, total 227, aa against 182 in the preceding year." , The. balance-sheet, audited by Messrs F. Waymouth and N. L. Macbeth, showed Dr. to fixed deposit', Ist January, 1891, £250; subscriptions, £175 17s; ; exhibitions, £746 6a 6d; building fund, £99 2s 3d; interest on fixed deposit, £12 10s. Total, £1283 15s 9d. Or.—By overdraft at Bank, Ist January, £1891, £34 Os 3d ; sundry small accounts from 1890, £1 3s lid: —£35 4s. 2d; gallery account, £244 13s; exhibitions, £593 19s 4d; general charges, £126 13s sd; balance, £283 5s lOd. The assets were shown to be £2756 6s Bd, and liabilities £20, leaving a balance of assets of £2736 6s Bd.

Mr Thornhill Cooper said it was proposed to erect new buildings. He deprecated the borrowing of any money for the purpose or running the Society into debt The Chairmax explained that last year an Act was passed by Parliament with a view of providing a site for an additional building. The land was granted oh the same conditions as the section obtained formerly. As tbe report showed, the buildings would be put up as soon as circumstances would permit, or the land would revert to the Crown. They had no power to borrow money on the land or buildings. Mr W. P. CowusHAW moved the adoption of the* report and balance-sheet. Mr R. J. S. Harman seconded the motion, which was agreed to unanimously. The election of officers for the ensuing year then took place, and resulted aa follows . —President, Mr Richmond Beetham (re-elected); Vice-Presidents, Mr Justice Denniston and Hon. E. C. J- Stevens (reelected); members of Council, Miss Meeson, Messrs W. Menzies Gibb, J. M. Madden, and R. D. Thomas ; Hon. Treasurer, Captain Garsia (re-elected); Auditors, Messrs F. Waymouth and N. L. Macbeth (reelected). The meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.