Repo

Press, 21 November 1979, Page 2

Repo

j Rossetti original ONE of the items to be sold at the Rudolf Steiner School’s fund-raising fair on Saturday should create a stir among the art enthusiasts of Christchurch. It is an original drawing by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) which should fetch between $2OOO and $3OOO. A parent of one of the children attending the alternative education school in Springfield Road has given the drawing (pictured) to be auctioned in aid of school funds at the fair, which will also have stalls selling a variety of other goods. If the draw- ■- ing sells at auction on Saturday, a percentage of the proceeds will be given to the school.

Spare a thought... THE ROBERT McDougall Art Gallery would very much like to have the Rossetti drawing in its collection, said the director (Dr T. L. R. Wilson) yesterday. “But we just don’t have enough money .in our reserves to buy it,” he said. “Still, if some civicminded person likes to buy it on Saturday at the auction and then give it to us ...” Dr Wilson said that it was exceptional for an original drawing, such as the Rossetti, to be offered for sale at a charity auction. “I can’t reallv put a price on it, but I should think it would fetch at least $2000,” he said. The drawing is entitled, “Saneta Uiias,” and ia a atudy

for a painting of the Enunciation.

Just in ease

THE KAIAPOI Borough Council will open its new ■■walkway with the blessing of the Walkways Commission on December 9, when councillors will join Kaiapoi residents and others from further afield to walk the track for the first time. But just in case some people find the going difficult, the councillors decided at a meeting this week to provide a bus service to pick tip those who fall by the wayside. Sexy city?

SEXY Wellington? Wellington’s Mayor (Mr Michael Fowler) has got an advertising agency to suggest ideas to inject a little interest into the city — and one of the ideas the resulting report puts forward is that Wellington should adopt a sexy image. The report, by J. Inglis Wright, says the “sexy Wellington” slogan does not mean turning Wellington into a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah, but points out that tourist meccas overseas all have one thing in common. “Copenhagen, Paris, Hamburg, Bangkok — all are famed for their romantic associations,” the report says. Romantic? Well, not really. Wellington nightlife should be encouraged and a local Soho created, say, in upper Cuba Street, the report suggests. Other ideas it propounds include making Wellington into a duty-free port and establishing a court jester. It shouldn’t be too hard to find plenty of suitable candidates in the capital for the latter job.

Stormy stories YESTERDAY afternoon's thunderstorm brought a flood of calls from people all over Christchurch, caught unawares. For example, there was the man in Woolston who was listening to the “1812 Overture” On his stereo. Just when it came to the bit where the cannons boom, he was frightened out of his wits by what sounded like a real cannon outside his lt was,

he then realised, a heavy thunderclap. Then there was the man who parked his car in the Manchester Street car-park and who noticed that the Civil Defence rooms, on the ground floor, of the parking building, were under at least 6in of water.

Hello, hello . . .

IF SOMEONE you don’t know stops to say hello to you today, don’t look at them as if they are crazy — say hello to them, too. Because today is International Hello Day, when people all over the world are supposed to say hello to 10 people they have never met before. The scheme was started in Nebraska by three brothers who say they are trying to promote international friendship and communication.

'pdiufy'Pua,