THE BAILLIE PICTURES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1405, 3 April 1912, Page 5

THE BAILLIE PICTURES.

GRANT FROM CITY COUNCIL. The following clause in the report of tho Finance Committee was adopted last evening by the City Council:— "Tho committee havo to report that they have given consideration to the request of the deputation from the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts which waited on the council' at last meeting with respect to tho purchase of pictures from the Baillio Collection, and recommend that the council grant the sum of .£IOOO, subject to the amount of .fiaOOO being raised by the public within two months." Councillor Fuller suggested that the words "or pro rata" should be added to the clause. . The Acting-May 5r 'said that this question had been considered, but the committee had decided that it would bo inadvisable to put the words in tho clause. The commiltco wished to meet tho Academy of Fine Arts in every possible way, but thought it would not be well to offer too easy tonus to the public. If tho •GOOD were not subscribed, tho ccuncil could again consider the question of making a grant. A HEAVif TASK. Messrs. H. JI. Goro (president) and J. D. Gray (secretary) of tho Public Gallery Picture Fund Committee, when they wore interviewed by a Dominion reporter last evening, agreed in expressing the opinion that although tho City Council had set them a heavy task, it was not all beyond realisation. "In fact, I think," remarked Mr. Gray, "that this action of the council will prove of immense benefit in stimulating the public to take advantago of tho splendid opportunity which will bo afforded by the exhibition of the British pictures which have just arrived in charge- of Mr. John Bajllie. Tho Government having decided to establish a gallery," Mr. Gray went on to remark, "and having provided a site, and the Academy of Fine Arts having promoted a very successful exhibition of pictures, it is surely not too much to hope that tho citizens will do their share towards furnishing a gallery worthy of tho capital city of tho Dominion." Mr. Goro declared that, with his colleagues, he was going into tho matter of raisin; funds, with determination and with high hopes of success. In further conversation, Messrs. Goro and Gray mentioned' that subscriptions were already beginning to come in. A most comprehensive campaign is to be made over tho University Middle District, which includes Tnrnnaki, Jfawke's Bay, Marlborough, and Nelson. It is considered that tho. residents of these provinces, being, many of tlicm, frecfuent visitors to Wellington, will get almost as much pleasure from a good gallery as tho citizens of Wellington themselves, and that it is therefore roisonable to ask that they should do their best towards assisting tho realisation of so worthy an object. It is stated that tho British pictures, which are to 'lx» exhibited, will 1m a revelation to New Xealamlere. and that tho collection, from tho standpoint of quantity and quality, combined, easily excels anything previously exhibited in tho Dominion.

A subscription list has been opened in Titr, Dominion office, and donations received will le acknowledged in these columns.