NEARLY READY FOR THE OPENING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 10

NEARLY READY FOR THE OPENING

National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum

While the hanging committee of the National Art Gallery has been extremely busy upstairs in the new building, Dr. W. R. B. Oliver and a large staff of assistants have been occupied for several weeks past classifying a wealth of scientific, anthropological, geological, conchological and ethnological exhibits which are now assuming orderliness out of what a month ago seemed to be chaos.

What is possible in the new and spacious institution is to separate the classifications, so that students and others interested in exhibits bearing on a certain subject may approach and examine them intimately and directly. From the way in which the various rooms have been utilised, one can say, even before the building has been officially opened, that it was wise to provide space for a considerable addition at the rear of the present structure. The Maori. Hall, with the exception of the building of the front of the Maori house, and the stocking of a few glass cases, is ready for the opening. Two very fine pieces of native carving, about 12 feet in height, have been placed in position on either side of the square opening of the main entrance to the hall. Some canoe tombs (canoes up-ended, as the Maoris used to use for the tombstones of distinguished members of the tribe) have been set effectively against the eastern wall, and other carved and patterned pieces at the western end serve to break up the rigidity of line and tone which marks the Maori Hall. Some people have gained the impression' that the interior of the hall has been fashioned on the lines of Maori traditional architecture. Nothing is farther from the truth. Tills lofty chamber, finished in two tones of buff, has been designed on straight, formal lines, with tall, high-set modern windows on the southern 'side, while the walls terminate In a roof lantern-light, half the length of the hall, the framework of which has been picked out in a pale apple green tint. It is the juxtaposition of native arts, crafts, patterns and colouring on this modern interior that makes an effective contrast.

Among the loan collections for the opening will be one from the Cawthron Institute.