THE SKETCH EXHIBITION AT THE ART GALLERY.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 127, 30 May 1900, Page 6

THE SKETCH EXHIBITION AT THE ART GALLERY.

There is on view to-day at the Arb Gallery in Whitmore-street an interesting though small collection of sketches. Among the well-known local artists represented are' Mr. James Nairn, Mr. C. 'N. Worsiey, lYlr. Noel Barraud, Mrs. Field, and Miss M. E. Richardson. Mr. Nairn contributes some clever studies of atmospheric effects upon colour and light, both in oil and waters. "A Southerly Morning," with its wind-driven clouds, and "Sunrise " at Silverstream, with its morning colours, are good specimens. "St. Peter's" will repay a longer acquaintance, and a tinted pencil sketch of an old man is a tribute to Mr. Nairn's versatility. Mr. Worsiey sends quite a number of more or less finished sketches, almost all of which are well worth examination. Among Mr. Noel Barraud's collection arc a few typical Japanese scenes. Mrs. Field has three or four charming sketches with warm colouring. Miss M. E. Richardson's study of a girl's head is pleasing, and Mr. Henri Bastings seems to have made a marked improvement. His outlines are less pronounced and his colours not so hard. His sketches suggest more atmosphere. Mr. Reuben Watts has supplied sonic good sketches for illustrating purposes, and Mr. H. Fitzherbert a few black and white studies. Mr. Atcherley's collection is pleasant to look upon, though not in any way striking. Among other contributors are Dr. Fell, Miss Youmans, Miss Minnie Jones, Mr. John Scott, Mr. E. D. Drake, and Mr. H. G. Lloyd. The exhibition is doubly attractive this evening, as in addition to the sketches a select musical programme has bsen arranged in which the following well-known performers will take part: — Me.-dames Rigg and Wilson, Misses Pender and Newton, and Messrs. De Costa, J. Newton, and C. N. Worsiey.

The bodies of 3556 rats have been consumed in the furnaces of the Destructor to date. In connection with the Wellington British Israel Association, a lecture will be given by Mr. T S. Lambert on Thursday evening at the rooms of the Association, Oddfellows' Hail. The title of the lecture is "Jacob's Pillow, or the Coronation Stone." The City* Tramway Arbitrators held another sitting to-day, and it is hoped that some indication of the nature of their award will be given at the meeting of the City Council to-morrow night. A letter was read from Mr. Mowbray at this afternoon's meeting of the Education Board, covering losses which had occurred by the destruction of books and apparatus in the burning down of the Thorndon School recently. Scholars and teachers had alike suffered, and it wa? stated that Mr. Mowbray himself had lost apparatus worth about £150. Members of the Board expressed surprise on learning that the master and the teachers had not insured valuable property kept in the school. It was thought thai teachers should not take such a risk, and the hope was expressed that teachers in other schools would take a lesson from this experience, and the advice was tendered that teachers in the large schools should take out a combined policy over the whole of their property. Ultimately, it was resolved that the Chairman should investigate the claims of tise teachers and scholars, and reimburse iJicm as he thought best. Ever* member of the Wellington College Ofd Boys' Football Club is requested to attend at the club gymnasium tonight* ,

The news that the British tioops have occupied Johannesburg wa-> received in Wellington with great satisfaction, but there '.k'o no such outbur.-l of demonstrative patriotism as occurred when we lt(v.i'd that Lady.«mith aim -•iafeking had been relieved. Hi honour of the event the Now Zealand ensign is benig flown above the General Post Office tower and below it are three iliig.s bearing the code letters Q, S, D, meaning "Victorious." Dining April 997 persons anived in the colony a& against 1141 in the corresponding month 01 last year. The departures dm ing April of this year weie nearly double the arrivals — namely, 1885, but were less than in April, 1899, when they totalled 2010. While a case containing carriage ware was being discharged fiom tho steamer Zevilaudi.t, for transhipment to Napier, one ot the lumpers spied a rat through an opening in the woodwork. The cat>e was put aside ; and Dr. Fyffe, the local Sanitary Commissioner, was informed. Dr. Fyii'e is anxious that the rat be caught for examination, in view of the fact that the goods came from Melbourne, where the plague exists. The case has accordingly been moved into 0 shed, and a temporary structure improvised around it to prevent the animal from escaping. Two traps have been baited with sucJi food as may be expected to attract' his ratship. The Native Minister (the Hon. J. Carroll) has returned tto Wellington from a visit which lie paid to the Maori settlements in the Turakina district with the object of bringing about an improvement in their sanitary conditions. He found the natives thoroughly alive to the necessity of something being done in that direction, and as a result of his visit it •has been decided to invite Maoris from settlements as far up as Taranaki to meet at Turakina on the 11th. prox. to consider the question of sanitation. It is probable that Dr. Fyffe or Dr. Mason will be asked to visit a number of the native centres which have not yet been officially inspected. The cable between Lyell Ba)- and White's Bay broke % during the recent heavy weather, but it cannot be repaired until the Tutanekai has returned • from the Cook Group. The mishap, however, is not causing the Telegraph Dejiartment any inconvenience, as the three remaining cables are able to take all the work ■which requires to be done. The break has occurred a few miles out of Lyell Bay. A contract has been let to Mr. W. L. Thompson for the erection of a brick building of three stories in Cuba-street for Messrs. William Berry aud Co., photographers. The building, which is to have a handsome front, will occupy the site of the firm's present premises, and will be erected in accordance with pkuis and specifications prepared by Mr. \V. Crichton. The contract price is £2880. "Can't you give us a holiday, Mr. Chairman?" asked Mr. John Young at this afternoon's meeting of the Education Board when the announcement was made that the British were in possession of Johannesburg. "Yes, immediately after we have finished the ousiness beiore the meeting," was Mr. Blair's reply. The listening members smiled, and the Secretary went on with the reading of the minutes. We are informed that the issue of preference shares by Sharland and Co., Ltd., has been most successful. The whole amount available has been subscribed, the applications from new shareholders bein,; for over 3000 shares. The apex of the lungs, said Dr. Chappie at the ambulance lecture last evening, is cloiely confined by the upper riM, and the best way to exercise that portico of the human structure and to gu. ti against consumption is to cultivate Ire arcs of singing and swimming. Another lecture will be given next Tuesday. A copy of the sixth annual leport fif tlie Wellington Hospital Convalescent Home is just to hand. The Trustee/'/— Mesdames J. Patevson, Joseph, Brantl/'m, Moorhouse, T. C. Williams, and Ems? ft, with Mrs. Newman as Hon. Secrets .% take pleasure in assuring the contributors to and the friends of the Home of the continued success of the Institution, which is still under the able management of Mrs. Rutter (matron), whose unvaried care and attention is testified to by the numerous letters received by the Trusses from patients expressing their gratitule therefore. Seventy- three patients were atlmitted during the year, as against eight}'six last year. The Trustees express iegret that the benefits deiived by invali-ls paying a short visit to the Home are n<">t more widely recognised. The Visiting .Committee has been so enlarged as to ensure at least two visitors a month. These visits are much appreciated by the patients. The Trustees thank the Evening Post and New Zealand Times for their courtesy in inserting notices of meetings. Tho average cost of maintenance of each patient is 2s 10£ d per day. The first of the series of public lecture* by the professors of the Victoria College was delivered last night in the large hall at the Education Board offices. There was an excellent attendance. Professor Easterfield, who took for his subject "The Romance of Coalitar," proceeded on historical line*. Commencing with the discovery of benzene by Faraday in 1825, he related the train of events which led to the identification of benzene and aniline in coal-tar by Hofmaun, and the foundation and object* of the Royal College of Chemistry, where Mansfield, under Hermann's guidance, examined tar more thoroughly, and eventually established the tar-distilling industry. Perkins's discovery of Mauvein, the subsequent success of the rosaniline colours, an<S the introduction of the briljiant Azo dyes by Peter Griess were also dwelt upon.' Dyes relating to phenol, napthalene and anthracene, as well as benzene derivatives employed in medicine, perfumery, and cooking, were nls-o exhibited The services of Kekute, who, by means of structural formula, first intioduced order into the comjilicatcd skein of organic chemistry, were spoken of in tho highest terms. In conclusion, the Profes-sor emphasised the fact that no amount of training for examination can produce a competent chemist, and that the only way to success in science lies in days and nights of incessant ton in the laboratory, and amongst the original memoirs of the great masters. The lecture was illustrated by excellent diagrams prepared for the occasion by Mi«s Broome. The experiments, which were successfully performed by Mr. James Bee, included the niamifactuie of coalgas the separation of benzene from tar, the preparation of Tyrian purple, aniline b.ack, yellow, and rod, and the dying of silk and wool. The next lecture will be delivered by Piofe^or Mackenzie on Tuesday, 12th June.