LORD BLEDISLOE

Evening Post, Issue 149, 20 December 1935, Page 8

LORD BLEDISLOE

PORTRAIT FOR NATIONAL GALLERY

| Just before his departure for England, the late Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, met the trustees of the National Art Gallery and- Dominion Museum with the object-of presenting tothem a very fine oil painting of one of New Zealand's most distinguished scientists, Lord. Rutherford of Nelson. After the presentation was made a unanimous wish was expressed that on his return to England Lord Bledisloe would consent to his own portrait being painted by an eminent artist — the artist to be selected by himself. To that proposal he readily consented, and expressed his pleasure and gratification at the thought that his portrait would ultimately find a place in the national collection; It was estimated i that ■ the cost, plus exchange, would t amount to approximately £600. It was arranged that the Mayor of Wellington ; (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) would undertake an active canvass in order to raise the necessary funds. He did so by. communicating with the Mayors of all the cities and,towns ij the Dominion, and the chairmen of public bodies, immediately after Lord Bledisloe's departure. As the result of that appeal he succeeded in raising the sum of £300. The full amount required for the portrait will be available, as the Public Trustee, with the consent of Sir Harold Beauchamp, is providing the balance of the money required from the trust created by Sir Harold for the. collection of pictures for the National Art Gallery.