THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1882.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6569, 6 December 1882, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1882.

The letter of " li." in our yesterday's impression, on the Auckland Art Gallery, brings us to the practical point iu the matter. All other views have been quite sufficiently discussed, and unless wo can mako some advance which shall be palpable to all the world, we must cease talking about the pleasures and benefits which an Art Gallery would be to Auckland. The subject, we admit, is complicated'and difficult, and is not one of mere cash. In the first place, who arc to be the governing body of the Art Gallery 1 If the money necessary were raised by private subscriptions under the auspices of tlio Auckland Art Society, the gallery would be the property of a few private individuals, who might or might not encourage the attendance of the public, who might keep it for the amusement of the few instead of devoting it to the pleasure and instruction of the many. An Art Gallery built under such auspices would stand by itself, and could not be joined with any other public institution, such as the Free Library, or the Grey Library. Our opinion is, that the Art Gallery should be under the management of the City Council. That body now really represents the city, and not a portion of it only, as before. Every class of the population even is represented in it. It has no interest or aim beyond that of discharging wisely the duties entrusted to its care, one of which is to add to the attractions of the city, and we' have no doubt that it will always contain a certain proportion of men specially competent to deal with all such questions as may arise in connection with an Art Gallery. In the Australian colonies the Art Galleries are managed by the Government; but then these colonies possess a real metropolis, while New Zealand is destitute of such a thing. It would be quito absurd for our Government to establish an Art Gallery in a place like Wellington, where so small a fraction of the population could make any use of it. But the Government of New Zealand could not do to Auckland as the Government of Victoria hare done to Melbourne, or else other places would put in claims. We think, however, they might be asked to grant an endowment in land to such an institution. Supposing the question of the governing body settled, next comes the question as to site, which we think ought to be obtained free. It would be absurd to pay a larga sum for a piece of land on which to erect a building for a public purpose like an Art Gallery. With the work before us of erecting a building and filling it with objects of art, it would be folly to exhaust a large amount of money in the purchase of a site. That would cripple the institution for many years. We must therefore look around for a suitable piece of ground which can be obtained for nothing. Several sites have been mentioned, to be obtained on different terms, but there is one far beyond theiu all in every respect. We refer to the Government House and grounds. The Government hold that beautifullysituated piece of land, but are ready to give it up for any public purpose, on a general consent of the people of Auckland. An attempt was made last session to obtain the whole area, some twelve or fourteen acres, for the Auckland University. The purpose was a good one, but we hold that the Government House grounds are too precious. It is not a public purpose. The University, for many years to come,

-will hare only a very few students, and this site should be devoted to such ' an object as every citizen of Auckland, j every stranger risiting this place, and - avery country settlor coming to town, I can participate in. The University 1 has already a reserre at Parnell, which 1 would be quite suitable for its pur- ' pose, and which will go to waste if the University building is not erected there, but that the University should snatch away this unique piece of land in the very centre of the city would be a robbery of the public. On the proposal being brought before a meeting of the .Auckland members in caucus assembled, at the beginning of last session, it was at once disputed and condemned. Sir George Grey especially denounced such a misappropriation, and lie was largely supported. In the face of these expressions of opinion, it was of course impossible to carry through a Bill for the purpose, though the Government had foolishly agreed to promote such a measure. We do not think it likely that such a confiscation will ever be proposed again; at all events, if it is, we feel sure it will not be agreed to. But if ( the University were not so exclusive j and grasping, it also might be accommodated here. The land should be handed over to the city for administration, with a pi'oviso that sites should be granted for certain public purposes. The old Government House would be useless, and such a large wooden structure could not be used for such valuable works of art as wo now possess, and the rare books and manuscripts of Sir George Grey's library. But a building of brick or concrete might be erected in the Government House grounds, on the line of Princes-street, which could accommodate the Art Gallery, the Free Library, and the Grey Library. If it were thought that such a place was not convenient for the Free Library, that might be accommodated elsewhere, and room found for the University. But at all events, no better site could be obtained for the Art Gallery, and we are quite sure the ground could not be put to a better use. An pie space could lie left for a garden at the sides and back of the building. As to the rest of the ground, abundauce of space would remain to make a practice cricket ground, which might also aerve as a place to drill the volunteers, and for other purposes. When the present Albert Park was laid off, there was a considerable feeling in favour of laying oil' part of it as a cricket ground. The best course was we believe chosen in the end, but there is now another opportunity. The question of a site seems to us the next to be settled, and till that is done the nature and design of the building can hardly be looked at. If the site we have referred to could be obtained, with an endowment of land from the Government, we do not think there would be any difliculty in obtaining funds to erect the building, and to add materially to the treasures which we have to place within it.