AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6572, 9 December 1882, Page 5

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS.

A meeti.no of the committee of the Auck'aud Society of Arts was held in the Y.M.C. A. Rooms yesterday afternoon. There were present Mr. Albin Martin (in the chair), Mrs. J. McCosh Clark, Messrs. K. Watkin, J. Martin, T. Ball, J. L. Collie, J. G. Trevithiok, C. Blomfield, J. L. Holland, and R. M. Fripp (secretary). The business disposed of was the examination, alteration, and final passing of the prize list for the new year, ISS2-3. The chief features in the list are described in the address to members, read by Mr. J. Martin, and adopted by the committee. A rumonr has spread to the effect that the Art Society had intentions of building. Mr. J. Martin drew the attention of the committee to it, and all such intentions wt re disclaimed. The list of prizes will soon be issued. Amongst them is the followijjg :—"Architectural design for six-roomed cottage, on a 4-inch scale, showing ground plan, transverse section and elevation, wooden walls, slate roof, cost not to exceed £500 ; open to mechanics am! apprentices." Mr. Martin's address was as follows :— Our society having now entered upon the work of the third year, it will be necessary for each of our working members to use hie or her best endeavours to promote the success of the next exhibition by immediate eflorts to produce some works of art which shall be worthy to rank as superior to those which formed the exhibition of last season. The growirg demand for high class paintings and other works of decorative art is an evidence ot the spread of culture, and of the prosperity of our fellow colonists, which must be gratifying and encouraging to professional artists as well as to art teachers and students. The committee hope that the next exhibition shall surpass our former successful eflorts to place before the public local works of such excellence as shall meet with a ready sale, To promote this object, they desire to extend the benefits of the Art Union by the disposal of at least one thousand tickets (the comparatively small number of 220 tickets having been sold last year by the exertions of a few gentlemen). A book of ten art union tickets, foi' sale or return, will be issued to each member on application to the secretary. The committee request that you will earnestly endeavour to dispose of the same, and by this method increase in the most substantial manner the interest which will be taken iu the exhibition, and promoting the financial success of the society, to the immediate benefit of its contributing members. The list of prizes now issued has been extended beyond that of last year. In pupils' studies, the first prize will be open to all-comers, and those in classes B and C to pupile in art classes under the age of 18 years. The certificates of merit oilered for distribution in class 2 are intended to encourage the production of works of ornamental art for household decoration. Class 3is specially intended to stimulate amateur artists in study from nature of that which is beautiful in our picturesque local scenery. Iu class 4 certificates only will be given, but in this, as in. other classes, the exhibitors are at liberty to enter their works for sale at stated prices, and it is hoped this will be sufficient inducement to secure a large number of entries in each section. Copies of the prize lists for distribution can be obtained from the secretary, and the committee would ask you to show your sympathy in the cause of art by assisting to make the objects of the society known among your friends, ac<l by hearty co-op2ration ensure its success.