AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7006, 1 May 1884, Page 5

AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The exhibition"was open yesterday afternoon and eveniog and was well attended. The announcement that the art union-would be drawn attracted a very large accession of visitors. As a matter, of fact the Choral Hall was ao crowded at one.time that locomotion in any of: the rooms was very difficult. The effect was that a promenade with the usual" difficulties attending npon two throngs of persons endeavouring to proceed in opposite directions through a very cironmscribed space. There were probably 800 or 900 persons within the rooms at one time during the evening. The time was enlivened by soma good music and singing, which made it pass pleasantly.

There remain, so far as we are aware, no works of general interest executed by individualartiststo bespecially desoribed. Mr; Pownail's pictures, which were said to be greatly injured duringtransmission, wedidnot notice, because arriring late, and injured by accident, they were exhibited at a great disadvantage. .We omitted to mention Mies R, Vaile's picture representing a view of "The Blue Mountains," which purports to be a true representation of the locus in quo. As a transcript or study from nature, it possesses much merit. The lady exhibits several drawings by pupils (Miss Hamilton and Miss Partridge), which are creditable to her success as a teacher. We attributed the work of pupils to Miss Tye under the head of "Free-hand Drawings." The error may be regarded as a compliment to the pnpils. Speaking of the drawings in the side rooms we can only refer to them generally. The Canterbury . School of Art exhibits studies from life and shading from the round. These drawings have every degree of merit, but as a whole we do not think they reach the standard of last year. The School of Art under Mr. Kennett Watkin has made very noticeable advance. As drawings they appear more oorreot and carefnl worlr, although reoourae is not had to any special pains to set them off to the best advantage. - There is a feature of the present exhibition which deserves a great"deal more attention than it has received. We refer to the large number of sketches from nature done in pencil or orayon, and even pen and ink. Some of these duplay exceedingly nice work. There is a new sort of ornamental work in this exhibition, which consists in the tasteful arrangement of leaves. The name of Mrs. J. M. Moore is attached to one of the most conspicuous of these. There are three Japanese pictures in the exhibition said to be the work of a lady, who is gold medallist of the Japanese School of Art at Tokio. These are worthy' of a careful study. It is not necessary to mention the pictures in the loan collection. The. majority of them stand without the range of merely local criticism. We may notice a portrait in the side room by Mrs. Bullock (Wanganui), which though a copy is exeouted with great facility, and makes a first-class picture. We may refer to the excellent photographs exhibited by Messrs. J. Martin, Bartlett, and others, also the portraits of political and social notabilities, to the panel and soreen work the details of which we have not space to desoribe. -

Shortly after eight o'clock it was announced that the drawing would take place. A youth was selected to draw the tiokets ; Dr. Purchas announced the names of the prize-winners, the numbers of the prizes, and the amount of the prizes; Messrs. Holland, Mackeohnie, and Jouiah Martin were nominated to check the names and numbers.' -The following were the aumber and amounts of the prizes:— One £20, one £15, two £10, four £5, five £4, ten £3, five £2, two £1 10s, one £1 : total, £139. The following are the names, numbers, etc., called out:— 223, Mrs. McMillan, £20; 266, Mr. Niofiol, £2; 286;"— Beck, £4; 975. W. E. Mears, £5 ; 259 J. J. Holland, £4; 364, —^Burcher,' £5; 767, — Knight, £10 ; 287. T, W. Hiokson, £2 : 235, "C. S. George, £15; 991, Mrs. Homos, £10; 727, W. Gardener, £1; 247, R. M. Watt, £4; 311, B. A. Maokeohnie, £5; 927, K Bartley, £3; 719, R. Blair, £3; 778. M. Moses, £3; 242, T. Peacook, £3; 597. W. C. Daldy, jun., £4; 921, H. W. Heath, £3 ;• 234, J. H. Upton, £3; 1063, H.Brett, £3; 366. Dr. Purohas, £3; 296, G. Hesoott, £3; 302, J. Cruiokshank, £2; 288, J. H. Keepe, £2 ; 310, T. Slator, £2; 226, H. Brett, £5; tjO7,'J. H. Keepe, £2; 255, Peroy Smith, £4; 1065, T. Peaoopk, £JrlOs ; 971; F. Winstone, £1 10s.

Shortly after the drawing the crowd sensibly diminished. Just before the drawing commenced it transpired that several pictures had been purchased. Mr. Watkin's " Giant Kauris " went off at catalogue price (£4O), being purchased by' Mr. Osmond. The same gentleman purchased two of Mr. Blomfield's pictures."' Mr. Drummond's picture, " Near Karangahake," was pnrohased by Mr. Maokechnie The amount received for pictures sold was between £120 and £140. - V.&. ,

Taken aa a whole the exhibition may be regarded as a financial success. Those gentlemen upon whom the chief responsibility in connection with it rested (Messrs. Martin and Holland) deserve the greatest praise for their arrangements. Some errors are inoident to all efforts of the kind. In this exhibition they were very few, and without any effect upon the general result.

This evening there will ae a promenade concert. • There is an excellent programme. To-day and to-morrow the children of the public schools, the Orphan Home, and St. Mary's Orphanage, are invited according to the hours specified in the advertisement which appears in another column.