THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9196, 27 October 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1888.

That Auckland must become a fav- J ourite rendezvous for students of art i .seems predetermined in the extraordinary stimulus already given to it even in this early stage of its development by the munificence of a few of its citizens. In art treasures our city compares to its advantage with any other city not I only in New Zealand but in the colo- . '. nies ; and as such munificent liberality j has always a tendency to beget its like, ! i> Iα hardly too much to say that within ; ■ iie not distant future our beautiful cil y will be a cynosure to the lovers and tin students of art, not only in the colonics Ijiit throughout the world. Already . •■ have treasures such as older commuiuties might envy, and no money could buy for them ; and though we may nou : expect that the unique collection which the generous kindness of Sir George Grey gave to our city can be repeated by the hands of any other, there is little doubt that as years go on, we \ shall add largely to the means that go to develop culture and refinement in i the tastes of the people. The latest j I accession that we have had is in the I balance of the Mackelvie collection, I which lias recently reached,. the city,

and is stored waiting for the means to be devised for its adequate display. Almost as recent has been the bequest made by the late Dr.Elam,fora School of Art and Design in Auckland, and what ought to be considered now, we think, by the trustees and executors of these bequests, is in what way the objects of these generous testators may be carried out in concert or co-operation, and if it can be, in connection also with the Art Gallery, being a part of our Free Public Library Buildings. That there are difficulties in the way of this, we know; but they are not insurmountable; and though certain advantages might arise from the generous rivalry of different art collections and schools of students, our city and community are yet, and will be probably for many years to come, too small to have our strength thus dissipated; and one of the principal studies of the various parties entrusted with these treasures should be to discover some modus vivendi by which they may dwell together in unity. In the constitution of the Elam Trust there is nothing apparently to prevent its being united with any other; in the Mackelvie Trust there is a provision necessitating the erection of a special building for containing the gifts of the donor; but among the trustees of both it is not unreasonable to suppose that there may exist a reluctance to either transferring their trusts or to combining them with the present existing Art Gallery in the Library Buildings. Should the trustees of the Mackelvie bequests find themselves in a position to erect a special building, there will be nothing to prevent the trustees of the Elam trust from accepting the hospitality of their roof; for they are empowered to devote portion of the funds to the paying of rent fer the accommodation ; and although it is not likely that such rent would be expected by a kindred institution, the provisien shows that there is no barrier in the way of the treasures and operations of the Elam trust being contained in the same building, and in conjunction, with the art gallery of the Mackelvie trust. The most obvious direction which affairs should take in this connection, is that the trustees of the Mackelvie collection should erect a building capable of accommodating also the collection procured by the funds at the disposal of Dr. Elam's trustees, and the art teachers intended by the testator to be maintained. Indeed these two trusts could so work in combination, and to each other's mutual benefit, that it should be made a settled thing that their fates and fortunes should be linked together. It is to be regretted that the delay in the settlement of the Mackelvie estate, by the lawyers at home should not have permitted the trustees of this legacy who are in Auckland to place themselves in funds sufficient to erect such a building immediately; but we can hardly think that it would not be possible, even in the present circumstances, to find a sufficient sum from the estate to erect a hall costing some four or five thousand pounds, which would answer every purpose for the Mackelvie and the Elam Trusts in conjunction ; and, unwilling as the trustees and executors of these two estates may naturally be to transfer their trusts to the same control as that of the present Art Gallery, we think it might be possible to arrange so that these two collections might be virtually joined with the Art Gallery without impairing the independence of the trusts. At the rear of the present Art Gallery, as is well known, there is, between it and the Park, space amply sufficient for the erection of the requisite buildings ; and in view of the particular conditions and circumstances of the Mackelvie trust, the site might be given by the city at a pepper-corn rent on a lease of 999 years, terms which would admit of the settlement of any conditions that might be deemed requisite, at once to preserve the independence of the Mackelvie and Elam Trusts, and to ensure their being worked in harmony and virtually in union with the present Art Gallery. The position would be absolutely adjacent, if not adjoining, while arrangements for complete isolation in the case of fire in the Public Library Buildings, by fire-proof walls and parapets, and iron doors to the passages, could make the safety of the collections as assured as if they were two hundred yards away from any other building. As to the risk of fire, everyone knows that modern ingenuity and contrivance can provide absolute means of prevention, however close the scene of conflagration ; while no more suitable site than this one, looking into the Albert Park, could be found for a building with a becoming and even imposing faQade, intended to specially commemorate the name and beneficence of the donor of the Mackelvie collection. In this, as we have said, there may be nothing to impair in the smallest degree the independence of the Mackelvie and the Elam trusts, while the vicinity of the three Art collections, the common use of class rooms, of masters and teachers, would be of extreme convenience and advantage to students and the public, for whose benefit eacu of the three institutions is equally intended. I 1 i