AUCKLAND ART GALLERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8663, 4 September 1891, Page 6

AUCKLAND ART GALLERY.

PROPOSED EXTENSION. The question of erecting an addition to the Art Gallery, to provide accommodation for the Mackelvie collection, again came before tho Auckland City Council last night, the Finance Committee submitting the folio lowing recommendations — (1) That the balance of the additional loan so far as appropriated by section 7 of first schedule be applied to the extension of tho Art Gallery so as to afford accommodation for the Mackelvie collection and for other works of art. (2) That the Mackelvie trustees be requested to confer with Mr. Arnold, and to obtain a plan and estimate of cost of the proposed addition." The Mayor (Mr. J. H. Upton) moved the adoption of the first clause, which, ho said, was an answer to the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Council, asking the committee to report as to the advisability of extending the Art Gallery for the purposo statod. Mr. Cooper asked if it was not a fact that a plan of the proposed addition had already been prepared by Dr. Campbell's instructions ? Tho Mayor said ho could unhesitatingly say no. Ho had no suspicion of such a thing; indeed, Dr. Campbell's action at the committee meeting rendered it impossible. Mr. Cooper asked if the action proposed to be takon by tho Council would relieve the trustees from tho obligation to build a new gallery for the pictures ? The Mayor said it would, absolutely. Mr. Cooper said that threw a new light on the matter so far as lie was concerned. If the trustees had not the money to erect the necessary building now, they would have at some future time. The Mayor said they probably would not have sufficient in Mr. Cooper's life time at any rate. • Mr. Lennox said the committee hod been divided on this recommendation, some of them having felt that it would not bo a fair appropriation of the £2000 remaining of tho loan to expend it in the way proposed.. It had been their opinion that in a growing city like this a Town Hall would soon be required, and tho £2000 would form a very acceptable nucleus of the amount which it would be necessary to raise. At the same time they were anxious to meat tho trustees as far as possible, and suggested that the ground might be given at a peppercorn rental, and the £2000 lent to them, upon* the distinct condition that the money should bo repaid when possible. Tho trustees, however, had positively refused to accept theso terms. The more ho thought over the matter the moro he was satisfied with the action of tho two members of tho committee who had voted against tho proposal. Mr. Trenwith said ho could see no harm whatever in this £2000 being used to erect an addition to the Art Gallery, and therefore would support the motion. Mr. Wright said ho also would support tho motion, as ho considered it a pity that a largo number of valuable pictures should bo hidden away from tho public to whom they had . been presented. The loan had been obtained not only for a Town Hall, but also for an Art Gallery, and already £4000 had been expended upon a site for a Town Hall. Nothing like £2000 had been spent on the Art Gallery, so that if this remaining £2000 were devoted to the extension it would not bring the total expenditure upon it up to that upon the Town Hall. lie believed that the trustees were willing that Parliament should pass a Bill vesting tho pictures in the Council, so that the whole collection would practically belong to the city, and anothor i- portant consideration was that they.woukl devote the interest of the £5000 they had on hand to the purchase of additions to the collection.

Mr. Hewson thought that if tho trustees were quite willing that tho sanction of Parliament should be obtained to tho collection being handed over to the City Council, tho first step should bo to obtain that sanction. He would like to see the collection properly accommodated, and would support the proposal, but he thought it might be postponed until the sanction of Parliament was obtained. Mr. Crowtiif.r agreed with Mr. Hewson, that the proposal did seem something like putting the cart before the horse. If this sanction* could be obtained, ho did not think many of tho councillors would object to giving the land or the money for the addition, although he thought the city had already spent a very fair proportion of its funds on the Art Gallery. Ho felt that they should bo certain about this proposed legislation, but if his Worship could assure them it was all right, nothing could bo gained by a postponement. Mr. Garratt thought the two clauses of the report should be transposed, becauso in the order they were presented the Council was asked to vote a sum of money for a building before .they had any plan or estimate of cost. Mr. At kin' said it might be better if the Mayor adopted the suggestion conveyed in Mr. Garratt's remark, as it would be a very good plan to first obtain an estimato of the probable cost of the building. He was thoroughly in favour of the proposal and would heartily support it, but if Mr. Garratt's suggestion were adopted it might be of great assistance to the Council, lie had no doubt about the future. The decrease in tho value of property had so embarrassed tho trustees thnt they would be compelled to go to Parliament to get the whole matter set right. Mr. Farrell said he did not sec what an estimate of cost was wanted for ; the committee simply recommended that the balance of the loan, £2000, should be expended for the purpose stated t The Mayor said that the point raised as to getting an estimate of cost was of no valuo at all. If the Council adopted this clause it would simply aliirin the desirability of erecting the addition to the gallery, and resolve to spend the balance of the loan, which was £2150, on the work. If tho plans were unsatisfactory when submitted, or if the estimate was too high, the Council could simply decide not to go on with the work, but it was far better, in his opinion, to affirm the principle at once. Ho was informed by gentlemen skilled in such matters that the £2000 would be ample for all requirements. When the testator died his estate was worth £80,000, but it was a* melancholy fact that it only realised £40,000. Had there been the full £80,000 in the estate, he did not believe the trustees would have entertained the idea of placing the collection in the Municipal buildings, but would have erected a separate building for its accommodation. He, therefore, looked upon tho loss of even so large a sum of money with indifference, so highly did ho estimate the valuo of the city having the whole of its art treasures together. The position simply was, that the Council was asked to assist tho trustees in giving effect to Mr. Mackelvie's wishes, and he thought every effort should be made to do, in the most generous spirit. He proposed, and he knew the trustees would willingly accede, that letters should pass between' them and the Council, setting forth that they would, have the Mackelvio collection permanently in the Art Gallery, and in charge of the City Council, so long as they were dealt with in the same way as the other works of —namely, that they should be open for free inspection to all classes for a reasonable time every day, Sundays included, the trustees having no power over them further than to insure and repair them. The collection would thus become practically the property of the city, i.nd it- would be this arrangement which would bo brought before Parliament for its sanction. On being pub the motion was carried, Messrs. Hewson, Lennox, and Warren alone voting against it. The Mayor moved the adoption of the second clause, and said it required a little explanation. Had Mr. Mackelvie been alive his wishes would probably have been consulted as to the form of the building, and therefore it was thpught only reasonable that those who represented him should be consulted. Dr. Campbell, who had a larger acquaintance with art matters than probably any other citizen of AuckUnd, suggested Mr. Arnold, and therefore that gentleman's name appoared in the committee's report, Mr. Grey seconded the motion. Mr. Smith moved as an amendment, ' seconded by Mr. Garratt, " That competitive designs be called for the building." The Mayor, in answer to remarks from several Councillors, said ho had in no way pledged the Council in the matter, and it I was quite open to them to chose another j architect or to invite competitive designs. I There was no arrangement between himself

and the trustees, and ho was quite sure these gentian-en would agree with whatever action the Council took. Mr. Paterson thought it was not worth ■while to call for competitive designs for so small a job, especially as the building would be erected at the back of the present ono, and would have very little frontage. Mr. Smith asked leave to withdraw his amendment, with the view of proposing that the Council should proceed to clect an architect by ballot. Leave to withdraw the amendment having been refused by nine votes to eight, it was put and carried, the Council thus deciding to invite competitive designs for the new building.