THE SIR GEORGE GREY STATUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11498, 9 October 1900, Page 7

THE SIR GEORGE GREY STATUE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Mr. Speight, in his answer to rpy letter in the Herald of October 3, says: — "Except in relation to a few small matters ;of fact, .which it is not now important should be set right, Mi. Hutchinson's letter does not call for detailed reply." I should like, however, to ask Mr. Speight did he, knowing I was not in the competition, provide mo with photographs and allow mo to spend my time on these designs with tho intention of refusing to consider thorn seriously? Did he, knowing that my work would never be, considered, refrain from warning me to that effect? . The Herald, in its interview with Mi. • Speight, on April 4 says:—"There is a •local artist- also in treaty with tho committee, and who is now engaged on his own account in making casts of tho head of Sir . George Grey, from photographs supplied." In the same interview Mr. Speight also says : —" Nothing will bo done in a hurry, and the public will have ample opportunity of inspecting the various designs before anything is definitely decided upon." Again, on July 5, in another interview, Mr. Speight says:"Mr. Hutchinson, an English sculptor, , residing at Mount Eoßkill, also purposes furnishing designs for the statue. He has already almost completed a full-sized bust of Sir Georgo Grey, which will bo on view shortly." . In my first interview with Mr. Speight ha seemed enthusiastic over the idea that the work coi'.ld be proceeded with in Auckland, especially with tho prospect that it could be soen in clay and criticised during its progress. This enthusiasm he afterwards experienced when he spent two hours at my : studio, in company with Mr. J. A. Tole, Mr. Geo. Fowlds, and Dr. J. Logan Campbell. , At that time Mi. Speight expressed "himself as highly pleased, not only to me nt the, time, but to others after the visit. It was suggested : during this visit by Mr. Speight that s the Auckland people would prefer a standing statue to a sitting one. I then proposed to make another sketch model in wax to show that position, upon which • Mr. J. A. Tole gave me a characteristic pose for the purpose. I immediately began this •dew work. In the meantime another photo graph of Si- - George having come to light on September 11, Mr, Speight provided me 'with the same, and I reconstructed the whole likeness, remodelling the whole head. This is the work which the committee have # refused to inspect. After his visit, Mr. Speight requested Mr. Seymour George to see this work, ! and that I gentleman paid my studio a visit, ' together with Mrs. Seymour George. They expressed themselves as highly' pleased with the likeness, and congratulated mo on my success, arid, I understand, informed Mr 1 . Speight to this effect. Mr. Speight also informed me that he would see that the committee came out to see this work. , . ' Now, sir, I ask you, tinder all these circumstances, was I justified in supposing that the committee would inspect my completed work? : ■ Undsr section D, in his letter. Mr. Speight says that "he visited my studio with some of the committee, in company with a gentleman well known in this city for his knowledge and patronage of art. and that he understands Mr. Hutchinson has made some alterations in his work which the committee have not seen, and which, for reasons satisfactory to themselves, they have not thought ' it necessary to see." It is evident that Mr. Speight is here making insinuations, and is shifting the responsibilities of these reasons on to this gentleman. I challenge Mr. . Speight ,to come straight out with these reasons. Is his insinuation that this gentleman has spoken in disparagement of my artistic powers? If not, what does he mean? Mr. Geo. Fowlds was brought out also—for what purpose? Why does not Mi. Speight refer to his opinion? I challenge him to do •bo. It could not bo on tho question of like•;ness that he is judging me, for they have not seen the likeness which has boon mado since. Then reasons must, therefore, be •founded on the sitting statue, which is all of mv work they have seen. In regard to the merits of this particular work, I wrote months ago to a friend of mine in Sydney, Mr. Julian Ashton, inviting his criticisms of photographs of this sketch model of Sir George Grey. lie showed them to Mr. Sid. Long, Mr.'iiOiigstafT, and Mr. Van dei Velden, all of them well-known artists of Australia, and their opinions arc unanimous and unreserved in their expression of admiration of the artistic merit of the work. These ought at this time to weigh in some way with the committee, for Mi. ,Speight 'has read these letters, and I can only say if he does not know the value of such opinion, the public at lea"! have a right to know. The length of these letters prevents mo from publishing them here, but I shall bo glad to do so should it be desired. ' In conclusion, I again ask that my work ' be weighed in tho balance with the work of this artist of "world-wide reputation," whose designs the committee are_ said to have selected, and that Mr. Speight will "fulfil his early engagement 'with the public when he said through your columns on April 4: —" Nothing will bo done in a hurry, and , the public will have ample opportunity of {inspecting the various designs before anything is definitely decided unon." — am, etc., " Allen Hutchinson. : Cromwolbstreot, Mount Roskill.