MUSEUM SITE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12394, 13 March 1926, Page 4

MUSEUM SITE

RENEWAL OF AN OFFER The question of the proposed new museum and, art gallery was referred to by Sir Harold Beauchamp and Mr C. M. Bowden, who attended yesterday’s meeting of the Board of Science and Art. Sir Harold Beauchamp said that, in accordance with a promise given by the late Mr Massey, the sum; of 3100,000 was placed on the Supplementary, Estimates, *to be used on condition that the citizens found another £IOO,000. Nothing further had been done in the matter; as the question of site had not been determined. Many persons regarded the present site as an ideal but, unfortunately, that idea had been vigorously opposed by Sir Francis Bell, \ who said the land was required for other purposes. Sir Francis thought the Mount. Cook site would do. Sir Harold Beauchamp expressed the opinion that nearly all of those interested were against- the Mount Cook site. Quite recently it had occurred to him that another- suit able site might be secured—the property adjoining Fitzherberi terrace, Hobson street, and Midgrave street. This property was owned almost wholly by the hospital trustees, and had been let on lease. The only freehold section had been conveyed hy’him to the Government for the purpose of creating a fund for an Art Gallery. He did not think there would be much difficulty in getting the land, because the authorities could/grant the bospitq] trustees an endowment elsewhere.* He was quite prepared to Renew the offer which he made some time ago, and he had received from friends offers of several quite substantial subscriptions. Hie thought that if the Government provided a good site there would'not' b» much difficulty in raising the £IOO,000 and carrying out the project. Mr O. Bowden said the committee felt that two points should he cleared up, namely: (I) The question of site; and (2) the question of control. After some further discussion, the chairman expressed the hope that before’, long some definite further step would he taken.