LORIE & COS AUCTION MART AND ART GALLERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 18

LORIE & COS AUCTION MART AND ART GALLERY.

The building in Priucc.s street known for many years as tho Queen's Theatre, and more recently as the Salvation Army Barracks, has just undergone a complete metamorphosis, under the direction of Messrs A. Lorie and Co., who have converted the whilom homo of tho Thespian art into an auction room, with entirely novel adjuncts, which bhould have the desired effect of making tho place au attractive pleasure resort, and a favourite one for a pleasant stroll in the afternoon. Tho whole of the building has been opened up, and the upper floor converted into a gallery for the display of works of New Zealand art iv the shape of paintings and drawings, as well as photographs. Under its altered condition the building presents a novel and highly attractive aspect. The lower room, which occupies the whole length of the building, is 166 ft long, and opens on Princes street to the full width. On the left of the entrance is situated the office of tho National Mutual Life Insurance Company, of which Mr Lorie is district manager. The main saleroom is devoted to the display of furniture, of which a largo and really superior stock is shown, as well as pianos and organs iv great variety of style and quality, nnd consequently price. Tho entire front is open to Princes street, and is closed at night with revolving shutters. On the right hand is a distinct entrance to the produce saleroom, which runs the whole length of the building, affording ample space for the firm's established produce business. Running down the right hand side are constructed poultry pens to accommodate 1400 head of poultry and show them to the best advantage. On the left hand side there is room for 600 cases of fruit. The vestibule thus occupied runs round behind the main showroom, and in it this enlarged space affords room for grain, produce, &c. Outside this again, and running parallel to it, is a cool room for the storage of cheese, &c, which, in conjunction with the cool cellar below, affords accommodation for 100 tons of butter and cheese. The firm's offices and strong rooms are iv the centre of the building. Tho frout upper saleroom, reached by a lift at the front of the building, is devoted to rabbitskins and sheepskins, of which tho firm make a specialty. Numerous bins are erected in every available corner for the purpose of classing the skins, an operation which the firm profess never to omit. Judging from the large quantities already on hand, this branch of the business appears to be a large one. Ascending the main staircase, is gained the art gallery, 95ft by 55ft in dimensions, and well lighted from the roof. It is intended that the walls of the gallery 6hall be devoted to the display of works by New Zealand artists. The idea is that tourists passing through Dunediu may be enabled to see a fair collection of representations of New Zealand scenery by New Zealand artists. On Tuesday night no less than 96 water-colours and 84 paintingvS in oils were displayed, and they elicited no little admiration, as most of them are by well-known artists. It may be said that the occasion on Tuesday night was made a most pleasing one. The vestibules and staircases, as well as the galleries, were lined with pot plants and evergreens. The wal.s of the saleroom were hung with rugs, which contrasted pleasingly with the objects which crowded the floor. Tho articles of furniture of which these consisted were of a nature much superior to those usually displayed in salerooms. A strong band, provided by Mr Robertsbaw, pleasingly contributed a number of musical items throughout tho evening, and their efforts contributed largely to the pleasure of the occasion. The rooms were crowded till a late hour by delighted promenadors, who evidently appreciated the firm's enterprise, and thus was inaugurated a new departure in enterprise by a firm evidently detorinined to make its mark, and to combine the utilitarian with the prosaic in a manner which should be exceptionally attractive.