PUBLIC ART GALLERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 15

PUBLIC ART GALLERY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The fifdi annual meeting of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society was held in the Town Hall on Thursday afternoon. Sir George Fenwick, acting-president, pre- j sided, and there were about 35 ether members, including several ladies, present. ANNUAL, REPORT. The Acting-president, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said : “I regret that Sir Lindo Ferguson is absent from the Dominion, and that, as one of the vice-presidents of the society, it has fallen to me to occupy the chair at the annual meeting to-day. The president, would undoubtedly have taken a more than ordinary interest in this meeting marking, as the year has done, so great a step in advance of the society’s affairs.“Like its immediate predecessor, the year which ended on January 31 last was one of exceptional interest in the history of the society. The 1925-26 year was memorable because of the holding of the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition and the important bearing that great and highly-successful venture had on the welfare of our society. It will ever be remembered by the society’s council and members as an event of the very greatest importance to the society, because of the Splendid collection of paintings and other works of art which adorned the walls of the fine gallery that had been built for their, reception bv the Exhibition Company’s directors, a large number of which were subsequently purchased by the council 0f the society. The notable features of the year now under notice were, of course, the purchase of pictures from the British section of the Exhibition Gallery, to thevalue of close on £3OOO, from interest accumulations of the Smcaton bequest and of other additions through special presentations of pictures bv various friends of the gallery and through the John Blair and Winifred Smith bequests. ■ These were further added to by purchases made by the council of the society from the American pictures in the Exhibition Gallery, the funds for which were subscribed by the public in response to an appeal made by the president, Sir Lindo Ferguson, which realised £l5OO. —(Applause.) Other additions to the collection were the “St. George” bronze, presented by two members of the council, Messrs E. I. and P. L. Halsted, and three etchings from the Exhibition, jointly presented by the artist (Mr Fred Richards) and Mr Ernest Marsh, the latter of whom, it, will be remembered, had charge of the gallery while the Exhibition ran its course. As will be seen from the report, the total value of the pictures and other works of art added to the society’s collection during the year amounted to £673o.—(Applause.) The other events that made the year a very memorable one were, firstly, and of greatest importance, the purchase of the Exhibition Gallery building by Mr and Mrs P. R. Sargood, and its presentation to the city by them as the future home of the _ city’s art collection.—(Applause.) The society and the citizens generally are very deeply indebted to Mr and Mrs Sargood for their generous gift, as it enabled ample space to be devoted to the display of a collection of pictures that is npt . excelled—perhaps not equalled—by any of. tho other art collections in the Dominion. The gallery was fittingly opened by his Royal Highness the Duke of York during his visit to Dunedin in March last, and the great increase in the' number of Visitors to the society’s new home over those who visited the old gallery is most encouraging to the council, and may be Regarded as proof of its wise action in Very warmly supporting the removal to Logan Park. 'An event of importance that occurred in the year 1924 may be referred tq_ on this coo on as having probably some connection >7ith th o support given by the council to the change of location of the gallery fo Loffan Park. The event I refer to was the successful close of negotiations with the

City Council for taking over the society's collection of pictures and making it one of the city s attractive assets. Those negotiations _v. eiv protracted, but were throughout marked with great cordiality and responsiveness by the council and the town clerk, Mr Lewin. Having decided to support the transfer of the pictures to Logan Park the corporation was fortunately able to dispose of the old gallery building at a satisfactory price to the Early Settlers’ Association, and the citizens have now the satisfaction of knowing that they are the possessors of the finest art gallery building in New Zealand with a splendid collection of art treasures of which they have just reason to be proud.—(Applause.) The corporation has since undertaken to pay the balance of the society’s debenture issue (£750), which mature- on July 1 next, but it is matter for congratulation that the a ount it will real is- from the sale of the old gallery will fully recoup it for all its expenditure in installing a heating system ami effecting certain permanent work connected with the roof of the Logan Park building. As tne citizens have acquired an art collection which may at a moderate estimate be valued at £25,000, it will be recognised that they are to be congratulated on their new possession.—(Applause.) “It is with special pleasure I refer to the marked ability with which the important work of the secretary. Mr Neilson, was performed during the year.— (Applause.) The. assistance he rendered to the gentlemen in charge of the Exhibition Gallery was of great value, and especially so was the service he rendered in the selection and purchase of pictures from the British and American collections. The council was much indebted to him for his sound judgment in appraising the merits of the .pictures that were selected. Later on, in the transfer of the society’s pictures from the old gallery to Logan Park, and in the heavy, work that was involved in hanging the pictures in the new gallery Mr Neilson’s services were invaluable. He has the consolation of knowing that he is now domiciled in a gallery which he worked hard .o acquire, and that he is in charge of a collection of pictures so • advantageously hung that their merits are easily seen by the steadily increasing number of visitors to the gallery.

“It is perhaps advisable that I should explain, with respect to the Smeaton benuest of £lO,OOO, that this remains the property of the Art Gallery Society, under the terms of Mr Smeaton’s. will. The income arising from the bequest must be devoted to the purchase of pictures, and these will be front time to time added to the civic collection. The Art Gallery Society will continue to exist, and will, as is pointed out by the hon. treasurer, Mr Loudon, in his report to the president, carry on the management of the gallery. I trust the council will continue to have the active support of the members, whose subscription will be necessary to supplement the amount the corporation has agreed to provide annually for the upkeep of tho gallcrv. With respect to the balance sheet, Mr Loudon, the hon. treasurer, has given us. th-s principal features of it in very lucid form, and it is unnecessary' for me further to explain the figures. It is satisfactory to know that the City Council in securing a very valuable asset will not be called on to expend any. large sum upon it annually, and citizens generally may congratulate themselves on the acquirement of a gallery of the magnitude and excellence of that which, up to the present, has been under the control of the Otago Art Society. I believe that as years go on the council will recognise it as one of the best social assets of the city. It is certain to attract an increasing attendance, and when Logan Park becomes the popular resort which it will be in tho course of time, it will be still further appreciated by our people and by visitors to the city.—(Applause.) I can only hope now that under its new ownership the Art Gallery will have continued prosperity.—(Applause.) Mr H. Tapley, M.P., seconded the motion. He was sure, he said, that citizens appreciated the Art Gallery they now possessed at Logan Park. It was a fight to get the gallery transferred to the park, but he was satisfied that those who once opposed the change would now consider, in the light of the patronage already oo-

corded the gallery, that the move was an advisable one. and that the corporation was right in accepting the generous gift of Mr and Mrs P. R. Sargood.—(Applause.) It was an asset of which they could all be proud. It was a gallery that was comparable with any other art gallery in the Dominion, if it was not superior to them all, and with the handsome bequests it possessed the trustees would be able to add tq an already extensive and valuable collection. He was pleased to know that, tn his term as Mayor of th© city t he he had been able to do something to assist the society in transferring its quarters to Logan Park.—(Applause.) Tho motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The Acting President said he had pleasure in proposing Mr John Loudon as president for the ensuing year. Mr Loudon had been a tower of strength in the capacity of treasurer, and if he did as well in tho position of president as in that of treasurer the society would have a good president.

Mr R. S. Black seconded the motion. lr obn Roberts supported the motion. Mr Loudon had done excellent work for the society, which had frequently expressed its apreciation of his services, and the motion deserved a hearty reception at the hands of members.

ihe motion was agreed to unanimously. Mr_ Loudon thanked the meeting for the honour conferred upon him. Excellent work had been done in the past, and he would d o his utmost to carry on that work in the future. He was proud of the gallery- It had small beginnings, and to-day th G citizens had a gallery of which they had every reason to be proud.—(Applause.) . Mr E. E. Nicolson proposed the foiow ing gentlemen as vice-presidents:—Sir John Roberts, Sir George Fenwick. Mr A. Bathgate, and Mr I). E. Theomin These gentlemen, he said, had done good work for the society, and it was right that the members should'" confer upon them the honour of holding office as vice-presidents. —(Applause.) The motion was seconded, and carried unanimously. Str John Roberts thanked the members for his re-election, and said he would at all times do what he could to further tl c interests of the society. Sir George _ Fenwick also thanked the members for his re-election, and performed a similar office on behalf of Mr Bathgate and Mr Theomin in their absence. Mr Bathgate had taken the greatest interest in tho society from its earliest stages, and Mr Thcomin’s efforts for its welfare had been of the very warmest nature. The < smoliment of re-election was one that both gentlemen deserved. — (Applause.) On the motion of the Acting President, Mr E. I. Ilalsted was appointed hon. treasurer.

The following were elected members of the council: —Sir William Sim, Sir Louis E. Barnett, Sir TL Lindo Ferguson, Mrs E. C. Reynolds, Messrs P. R. Sargood, P. I, Halsted, 11. L. Taplev. M.P., E. Price, 11. Mandeno. and R. Hudson. Mrs J. MTndoe was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for past services as a roe nber of the council. On the motion of Mr G. Crow, seconded by Mr J. M'George, Messrs Barr, Pereas, and Co. were re-appointed auditors. STR LINDO FERGUSON’S SERVICES. The Acting President proposed a vote of thanks to Sir IT. Lindo Ferguson for tho work done by him in raising funds to acquire pictures in the American collection at the Exhibition, and for his untiring efforts on'behalf of tho society in other directions. As members were aware, Sir Lindo Ferguson had succeeded in raising £l5OO. and with this money a number of valuable pictures had been purchased for the gallery. Mr Loudon seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. GENERAL. Mr R. S. Black, as one of the representatives of the City Council on the council of the society.' was asked to address the meeting. In the course of his remarks, Mr Black said the society could rely on him to assist it in its new home. The heating of the building would be very welcome to visitors in the winter months. A vote of thanks was passed to Sir Georcre Fenwick for his services as acting president.