NEW ZEALAND ON CANVAS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 3185, 4 December 1878, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND ON CANVAS.

We had the pleasure on Saturday evening,' ,; ' of inspecting a fragment of Mr J. ; S; Willis' grand diorama of New Zealand, past and present, The glimpso wo en-'"' joyed of a parliiilly finished scene convinces us that, when completed, this work of art will do infinite credit to one of the ■■ most industrious and accomplished scenic ' artists in the Colonies. Theview repregents the landing of Captain Cook at Queen Charlotte Sound, Some of. the officers are represented in the act of planting the British flag on an'eminence'near the beach. Near them is-a of Natives who, from their gesticulations, appoar. to be taking an anxious intece,s|' in the ceremony.. Captain' Cook and several of his companions are standing % short distance off watching passively \ the' conduct of the Maoris. The, portrait of the Captain is au excellent one, and the,., whole of the figures'are well executed.;-,' These details, however, are of small, value;M compared with the artistic way,in which','; the scenery of the Sound is represented. The utmost attention has been paid to light and shade, and the artist has followed the grandeur of Nature as exemplified in sonio of the lovely seascapes that adorn our .• islands with an accuracy that can hardly be too highly commended. Judging from the fragment presented to us ; the panorama of New Zealand; when" completed,; ? shewing as it will do the progress of civilisation aud sottlemenfc—the infancy and manhood of our. cities—the conversion of the wild bush into smiliug homesteads and villages—will prove a sourco of admiration to colonists, and one of the best advertisements of the Colony that could possibly be made abroad. The colors employed are brilliant, and Mr Willis (who has already devoted several months to this work) seems determined to stako his reputation on its success. , Whon finished it will cover about a mile and a quarter of canvas. The panorama willbe mounted upon a portable frame; supplied with rollers and other contrivances, with the aid of which the cascades and other movable effects will be accurately represented, and the most strikingly beautiful results imaginable produced. Asa work of art, we feel assured we are not too. sanguino when we anticipate that it will ' surpass anything of the kind that has " been produced in Great Britain or America' ; . for many years, and the novelty of the scenery treated will doubtless give it, in the Homo Country, a very high value indeed, We may add that Mr Willis has associated in his enterprise Mr Harry ' Seymour, who will act as business mana- ■- ger, and that the title conferred on the new panorama is " Zealandia," Trior to travelling abroad it will be exhibited in the principal centres of New Zealand.— Dunedin Echo.