SARJEANT GALLERY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 6

SARJEANT GALLERY

ALL REVENUE FROM ESTATE NOW AVAILABLE DEATH OF MRS. J. A. NEAME Ah lhe revenue from lhe estate ol (he late Mr. Henry Sarjeant, which was bequeathed to the citizens of Wanganui for the establishment of an art gallery and the development of art is now available to the city. Mrs. J. A. Neame, who was formerly Mrs. Sarjeant, had a life interest in the estate and received from it an annuity of £l3OO. She died recently in England and the whole of the revenue thus becomes available for the purposes named in the will. Mr. Sarjeant, who died in 1912, combined the cultivation of arts with success in farming. In his lifetime he was a patron of music and the fine arts, and by his will gave a properly valued at £30,000 to be held in trust to maintain for the city (then the town) of Wanganui a fine arts gallery for the. reception, purchase and acquisition of pictures, and sculpture for the public benefit and use of the public. He made the Borough Council trustees of the will. This trusteeship was of the highest importance because it enabled the gallery be founded on a site obtained without cost to the trust. The building cost £20,000. It was designed by Mr. S. Hurst-Seager, of Christchurch. £3OO to £4oo A Year Available. It is estimated that the City Council will now have between x3OU ana 1400 a year more to spend on development of art, apart rrom that portion of the revenue ot the estate which must be devoted to maintaining the gallery and the properties in the estate. The properties consist of houses and sections and the estate is called upon to pay rents and rates and to maintain the buildings, including the gallery itself. Revenue from the estate in recent years has been £lOOO a year, in round figures. Mrs. Neame’s annuity of £l3OO thus caused the city to suffer a loss during the period of her lifetime. The normal outgoings on rates ana also maintenance ot the gallery and buildings amount to £650; so, if the revenue is maintained at £lOOO a year there should be round about £4OO each year for the trustees to devote to the purposes of the will. The gallery is the concern of the council and the death of Mrs. Neame may bring about some re-adjustment of control. In the past it has been managed by a joint committee representative of the council and including public-spirited citizens whose services have been co-opted. There is also an advisory committe of citizens interested in art. First Honorary Curator. The first honorary curator of the gallery was the late Mr. Louis Cohen. In later years the honorary curator has been Dr. H. D. Robertson, who is now touring in England. During his absence Mr. C. L. Duigan is honorary curator. The present, committee is: Councillors J. Siddells (chairman), D. W. Earle, O. Hales, H. Lawrence, J. J. Scott, with the co-opted members, Dr. H. D. Robertson and Mr. N. M. Izard, who has represented Mrs. Neame since the death of his father, Mr. W. A. Izard. The advisory committee at present is Dr. H. D. Robertson, Mrs. P. Whiteman, Messrs. C. I. Duigan, J. H. von Haast and Vivian Smith.