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It is hoped that full restoration of the grounds will shortly be undertaken by the City Council. Recitals on the Carillon by the automatic playing-apparatus have been continued throughout the year. Proposals regarding completion of the Hall of Memories as a national war memorial and the establishment of a war museum have been receiving consideration by the Board of Trustees, and the matter is now awaiting Government action. The members of the staff have carried out their duties efficiently. The Board records its appreciation of the continued financial support received from the Government, Wellington City Council, Wellington Harbour Board, and other local bodies in the Wellington district; also of assistance received from the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Royal Society of New Zealand, Wellington War Memorial Carillon Society, and others ; and also extends its thanks to the press for valuable publicity. The annual accounts are appended hereto. In addition to the usual provision of £l,OOO for Repairs, Renewals, and Extensions Fund, appropriations have been made for educational purposes (£700), purchase of pictures and exhibits (£500), and for rehabilitation of the Art Gallery and Museum (£500). P. Fraser, Chairman. F. H. Bass, Secretary.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1946 Committee op Management of the National Art Gallery G. G. Gibbes Watson, M.A., LL.B. (Chairman) ; Mrs. M. Murray Fuller ; Messrs. Stanley W. Fearn, A.R.1.8.A. ; W. S. Wauchop, M.A. ; Richard Gross, C.M.G. ; Stewart B. Maclennan, A.R.C.A. ; Archibald F. Nicoll; Cedric Savage ; and Nugent Welch. Secretary-Manager : E. D. Gore. Meetings Four meetings of the Committee were held during the year. General The National Art Gallery building continues to be occupied by the military authorities and there is no indication yet as to when it will be vacated by them. As it will require some months to restore the building after its return, there is little prospect of its being opened again to the public before 1947. The Committee has again carried on its activities in the temporary premises in the D.I.C. A varied programme of exhibitions was arranged during the year and the interest of the public was well maintained. National Collection When the Art Gallery was taken over by the military authorities in 1942, steps were taken to safeguard the National Collection from damage which might result from enemy action. Great difficulty was experienced in finding satisfactory storage accommodation outside Wellington, but through the courtesy of the Public Trustee the loan of a very suitable storage room in the Public Trust Building, Hastings, was obtained. Thirteen cases containing some three hundred and fifty paintings and drawings and a large collection of prints from the National Collection were sent for storage to this building. These pictures were returned to Wellington this year. They will not be available for exhibition until the Art Gallery building is reopened.

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