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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1949 Committee of Management of the National Art Gallery Mr. G. G. Gibbes Watson, M.A., LL.B. (Chairman); Messrs. Stanley W. Fearn, A.R.LB.A.; w. S. Wauchop, M.A.; Archibald F. Nicoll, 0.8. E. ; Cedric Savage ; Nugent Welch, 0.8. E. ; Robert N. Field, A.R.C.A. ; H. Webster Nash, M.8., F.R.C.S.E. Director : S. B. Maclennan, A.R.C.A. Secretary : R. D. Gore. Meetings Three meetings of the Committee were held during the year. Reopening of the National Art Gallery The renovation of the National Art Gallery was completed early in 1949, and on 31st March the temporary premises at the D.I.C. were vacated. The greater part of the National Collection, which had been stored during the war years at Hastings and subsequently at Buckle Street, were found to be in satisfactory condition. Reframing and hanging occupied some two months, and on the evening of Tuesday, 12th April, 1949, the Art Gallery was officially opened by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Peter Fraser. Over 500 guests attended the function, which was held by courtesy of the Council of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, in the Academy Gallery. The addresses by the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Management Committee were broadcast locally and a recording of the ceremony made for short-wave transmission. The National Film Unit prepared a short documentary film showing preparations for the reopening in progress and the final official ceremony. It was generally agreed that the Galleries with their newly-lined walls had never looked better and that the fresh light colour of the painted hardboard, in place of the former dingy burlap, improved the lighting and created a sympathetic background for the pictures. Acquisitions The following is a list of works acquired : Gifts—- " The White-Cloud " (oil painting by Algernon Newton, R.A.), presented D. A. Ewen, Esq., 0.8. E., Portrait of Mrs. N. S. Falla (oil painting by the late Mrs. M. E. R. Tripe), presented by Mrs. N. S. Falla. " The Ruin of Paratutu " (water-colour by the late A. R. D. Carbery), " Lupins " (water-colour by T. A. McCormack), " In the New Zealand Bush " (oil painting by the late Linley Richardson, R.8.A.), " Portrait of Miss D. K. Richmond " (oil painting by the late Linley Richardson, R.8.A.), Presented by the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. The portrait of Miss Richmond was subsequently accepted by the Board of Trustees for inclusion in the National Portrait Collection.

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