CANTERBURY ART SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17106, 30 March 1921, Page 6

CANTERBURY ART SOCIETY.

»_ • ANNUAL EXHIBITION. 111. Among tho impressions that ono brings away after several visits to the present exhibition is one, so strong ns to amount to a conviction, that in tho interests of several local artists Now Brighton should bo closed to them for a year. It is not that the soasid* borough is not worthy of their skill; it offers, indeed, a field of remarkable variety, from the sea and sandhills and cloud-«hndowed bills of tho coastline to tlho willow-fringed reaches and wido reed-beds of the river. But it, would do some of our artists pood to go further afield and paint Nature in other forms. Mr H. N. Hawker, for instance, has been painting charming little pictures of tho estuary and its neighbourhood for years, and in this exhibition ho has several moro equally good:. In tCio ono painting, "A Sunny Autumn Day" (No. 62), in which he gets away from the. estuary and of tho Avon ho gives us an excellent picture of a bend of the river higher up, so characteristic thai wherever it was shown a Christehurch resident would recognise it. His art* would, wc feel sure, benefit by a chango of scone, for it is difficult to believe that wo have yet seen tho best ho ran do. Mr Andrew Heid is in danger of allowing his style in handling oils to benoino a pure mannerism. The best of his four is undoubtedly "AVind-swept Trees" (No. - 15), which, with its tossing trees and driving clouds, conveys fully and faithfully the intended impression. "Ploughing"" (No., 28) is more ambitious but less successful, though here, again, Mr llcid manages the cloud effect very skilfully, and tho horses are welt drawn. Mr F. L. Hutchinson's work feftiows a distinct improvement over thai of previous years. His colour is better and moro assured, and he secures atmospheric feeling without mistiness. Ho has gone to country roads and fields for his subjects, and is most succesful in "Late Afternoon" (No. 24' and "Tho Oatfield" (No. 2159). Mr 3 % G. R. Blunt sends a number of pictures of Cornish scones. In some of them she has hardly done herself justice, as tlhey «ro slight to tho verge of sketchiness, but «T?he Hayle Bar" (No. 89), though slight, • grows on one by 't3 clever use of scanty materials. "A Quiot Pool" (No. 285) is admirable alike for its beauty and workmanship. Mr A. E. Baxter's Kaikoum scenes are ou such a level of excellence that it is not easy to choose between them, but it is to "Ohau Blaff" (No. 137) and "Evening Light" (No. 139) that one goes back for tihe Jast time. In the former tho storm effect is well managed, ,and the lighting of tho latter is charming. We are less impressed, with the artist's mountain scenes, but there is vigour and fine colouring in his representation of Mount Cook' from Lake Pukaki (No. 165). The most, notable of Mr E. Bartley's contributions aro' tihe three depicting scenes in Bruges, in which he has caught njuch of the charm; and quaintness of the old city. In "A Street Scene" (No. 110) the figures of the three women lose a little in effectiveness owing to the dullness of the background, but except for the strong sunlight on some buildings the, whole picture is idw-tanod. The "Vegetable Market" (No, 145) is moro vigorously painted, and in all, three the .drawing is very good.. Of Mr Bartley's other works, the most' striking is ''A Nor'-west Evening" (No. 212), which, does justice to a sky that is familiar, to all of us. Miss H. F. Gibson has two effective pictures giving glimpses of Lake Wakatipu seen through the trees (Nos. 92 and 172), and Miss Daisy Osborn again charms us with her delightfully dainty little flower-and-fairy pieces (Nos. 166, 167, and 168), while Miss Joan Pocock is seen at her best so far in similar work in "Love-in-a-Mist" (No. 170). Miss D.TL Richmond's skill in water-colour is seen in several exhibit, of which "Hills at Paraparaumu" (No. 321) claims most attention. It is only a little copse on the side of a grassy hill, but it is full of fine feeling, and the colourhfg is delightful.. . Miss Ngaio Marsh's work is clearly that of a young artist who has/not yet quite found her style, but it is decidedly promising, and Nos. 276 to 279 contain much that gives' assurance of still better work in the future. Mr C. A. Dunn has several most interesting church interiors ahd some landscapes of less value. Mr L.'H. Booth shows a clever portrait and a cartoon in black and white. Mrs M. T. Roberts' little picture of "Mount Someis, from the Bush" (No. 244) shows a certain amount of vigour in the treatment. Miss Scott is still doing good work, though showing a slight tendency, to hardness. In "Summertime" (No. 164) .Mis Beken gives the best treatment of trees that has yet been seen from her brush. Mrs Mansfield's best work is seen in "Autumn Tints" (No. 204) and "North New Brighton" (No. 229), the former being good in colour, though slightly wanting in finish, while the*latter is noteworthy for the realistic treatment of the grass. Mrs F. Deverell's pictures of Tintagel (Nob. 860 and 361). are pleasing, and Miss Cedeiman's "Arthur's Pass" (No. 14) is above the age.The overflow from the large and small rooms has found hanging space in the permanent gallery. Among the more noteworthy exhibits here are Mrs A. G. Mutes's collection of miniatures, of which "Pavona" (No. 7) fascinates by its beautiful colouring and drawing and the touch of romance in the composition. Two landscapes by Mr Dattilo Rubbo, of Sydney, .cannot bo in his best style, or he would noyer have won the reputation, ihnt he holds in Australia. Among the Hans Huysens lent by Mr A. E. Baxter is a delicious "Dawn," a most characteristic study of bluegums in misty light. It is certainly ono of the most beautiful things in tho whole exhibition. The late arrivals from Auckland include three excellent figure studies by Mr F. H. Cumberworth, formerly a well-known black-and-white artist in Christehurch. who has immensely itnproved by "is studies at Home, and a very clever painting by the same artist, "The Old Shed" (No. 4GI), in which the light and shade are skilfully treated. Mr A. S..Boyd, who learned his art on the other side of the world, has depicted the condition of affairs when "John Goumlie's cam' home at e'en," after being away for a day. John has evidently had a bad day with "the weans" and the homchold duties. The kitchen is in fearful disorder, scattered wjth broken crockery and other odd? and ends, and John himself is jt«ring gloomily into ,the fire. The composition and drawing are admirable, and the only criticism one can make is in regard to the flesh tints, which are somewhat too vivid. In her •'Wild Horse* at Taupo" (No. 431) Miss B. C. Dobie has been much more successful with the horpe - 3, which are drown with much spirit, than with the colour of tho lake and the distant hills. Mr V. McCracken's exhibits are disappointing. The best is No. 47.5: in several or the others, the atmosphere does not in the least suggest New Zealand. There is, however, some good work in a portrait. The School of Art has a thoroughly good and interesting exhibit of students' work, in which Miss C. ThorntonV figure study and still life composition in oils, and a girl's head in black and white, are prominent. Thorn U also somo clover work by J. Cook, particularly a pencil sketch of an old house,.and F. Hutchinson has two life studies which are excellent in drawing and .modelling. Some very well cxccutl «d artcraft work is also shown. * . Somo hand-made pottery by Mrs Cay-

loy Robinson, Miss Edna Bruce, Misa - J. F. Osborne, and Mrs E. A. Bean, - and "some exquisite lace work by Miss <■ E. M. Hawker, are deservedly worth inspection, and tho same must bo said for tho less decorative but highly ' creditable iron and wood work shown bv young students at the Technical College. . That photography in tho right hands is a real art, is shown by somo exquisite photographs sent by Mr A. M Macuonald, whose work in this lino . 0 will be a revelation to most people, e Finally, we must congratulate Mr s W T. Trethewey upon bus stnttio, "Tho D Warrior," an Auzao in full 'fighting ~ rig, which he is to execute in marble ■ for the Kaiapoi War Memorial Comr mittee. Tho £gure, of heroic propor- > tions, is very skilfully modelled, and t tho statue, when completed, should be 0 ono of tho best local war memorials in , New Zealand. Tho exhibition has been well attend--0 ed, but there must b© niany people who 0 have not yet visited it, ana for thoir I, benefit it "may be mentioned that it r closes on Saturday night. • CASUALTIES. i ti • —— • 1 FATAL FALL. Robert Frederick Newton, 12 years e ' of age, died in the Christehurch Hos--1 pital yesterday, as tho result of a fall r from a cliff on the. Port Hills. Do- ■ \ ' ceased's parents reside at 102 Hills / I road, Heathcote. An inquest was hold J last evening by tho Coroner, Mr S. E. 3 McCarthy. 3 . Dr. C. M. Bevan-Brown said that the \ Boy was admitted to the Christehurch* Hospital on Sunday, at 4.45 p.m. He - was fully conscious, but suffering from t severe shock. An operation revealed ;'; b that the liver was badly lacerated. Tho ■ r patient rallied after the operation, and ■'-, f held his ground until about noon on -.i Monday. From that time on he gradu- \ '_ ally sank. Death was due to internal ; Wmorrhago. . .'! t Ronald Newton, 13 years of age, said ,; 1. that his brother fell, from the face of { (ho cliff while chasing a rabbit. A j 5 dislodged stone, weighing about thirty ; ; .. pounds, hit him on the chest. He was not able to walk, and complained or •; u pains. ■■.< a The Coroner returned a Toraiw or ;, . accidental death, • , A JOCKEY'S DEATH.. 9 An enquiry into the death of Henry l K. Adams aged 22 years, a jockey, s who died m the Hospital ma result - of injuries received through his mount , falling with him in a race at Riccar--3 ton on Monday, .was conducted laßt L night by the Coroner, Mr S. E. Mc- - a Carthy. , .„,«..., >] r Dr. D H Saunders, of the Chnsti church Hospital, said that on tie- <.„ t ceased's admission to the Hospital , s about 5.40 p.m. on Monday, he was j - unconscious, and his condition low. A c From what ho was told, and after an £ j examination of deceased, witness form- „ t ed the opinion that he was Buffering •>„ j from pressure on the brain. Operative ,# n interference was considered inadvisable, I and deceased sank rapidly. In. wit- ■», f ness's opinion death was due to coma, ,; i due to cerebral compression, the result <{ j of intercranial haemorrhage. -J i Albert Cutts, horse-trainer, Riocar- ,4 t ton, said that the deceased had been •„' in his emoloy for about eight, months. ;J Witness saw the race in which the acci- ,'jp dent occurred. Deceased's hone struck tho hurdle and fell. There was no:in- j? terference whatsoever from the rest of . f . the field at the hurdle, Micky deceased's horse, having the lend qte, the time.. After the • fall, decease*'dressed and exercised one of witness,^ Leonard Hagerty, jockey, residing at j 39 Racecourse road, Upper Riccarton, stated that he knew the' deceased. Wit- , ness rode in tho race in which the accident to deceased occurred. Coming to ■ the rsecond last hurdle, deceased's hprso ■ a was loading by a length. Witness A thought Micky Free took off all right, . | but struck the hurdle heavily with ltß ■;& fore feet. Deceased fell clear of tho | horse, but witness could not say if he J fell on his head. As he passed witness >M asked deceased if he was all right, and ffi he replied that he was. M A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence, the Coroner *1 i. adding that the fall' which caused death m was accidental. There was no foul play, -.m and deceased had received every atten- | tion after the accident. J In the three-mile bicycle race at the | Oxford Sports on Monday,' fivo riders ft came to grief together. One, A, h. , i Shanski, broke his collar-bone, and J anotheV received minor injuries. Both ;| received attention from Dn Baglcy at * the local public hosnitaL r ■ On Saturday afternoon Thomas Mo- ■* Namara. a returned soldier, aged 39, .1 was amongst the spectators at a cnoket match played at Geraldine. leading the ground with friends, he went to tearoojns. where he was Suddenly taken ill. He was carried, into the open air and a doctor was sent for, but before the medical man could;amve he- had ceased to breathe. At the inquest held by Mr Mosley, Coronfer, the medical evidence was to the effeot that death was due to embolism of, the pulmonary artery of the heart and a verdict was returned in accordance therewith. Mr Mosley expressed sympathy with tho relatives of the deceased, remarking ■ that the fact of his having boen badly . gassed while serving his country had , unquestionably hastened his end. - Stanley Ward, aged 11, wihile ndins . a horse yesterday, which ran oway, felt off and Injured nis head and face.; Ha, was taken to the hospital, but his in- ~ juries are not /serious. . A bo" named Aloysius Murphy, living at St. Albaiu, fell from a tree yeatorday at St. Albans Park, and was pickad up unconscious. There wore no visible wounds found on him. After removal to tlhe hospital his condition improved, , , and he was conscious last night. (PBBSS ASSOCIATION TBXEGBAV.) WELLIXiQTON, March 29. ( | Maud-Taylor, 28, stepped off a.tram- ' car in Manners street, and was. caught ; ; underneath. Before she motorman , could pull up, the car had passed over ■■-- . tho woman. Cue leg was cut off below . the knee and the ofeher badly crushed, [ while the unfortunate woman was also badly cut and bruised about the body, j She is Btill alive, but is in a critical son- ', dition. ) "~ '■ '