CABINET DECISIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 October 1908, Page 7

CABINET DECISIONS.

DISPOSAL OF NATIONAL PICTURES. THE CHEVALIER COLLECTION. At the meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday, it was decided that the Chevalier collection of drawings bo housed, for tho present in the Parliamentary Buildings, if there is sufficient room. The drawings, about 200 in number, are the work of the late Mr. Chevalier, a wellknown English artist, who made a largo number of sketches in New Zealand. A collection of his work, consisting chiefly of tho New Zealand, studies," was> given, by, his widow to the Government of this country, with tho stipulation'that the drawings should be hung where they would bo accessible to the public. The sketches' arrived six or eight months ago,' and since • then tho Now Zealand Academy of Fine Arts has been in communication with the Government on the question 1 of finding a suitable'home for them. Tho present decision of Cabinet, virtually postponing the Government's obligation, is apparently tbo first' definite answer that has been received. As it is stated that many of the sketches are _of considerable merit, and that tho collection as a whole. is well deserving of public exhibition, the gift of the collection to the State might furnish an additional argument for the granting of a subsidy by the Government to enable the Academy to provide a proper gallery for the display of its permanent pictures and the sketches. ' , , New Parliamentary Buildings. Tho Cabinet decided to invite competitive designs from architects throughout the Dominion for tho now Parliamentary buildings. Wireless Telegraphy Scheme. Consideration was given to an offer made by the Pacific Islands Radio-Telegraphic Co. to establish a system of wireless tolegraphy between New Zealand and seven of the Pacific Islands. It was decided to make further inquiries before coming to a final decision in the matter. Music Puipls' Passes. At present commutation tickets on the railways are available for music pupils for a distance not exceeding 60 miles. . It has now been resolved that a music pupil desirous of travelling more than that distance shall be able to take out a ticket at commutation rates for the first 60 miles, and ordinary rates for the remaining distance.

Authorisations, Current authorisations were made for road, making purposes throughout tho Dominion to the amount of £150,000, and for railways to the amount of £180,000, with £20,000 extra for rolling stock. Tho amount of £300 was authorised to be spent on finishing tho dotention yard of the Te Oranga Girls' Reformatory, at Christchurch. Hanmer Spa. It was agreed to convert tho Spa accommodation House, at Hanmer, into a sanatorium. At present the Spa is mainly a Government boarding house. Proprietors of other boardinghouses at Hanmer have frequently comboardinghouso. Proprietors of other boardno doubt the Spa would servo a much moro valuable use as a sanatorium, which was, we believe, the original purpose of tho establishment. Tenders. It was decided to call for tenders for the erection of a post office at Waverley. Tenders woro authorised for a post office at Ohakuuc, and receiving home at Christchurch.