THE SARJEANT BEQUEST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 10

THE SARJEANT BEQUEST

' AND A-GREAT BUILDING SCHEME ; : ART GALLERY FIRST ■ Some time ago someone with ideas 'fcas seized with tho very praiseworthy notion of arranging, in conjunction with the Sarjeant Bequest (for art), a block of three buildings, to be erected in tho elevated reservo at tho head of Maria Place/including tho sito at present occupied by tho sleeping lion monument to thoso bravo soldiers of the Imperial Army who fell in tho war •against tho Maori in the AVangamii 'district. It should, perhaps, first bo ~ explained that tho Sarjcant bequest .. , was a bequest left by tho late Mr. Henry Sarjeant, a former settler of this district, for the promotion of art and tho establishment of an art gal- ' /lory in AVanganui. Tho bequest is in . 'the nature of properties. Tho return "'from half of theso (which are administered by tho Public Trustee),.goes to the fund.'and that from the remaining 'half to the widow of Mr. Sarjeant during her lifetime. Thereafter all the ; propertios are to fall in to the bequest. Tho return at present is from about ' £15,000 worth of property. Tlio first ■„ consideration was tho erection of a suitable art gallery, in whioh to fittingly display several very valuable pictures, which have already been purchased 'with bequest moneys. Tho consideration of this project led to the birth of a bigger idea—that of erecting a now 1 civic structure (with offices and town ;hall), and also a new museum (which is badly needed)._ The site selected for the new buildings is in every way suitable. It is dead in the centre of the town, two minutes' walk up a' 'slight, incline from tho Avenue, on a plateau '35ft. above the head of Maria Place (which leads directely to tho Avenue). The project was approved by the Borough Council, and it was eventually decided to call for competitive plans, for tho best design for laying out the three buildings—civic building, aft gal•lery, and museum. After a prelimin'ary competition, fresh designs-were called for, and on these Mr. Hurst Seager, of Christchurch, adjudicated as judge. This gentleman decided in ' favour of No. 16, who in the opinion of . the judge was '-'easily first," and few will disagree with that selection. Tho winner proved to be Mr. Edmund Anscouibej.but, for reasons best known to the Borough Council, the decision of tho judge has not been officially made, nor has Mr. Anscombe been officially notified that he is the winner, though his name has been unofficially published as the author of plans No. 16. The manner in which theso plans have been prepared is an eye-opener, and accords splendidly with the dignity and beauty of tho buildings and general lay-out. Mr. Anscombe has, na- .'•■ turally, made the civic block the centre, ■ with a noble yet simple, but severely classical facade, with the offices and Council Chamber near the front, a great dome in the centre to light the foyer of the' Town Hall, which runs to the back of tho building, tapering slightly to a width sufficiently largo for tho reception of a grand organ at some future period. The central pile is flanked by the museum on the northern sido and tho Art Gallery on tho southern side, both slightly on the . anglo receding backwards from the ... point nearest tho central structure. Both huildings correspond precisely in design—a ...level, sky-line, only broken in the centre by a squat dome. These buildings are in the form of a cross, the greatest depth corresponding with . the greatest width. In tho case of the Art Gallery—the only building the im- ' mediate erection of which is contemplated—the subdivision is perfectly arranged. On either side of the pillared entrance aro small apartments, the one for miniatures and the other for the use of the curator. The central corridor carries one into the gallery proper. • Tho first apartment passed through is me for smaller canvases: right ahead, and under the dome,. is the sculpture room, on either side are fine galleries for' paintings of any size, and at the back is another apartment for smaller works, say, black and whites, etchings,' etc. The architect also makes ample provision for extensions of both tho Art Gallery and Museum, ho has artistically laid out tho grounds in front, and even descended to the lower level, flanking AA'att Street, and has suggested a plan by which that paddock should be bedded out. It will bo very interesting to learn the council's intentions

regarding tho plans. To thoso not behind tho sceno tho position to-day is rather incomprehensible It should be mentioned in that connection that the winner of tho competition is to bo the architect for the 'work.