Educational Centre

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 88, 30 April 1937, Page 6

Educational Centre

VALUE TO PROVINCE Further Development to Cost £5000 "OFFICIAL CEREMONY

Another stage along its joumey of progress was passed "by the Hawke's Bay Art Society last evening, -when the new section of the art gallery and museum at Napier was officially opened by the Director of the Dominion Museum at Wellington, Dr. W. R. B. Oliver. Th© ceremony was an importaat one not only for Napier but for tha whole of the province, for this institution is Hawke's Bay's storebouse for all these inteiesting articles, documents and specimens which tell of tbe early life of the pakeha and Maori, and how the province has steadily grown since first it was^settled. j It is to be something more than a •tore-house, for the controllers of the inslihition, adopting the modern theory in regard to art galleries and museums, invite the publie at large, and espeeially the sehool children, to make use •£ it as an educational avenue.

The preseat building, which has cost £5,600, comprises two laTge wings, a etorage basement and lobby. The society has in mind still further development and expansion, estimated to eost about £5,000, but in the meantime the institution Will serve excellently to exhibit pictures and specimens which *re of interest to the people of tho proyince. The function last evening was well attended. The president of the society, Mr. N. Kettle welcomed everybody and gave a brief survey of the manner in which the esisting building had been . financed.

Highly Appreciated, Over 8,000 people* have passed through. the doors since they were first opened — even despitd the fact that the building has been closed for five months while the ncw wing was being built — and this indieates that the institution is highly appreciated by the people of Hawke's Bay," he said. He outlined what the society still requned to spend. This included the sum of £1,700 to complete the Lady MeLean Art Gallery, £60 for the purehase of a pair of bronze lamps for eaeh side of the main entrance, and £75 to furnish off the lobby and cloakxoom. He thanked Mr. M. S. Spence for having donated a bronze hand-rail for the main entrance steps, at a cost of £50. Mr.. Kettle himself has donated a handsome bronze inscription for the main entrance. Mr. Kettle called upon Dr. Oliver to open the new wing. In doing so, the dootor delivered a most interesting and instructive address on the proper way of eontrolling an att gallery and museum, and laid stress on the fact that the institution shonld be a source of education as well as a store-house for interesting "reeords and exhibits. The Mayor, Mr. O. O. Morse, congratulated tho Art Society upon providing another amenily for tho town und provincc, and mado special mention of the driving force of Mr. Leo Bestall, who had workcd so hard to bring ihe institution into being. "His committee and he. have taken a lot off the ehoulders of the civic authorities," he said, "and as Mayor I render ti. Mi. Bestall and his committee the municipality 's gratef ul thanks." Representing the Carnegie Advisory Board, Bishop Herbert '"Williams niade mention of the valued assistance given to the Hawke's Bay and other art galleries and museums by grants from the Carnegie Corporation. Over £11,000 had been spent in New Zealand on such institutions, Napier having received £2,500. Bonate the Balance. "I notice that the society wants a further £5,000 to complete its job," Bishop Williams added. "Well, I will go so far as to say that if you people Taise £2,500 the Carnegie Corporation will donate tho balance." Mr. Bestall paid a tribute to Lady McLean for her constant interest in the institution. Napier and Hawke's Bay eould not feel too grateful to her. He pointed out that the policy of tlie museum was never to exhibit the sajne specimens more than about three months at a time. If people presented specimens, ^hcreforc, and they were not iiuuicdiately exhibited, lct theui not fcol discouraged, for eventually tfiey would find their way on to Ihe slielves and benchea of the museum. Mr. Spence spoke of ways and moana of providing income and capital moneys for future expansion work. He suggested that people be invjted to make provision .in their wills for-bequests to the Hawke's Bay instilutiou. To this end he bad written to every lawycr in Hawke's Bay forwarding such a suggestion, and he already knew of cases where c-odieils to wills included a !>equest for the art gallery and museunt. It had been decided te^adopt an Engiish idea and invite the puplic to beeoiue "Friends of the Museum," who would pay a sinai! annual snbgcription for the privileges they would receive.