A New Zealander In Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 951, 19 April 1930, Page 6

A New Zealander In Sydney Town

THE SUN’S Sydney Correspondent SYDNEY, April 9. A Caning for the Speaker On more than one occasion in this t-olumn I have commented upon the lack of control by the Speaker in the State Assembly. Members themselves are now beginning to realise that their Parliament resembles a beargarden more than anything else; It is a fairly safe assumption to say that in no other Parliament in the British Dominions is the general toue so low. When the Premier (Mr. Bavin) sat down the other day, as Opposition members refused to give hint a hearing. it was realised that something had to be done. A deputation of three leading Ministerialists were deputed to call upon the Speaker, Sir Daniel Levy. The interview that followed is believed to have been a somewhat painful one. It is a fact that when the House resumed Sir Daniel was not in the chair. It was explained that he was suffering from a headache. Sir Daniel, however, is back iu harness this week, and it is confidently believed •hat his control of the Assembly will be a little more firm in future. Big Fortune for ex-Chief Justice The terms of the will of the late Mr. 'John Brown, the coal millionaire, having been made public, it is shown that the former Chief Justice. Sir Adrian Knox, is, together with Mr. Thomas Armstrong, the principal beneficiary. Sir Adrian, who has since resigned from the Bench, is believed to have inherited at least £500,000. He obtained a -cash legacy of £IO,OOO, in addition to the valuable Darbalara Estate, which included the bloodstock there. It was interesting to note that with the solitary exception of a be•luest of £SOO to the Presbyterian Church in Newcastle, which his family had attended for many years, Mr. Brown did not make a public bequest of any character. Yet practically the whole of his great wealth was made in the Newcastle district. Margaret Preston Interested in Maoris Margaret Preston, who is the outstanding woman in the world of Australian art today, proposes to spend two months in New Zealand. Mrs. Preston will travel to Auckland in June. and. after spending some time at Rotorua, will visit the South Island. One of the principal objects of her visit is to become acquainted with the Maoris, in whom the painter is extremely interested. The first artist to draw attention to the art of the aborigine and its use in handicrafts, Mrs. Preston has done much to make the unfortunate blacks of her own country better understood. I sincerely hope that every facility will be accorded this distinguished Australian, so that she may get in touch with the genuine Maori spirit. Mrs. Preston was accorded a signal honour recently. The trustees of the National Gallery in Sydney invited her to paint her own portrait. This was completed recently, and is now in the gallery. Mrs. Preston is the first. Australian woman to have this honour paid her. Many of the leading men artists have painted their own portraits, but Margaret Preston is the first member of her own sex to do so at the request of the trustees. Australian Art For New Zealand Incidentally, while on the subject r.f Australian painters. I might mention that Wellington will shortly see the most representative selection of Australian pictures that New Zealand will have viewed for some years. The Society of Artists, whose show is generally regarded as the Salon of Australia, is shipping a collection to the Capital City at the end of this week. Some indication of the standing of ihis society may be gained from the fact that its members include George W. Lambert. A.R.A.; Elioth Gruner iNew Zealand born), Harold Herbert,

Hans Heysen. Sir Bertram Mackennal. R.A.; Lionel Lindsay, and others of recognised ability. Sign of the Times The fact that the Society of Artists proposes holding a show in Sydney in May, at which the highest price that any exhibitor can place on a picture must not exceed 25 guineas, is undoubtedly a sign of the times. The object, of course, is to extend the range of art patrons in the city. Naturally, the painters were among the first to feel the prevailing depression. It is more than likely, however, that the more prominent of the members of this society will be represented by drawings. The Fleet Returns Sydney is always glad to see the fleet return from its annual cruise in southern waters, especially when so popular an Admiral as Rear-Admiral Evans is directing its activities, and particularly when times are hard like these. As a preliminary, big gun practice was carried out at the heads today. The old destroyer Torrens was the target. What the reason was I cannot tell, but the Torrens came safely back to port tonight. Perhaps the excellent cider for which Tasmania is justly famous had something to do with the aim of the gunners; or, maybe, Rear-Admiral Evans simply changed his mind, and decided that the old destroyer might make an equally suitable target on another occasion. lVlinus a Governor Sir Dudley and Lady de Chair must have been more than thankful to see the last of Sydney. For weeks prior -.o their departure, which took place yesterday, they were inundated with farewells. Some of them, naturally, were of an even more boring character than is usually the case. The former sailor Governor and his lady are now the guests of the Governor of Queensland and Lady Goodwin. Before leaving Queensland they will stay on one of the cattle stations iti the north. Front Brisbane they will embark for Singapore and the Far East, returning to their English home via the United States. The de Chairs were very popular in New South Wales. Their stay here was a most successful one. Their successors, Sir Philip and Lady Game, however, are likely to be equally popular. ERIC RAMSDEN.