A New Zealander in Sydney Town

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1054, 19 August 1930, Page 9

A New Zealander in Sydney Town

THE SUE'S Sydney Correspondent SYDNEY, August 15.

An Evening with the Painters

Time was when the annual night of the Royal Art Society was one of tho most lively of Bohemian gatherings in Sydney. Nowadays, however, it is a gathering conducted with almost prosaic order. Yet if the gathering has lost a little of its sparkle, it is still sufficiently convivial. Feminine society is rigidly excluded. Somehow the fair sex would hardly fit in with bread and cheese, beer, and onions. W. Lister Lister, whose canvas is easily the largest in this year’s show, presided at Saturday night’s gathering. A. Dattilo-Rubbo, another admirer of the seldom-seen big canvas nowadays, made some rapid sketches, including the famous "Little Boy From Manlay” (immortalised by “Hop,” his creator), bearing up remarkably well under the existing financial depression. Charles Bryant, R. was a jovial master of ceremonies. The entertainers included Fred Bluett, veteran of variety, who, after complying with a request for his old favourite, "The Body in the Bag,” exchanged reminiscences of a trip to England with a prominent Macquarie Street specialist. The comedian was the hit of the voyage, the medico told me, with a home-manufactured elephant for the fancy dress ball! The Talented Lindsays Percy Lindsay was there with his nephew Ray, one of the painters of the future. Ray has two pictures in the show. Both show considerable promise. Sydney Long, A.R.E., Bruce Robertson, the etcher, Tom Garratt, the director of the National Gallery (J. S. Macdonald), and a New Zealand visitor, J. A. Brown, of Auckland, were among those I met. James R. Jackson, who at one time lived in Palmerston North, and has not long returned from Spain, and G. K. Townshend, whose illustrations are well known, were two New Zealanders whose work was displayed on the walls. Record Flight to Brisbane Sydneysiders have developed an “air sense” to this extent —they set their watches by the giant Brisbane air mail that passes overhead each day soon after noon. The machine is seldom more than a few minutes out. The other day the Southern Sun made the trip to Brisbane in the record time of three hours and 24 minutes. Passengers who have made the trip by air have assured me that never again would they endure the tedium of the train trip north. Portrait of Sir Joseph Ward W. A. Bowring, R. 0.1., the New Zea-land-born portrait painter, who was a fellow guest at the Royal Art Society’s annual night, invited me to view a portrait of the late Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. Bowring, who devotes the whole of his time to portrait painting, has been at work on this portrait of the former Prime Minister for some time. Its ultimate destination, I believe, will be New Zealand. Mr. Bowring recently completed a portrait of the late Mr. Geoffrey Fairfax, which now hangs in the board-room of the ‘.'Sydney Morning Herald” beside that if his brother, the late Sir James Fairfax (also painted by Mr. Bowring). For years he was well-known as a popular caricaturist. There are few clubs of importance in New Zealand that do not possess some examples of Mr. Bowring’s black-and-white work. Mrs. Bowring, formerly Olive Nelson, of Wellington, is also a painter. An Augustus John for Sydney

One of the most important purchases made for the Sydney Gallery for some time is a portrait by Augustus John, R.A., which I had the pleasure of seeing today. It is not a particularly good example of the work of this master, and might well be criticised on the score of slovenly painting. Opinions as to Augustus John differ. One must be either devotedly for or against John. The subject is a Canadian soldier. The price was something over 600 guineas. It is a compelling piece of work in John's direct style. Totally different in treatment is Glyn Philpot’s “The Draughtsman,” a three-quarter portrait, the second purchase of recent date. The subject, a portfolio under his arm, stands against a sombre background, with the face in relief. In contrast with the John portrait “The Draughtsman” is painted with almost meticulous care. There are no patchy parts on the canvas. Glyn Philpot has imbued his portrait with the dignified realism of the Dutch school. Both are valuable to students as the brother R.A.’s are so diametrically opposed to each other. A word of praise, too, for the Gallery trustees. Their courage in expending more than £l,lOO in these hard times is certainly commendable. First Woman Across the Bridge

To Lady Stonehaven must go the honour of being the first woman across the Sydney harbour bridge. While ferry travellers were gazing at the great height the other day and wondering how Mr. Ennis, the construction chief, had had the nervie to walk over

the plank that separates Sydney from the northern suburbs, the GovernorGeneral’s lady performed the identical feat. Lady Stonehaven was accompanied by the Governor-General. They were hauled up in a cage to the arch by one of the cranes, and let down again in the same way. Lady Stonehaven subsequently stated that the visit was a private one. It had been undertaken ‘merely from curiosity.” The prospect of a fall of about 400 feet to the harbour level, however, is surely sufficient to dampen the curiosity of most of us.

Whale Chase In The Harbour

The bridge had an unexpected admirer this week. A whale, cruising slowly down the coast, followed the coastline so minutely that he was very surprised to find himself in Sydney harbour. Excitement was intense. The whale found that it was easy enough to get into Port Jackson, but a very different matter to find the open sea again. A thrilling attempt was made to harpoon the visitor, who did his best to upset one of the motor launches that harassed him. After gazing at the harbour bridge, saluting the warships off Garden Island, ana blowing good and hard in Circular Quay, lie permitted himself to be photographed. Then, thinking he had seen quite enough of Sydney harbour, despite its much vaunted attraction, Mr. Whale made for the open sea, assisted by the tide. A Memory of Robert McNab

All New Zealanders who visit Sydney should make an effort to see something of the mass of New Zealand material in the Mitchell Library. No better excuse for an invasion could ever possibly be offered. It makes one sad to think that it is not available in the Dominion for our own students. No visiting New Zealander ever appreciated this fact more than the late Robert McNab, New Zealand historian and politician. The director (Mr. Wight) told me the other day that the Library had been responsible for safeguarding one of Mr. McNab’s best known works. On arriving in Sydney he informed library officials, where he was well known for his research work, that he desired to place the proofs of a new book in their safekeeping, as he desired to spend several weeks on holiday in the Blue Mountains. It later transpired tuat the printing works in Wellington, where the type had been set, was destroyed by fire during this period, and the proofs at the Mitchell Library were then the only ones in existence. Mr. McNab was always most grateful for this service the library rendered New Zealand historical literature. Another keen student at the Mitchell Library during his visits to Sydney has been the present Bishop of Waiapu, Dr. Williams. The Maori section, naturally, always attracted the new Bishop. The late Sir John Findlay, one time New Zealand Attor-ney-General, also availed himself of its facilities at different times. Frequently there at night nowadays is Jean Devanny, the New Zealand novelist. Trade Commissioner Resigning The New Zealand Government Trade Commissioner at Melbourne, Mr. H. J. Manson, is resigning after about 25 years’ service in that office. It is expected that he will retire about the end of this month. —ERIC RAMSDEX.