H.—2l.

valuable pictures wore presented to the Gallery during the year by the Now Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and private persons, and the grateful thanks of the Board an- extended to the donors of the pictures. Monetary grants from the Carnegie Corporation (for the purchase of facsimile reproductions of old and modern masters) and from the T. G. Macarthy Trust also enabled valuable additions to be made to the Art Gallery. The T. G. Maoarthy Trust also made a, welcome donation for educational purposes. The Museum held some interesting exhibitions which were well attended. The tea-rooms were well patronized during the year, and a number of special functions were held in the rooms. A valuable gift, in the form of a, collection of caiillon music, was made by Mi , . E. E. Muir as a, memorial to the late Mrs. Muir {nee Miss Gladys Watkins), who acted as Carilloneuse Cor several years. As will be soon from the Treasurer's report, the revenue of the Board is barely sufficient to meet the expenditure incurred. The Government giant has boon maintained, but the contributions of local bodies show a, small reduction, owing to sonic of the contributions being discontinued. Without the support of local bodies the Board would be unable to continue its activities, and it, is hoped, therefore, that during the present year contributions will be forthcoming from bhose bodies which could not see their way to contribute last, year. The Lecture Hall has been 1 1:;<■<I frequently by societies connected with bhe activities of bhe Museum (such as bhe Royal Society, Philosophical Society, &c), and for the display of educational films, The staffs of the Art Gallery, Museum, and Carillon have rendered satisfactory and willing service, and the work has boon carried out efficiently. Owing to the lack of finance, if has not I a possible to give adequate attention to the care and upkeep of bhe grounds, but, arrangements arc being made for the Wellington City Council to take over the care of the grounds under the supervision of the Director of Parks and Reserves. The Board records its appreciation of the help and. assistance rendered by fh.e Carnegie. Corporation of New York, the T. G. Macarthy Trust, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Toe H, the Royal Society, the Wellington Philosophical Society, and others : also to the press and National Broadcasting Service for valuable publicity. The Board of Trustees gladly welcomes donations or bequests, either in the form of exhibits or money, for the purpose of extending educational work and general activities of the Art Gallery and Museum. P. Fraser, Chairman. F. H. Bass, Secretary.

NATIONAL ART GALLERY COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YlUil ENDED 31st MARCH, 1940. Committee Meetings. Ton meetings of the Committee of Management were held during the year. Exhibitions. The most important event of the year was the Centennial Exhibition of International and New Zealand Art. The Board of Trustees made arrangements with Mrs. Murray Fuller to visit Great Britain and Europe, and in the short time at her disposal she assembled a collection of 560 works of eminent artists of Great Britain, France, and Belgium comprising the finest and most comprehensive collection ever brought to the Dominion. The Exhibition was notable for its very high, standard of quality and for its groat variety not only in the stylos and outlook of the artists, but also in the type of work, which included paintings, drawings, etchings, dry-points, wood-cuts, colour prints, and sculpture. Most of the works by living artists were For sale. In addition, there wore a number of special exhibits obtained on loan, In conjunction with the exhibition of the overseas collection, the organization of a New Zealand section was undertaken by the, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. The international and New Zealand sections comprised one comprehensive Exhibition occupying the whole of tin; Ait Gallery rooms. The combination of this Exhibition in New Zealand art, numbering 400 works of New Zealand contemporary artists, was recorded as a fitting contribution to the celebration of New Zealand's Centennial year. The Exhibition was opened by His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, on the 10th November, 1939, and remained open for six months. It closed on the 12th May, six weeks after the end of the financial year. The attendance and sales figures are taken to the end of the Exhibition period. In the overseas section, 91 pictures of a total value of £4,796 were sold. A total of 57,150 people, including 9,100 children (under sixteen), visited the Exhibition. Five thousand catalogues were sold. An art-union, which was very successful, was organized in connection with the international collection. Tickets worth £230 17s. were sold, and eight prizes to the value of £200 were distributed. The Committee desires to record its thanks to the seven Wellington citizens who advanced a total sum of £1,100 towards the preliminary expenses of the Exhibition and to the Government for a similar guarantee of £900. The.se advances were made entirely free of interest, on condition that they were to bo paid back out of the takings if and after the Exhibition paid expenses. Two of the guarantors very generously allowed their advances of £100 each to be retained by the Committee for the purchase of pictures. Through the good offices of Mrs. Murray Fuller during her visit to Great Britain, the Board of Trustees has received gifts of bhree valuable oil paintings. They are as follows: " 'The Plough is our Hope," by the late Harry Fiddler, R. 0.1, presented by Dr. Mills, Edinburgh; "Resting," by the late Harry Watson, R.W.S., presented by Mrs. Harry Watson, London ; and " Shipping, Venice," by the late Sir David Murray, R.A., presented by Sir Edwin Cooper, R.A., on. behalf of the trustees of the artist's estate. The Trustees extend their sincere thanks to the donors of these pictures.

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