interest taken in art by a rapidly enlarging circle of the inhabitants. A large 

 and unprecedented increase in the number of art students in the Government 

 Schools is also attributed to the influence of these exhibitions. 



The Committee would point to the gratuitous admission of the scholars of 

 the town schools as a most important element in the usefulness of the Exhibi- 

 tions, as fostering a love of art at a time when habits are being formed; and 

 although some years must elapse before the full effects of this can make them- 

 selves felt, yet they do not doubt that the results flowing therefrom will not be 

 among the least important obtained by the Exhibition ; and it is also gratifying 

 to observe the growing interest shown by the artizans, as evidenced by their 

 increased attendance in the evenings. 



The abiding interest felt by artists gerierally in the Exhibition was 

 proved by the fact that, although the Committee exerted themselves to hang 

 a larger number of works than they had ever previously done, they were 

 obhged to reject about 700, for which it was impossible to find room. 



The quality of the pictures exhibited maintained their previous high level. 

 The number of important pictures painted specially for the Exhibition, a 

 very valuable feature indeed, was also considerably larger than on previous 

 occasions, and the large pi'oportion of these sold^iowed that purchasers were 

 fully alive to this advantage. 



Though in some cases the Committee have been compelled, reluctantly, to 

 arrive at a different opinion to that formed by the artist, as to the merit of his 

 ■work, and the position upon the walls which it deserved, they have received 

 gratifying assurances that upon the whole the artist world place full reliance 

 on their desire to be just and impartial, and to mantain this confidence they 

 are determined to spare no effort. Their only possible interest, as members 

 of the Corporation, being that the Exhibition should be in every way worthy 

 of the town. 



They feel, however, that some artists may not unnaturally have been dis- 

 appointed in the position assigned to their pictures in comparison with others 

 of not greater merit. In some cases the Committee have been unable to hang 

 works where they would wish, owing to the aggressive nature of the colour of 

 the pictures, which would have seriously injured their neighbours, and the 

 whole tone of the wall. Young artists should be careful that they do not, 

 by the size of their canvas, attempt to monopolise too large a space, especially, 

 as is often the case, when the subject is by no means of sufficient importance 

 to warrant it. An artist also should be very sure of his reputation, or of his 

 powers, before he asks a purchaser to give up the whole of the wall of any 

 moderate sized-room to one picture. 



