REPORT. 



The Committee feel pleasure in having to report a year of continued 

 success and progress, which has been memorable in the history of the 

 Institution. 



In the last year's Keport it was stated that the buildings comprising 

 the extension of the Walker Art Gallery were near completion, and that 

 the City Council had made a grant which would cover the balance due 

 on the erection. Subsequently Sir Andrew B. Walker, to whom the 

 City is indebted for the cost of the original building, has nobly come 

 forward and paid into the City Fund the entire cost of the structure, 

 amounting to £11,720. This has increased the debt of gratitude due 

 from the public to their generous-hearted fellow-citizen, and has been 

 expressed by the presentation of an address, prepared in the first style 

 of art, commemorative of the event. 



The new building was opened on August 80th, 1884, with an 

 exhibition of works of art on a scale hitherto unequalled in the Provinces. 

 A separate report has been issued containing the details and statistics, 

 but it may here be succinctly mentioned that in addition to the usual 

 annual exhibition, eight societies of artists, including the chief London 

 ones, and the Royal Hibernian Academy, contributed to the collection. 



The pecuniary success has been satisfactory, a net balance of £2,070 

 having been realised after payment of all expenses. This has been 

 expended in. the purchase of pictures for the permanent Gallery. 



The extension of the Walker Art Gallery has enabled the permanent 

 collection to be displayed to the best advantage, without being subject 

 to the expense and confusion annually incurred by the removal and 

 replacement consequent on the annual exhibition. 



