Page:Municipal Handbook of Auckland 1922.djvu/92

 Gallery for the purpose of housing the Mackelvie collection. This proposal was accepted by the Trustees, and an agreement was thereupon entered into between the Trustees and the Corporation, which being ratified by the Supreme Court, the Council carried out its undertaking, the gallery known as the Mackelvie Gallery being completed and opened in 1893.

So rapidly did the City and Mackelvie collections grow that in less than two decades the accommodation became insufficient, but with the transfer, in 1911, of the Municipal Offices, which had up to this time occupied rooms in the Library and Art Gallery building, to the new Town Hall, further accommodation was obtained for the collections. Alterations were undertaken with this object in view, and were duly completed, the re-opening of the Galleries taking place on January 28th, 1913, Mr. C. J. Parr, Mayor, presiding, and Mr. Devore and Mr. Upton, ex-Mayors, who had been associated with the previous functions connected with the Library and Art Gallery, taking part in the ceremony. Mr. Upton was now chairman of the Mackelvie Trust.

Still the space was insufficient, and in 1914 the ratepayers approved the raising of a loan of £4,000 to erect an additional gallery, which was opened by Mr. J. H. Gunson, Mayor, on 12th December, 1916. Mr. J. H. Upton delivered an address on this occasion.

The record of expansion still continues. At the present time the galleries are more congested than ever,