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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 294, 4 May 1889, Page 4

the supetintendent of Fine Arts at the Mel be urne Exhibition, has laid before the Commissioners a comparative statement in which he hss tried to prove that the picture galleries under his charge were more highly appreciated than the concerts given under Mr Cowen’s direction. If he has not exactly proved his case, he, at all events, has afforded another instance in support of the assertion fi f ures ™ a 7 b e niade to prove any I^f2° rdlnB , t 0 Mr Lake’s showing, about half the people who visited the exhibinon inspected the picture galleries, whereas only one quarter of the visitors went to hear Mr-Cowen’s music, and he deduces from this circumstance the conclusion that in this colony painting is twice as popular as music. Unfortunately for Mr Lake’s theory he has spoilt his case by trying to prove too much. tie has “ counted tne heads ”of those who parsed through ” the galleries, while he has only taken into account the number of those who * paid ”to hear the concerts. Now, it is manifest to any one that to a good many visitors the picture galleries were a mere lounging place. On the other hand people had to “ stay ” to hear the music. Moreover, „ k’k.t hfls ot ta!sen any account of the many thousands who attended the “free” conMrts. There are men who swear bv statistics, but if this is the way in which the superintendent of Fine Arts prepares his ngures, few people would care to see him occupying the place of Mr Hay ter.