JC Hoyte - Auckland Art Gallery

ing between the two parties. Not a word was saidrelating to the dinner, either to Mr Wilson or MrBerry, — Yours etc., Jno. C. Hoyte.'The letter sounded as if hastily written, but stillMr Hoyte managed to make his own position quiteclear and yet not offend his friend. Mr Eastwood,at the conversazione at the closing of the exhibition,is in a happy mood, congratulating the 'dear andbeautiful ladies' on their work, but making specialmention of the pictures of Mr Hoyte.All seemed well. But whereas the admiration thatMr Eastwood obviously had for the painting of hisfriend Mr Hoyte helped the relationship betweenthem, we can imagine how often he had ruffled thefeelings of the rest of his fellow committee men.(There is a note in the minute book inserted someyears after this affair, pointing out that the onlyreason that Mr Eastwood had been president wasthat he had voted himself so, once when he was inthe chair.)At the meeting after the exhibition the troublebroke. After the secretary had read over the accountof receipts and disbursements in connection withthe exhibition, it was proposed, seconded andcarried that Messrs Symons and Palmer audit theaccounts. Mr Eastwood immediately tendered hisresignation as member of the committee (heseemed to be no longer president) and then MrHoyte also tendered his resignation, both as secretaryand as member of the committee. ' Mr Eastwoodthen left the chair,' we read in the minutebook, 'and the meeting was dissolved.' This isprobably a very temperate account of an exceedinglyintemperate act of behaviour.16