IN OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 48, 20 November 1907, Page 5

IN OTHER CENTRES.

(fhom oun special cohhe6pondentb.) -

AUCKLAND. November 18. The recent strictures of Mr. Justice Dennistou upon pictorial representations of bushranging storios draws a strong editorial rejoinder from- the "HeniM." In tlie course of its article the'journal in question says: We arcs not concerned to defend the "Kelly Gang" biographic exhibition, but the "Bobbery Under Arms" pictures on a totally different plane. They rerc, of course, "faked." As skilled dramatists had seized on the most vitally interesting f>arts of the book, had superintended the stag.''ig of them in the most effective realistic way., and the stage scones, set in a background of trno fact, had been cinomatographed for exhibition purposes. Those who had road the book were glad to have their memories of it refreshed by the pictures; those who had not read-it gained such an idea of the work and the author's) power of graphic delineation that thriy would seize the first opportunity of reading it for themselves. In either case the pictums did good, and we cannot endorse His Honour's adverse criticisms of them or admit their immoral tendency. The pictures and the book must stand or fall together. • Rolfo Boldrewood was himself a magistrate, and as anxious as Mr. Justice Denniston is to conserve the interests of public morality. Many of the scenes in thc v book came under his own official cognisance. His object in writing was to give a faithful literary picture of a time of struggle and stress through which the land of his adoption had passed, and incidentally he had to deal with the phases of lawlessness in which Starlight played ,i prominent part. He.attempted no glorification of tliQ man, but simply introduced him as a necessary-element in, the truthful picture he had , , set out to portray. Rolfe Boldrowood, it must be remembered, did not write for imbeciles. They are but a small spction of any community, and the author of Robbery Under Arms" appealed to - the strong, healthy sentiment, the robust morality of the great mass of his fellow- colonists to estimate at- its true worth-his effort to write a historical novel;-and'to add one more stone ■ to- the temple-of Australia's literary fame; ■ He had the reward he sought. His work' was recognised as worthy, and to-day no list of Australian classics would be considered complete did it not contain "Robbery Under Arms," and give it a high place too. ■■■•■• Strawberries. .•■ . ... - The strawberry season in Auckland this year is some, weeks late owing to the recent very lint a vonrable weather conditions, which spoilt a very, considerable portion of the crop. Consequently,.higher prices than usual are being obtained, the fruit being sold as high as Is. 10d. per lb., as against Is. 5Jd. last year. The trade is now being regulated better than in the past, and branches of the local Association have been formed in the country districts. It is said that the chances of 'a glut m the'market; are.; very'"slight. The growers are looking-forward to an extension of the industry in! .'several directions, and especially in ' the southern portions of the Dominion when the Main Trunk Railway is completed. In "the South, .Auckland strawberries always'command a good market and excellent prices.

National League. „'.'.' , i At a meeting of the General Council of the National-League of• Now Zealand it was decided to hold'a,.conferences representing all sections of the League in Wellington next Castor. Reports • were-,read from i Mr. S. Scruby, who is organising 'for the League in tlio North. Mr. .Scruby reported that all through he had found the. settlers in strong sympathy with the objects of the League, and he was confident a large membership and the establishment of many activo branches .would result from-his tour.- Branches had'been tormod at Wainui, Puhoi, Warkworth, Dome Valley, Kaipara Flats, Tauhoa, Dairy Flat, , Waipu, Mangapai; and 'Kaiwaka. Mr. Scruby is now going '■ furth'er north" to of'-' : ganise m the Bay of Islands.. Harbour Works. Steady progress is being made with the Auckland harbour works. One of the most important is the new railway wharf, erected in ferro-concretp. at a contract price of £62,040, which is, the •first great work of its kmd in the. Dominion. The five large steel sheds have yet .to be erected and the remainder of the old wooden wharf to bo removed. The.iriew..'wharf should be available, for general shipping within three months.' There are, it is said, about 550 piles to be drawn in the removal of the wooden structure, and the, Harbour Board will utilise the best of, the timber in the work of reclamation at Freeman's Bay and Hobson Street. ; It js.ftlso .proposed' to extend the iNorthcote Wharf i: by 6Uft, with an average width of 40ft;,,so.as to accommodate the later typo of. forry steamers. This work should be completed in a couple of months. Electrical. Scheme.',,. ~ ' , The installation of the Auckland City electrical scheme-is being-pushed forward with , all expedition, but delay: in _the delivery, of certain portions'-of the appliances is impeding progress. Practically . all! the cables available have been used up in reticulating the streets mapped out for.first attention, but further shipments expected this month will enable the extensions to be undertaken at an early date. Owing to delay in the delivery of the"'booster the r p6wer; station is not as far forward , as it otherwise would have' been. The switchboard has been completed as far as possible pending the fixing of the booster set;- The boiler has been finished, and has had-fires in it, while one at least of the generating units is in readiness for a trial run. The battery has also been completed, and'eah be charged as soon as the still is released-by the Customs Department, certain formalities of an exacting nature having to bo complied with.