THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5877, 17 September 1880, Page 6

THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

TO THE EDITOR. ' Sir, —It is not a very pleasant task,' to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I am bound to say a word or two respecting the photographs in ths Auckland Free Public Library. I do not intend to dwell on the quality of the work, though I ana not singular in thinking that they are mostly very poor ; but I wish to point out the unconquerable penchant for detraction displayed towards Auckland, in the South, even in the photographic line. There are two or three views of Auckland—one taken from the back windows of the Shortland-street Club, showing the backs and patched roofs of all the tin-pot shanties just below, together with thedebris and abominations of their back yards, as well as the abominatioos of desolation called the reclamation works; the other is from the back windows of the Northern Club, and shows the back slums below the Barrack Hill and all their concomitants. Now, Sir, is it any wonder that the residents of the Southern towns have such a mean idea of Auckland, and call it a scattered, dirty hamlet; when such photos, are authoritatively issued by Government as representing the place. Is there any public spirit in this place that will provide proper and just views of Auckland ia the shape of negatives and send them to Wellington to be reproduced, along with a request for the withdrawal of the villainous two that I have referred to above, on the ground that they are the very two worst views of the town that it is possible to select. If the Aucklanders are content to let the matter rest and to frame and hang thase two atrocities, then I have nothing more to say, except that they will deserve all the detraction that they will get down South.—l am, &c, " Patriot.