THE AMERICAN FLEET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9307, 6 August 1908, Page 3

THE AMERICAN FLEET.

SOME AUCKLAND PREPARATIONS [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, August 5. A "Herald" reporter is unkind to the signwriters who are getting <rat transparencies for " Fleet Week." He says the art of portraiture in New Zealand is not likely to receive any considerable fillip as the result of the visit of the United States fleet. Could th» shades of Romney and of Reynolds take a walk down Queen Street and gaze upon the efforts of a few at least of the artists who have turned their attention to welcoming the naval visitors, their comments would make Aery interesting reading. Accurate statistics are not yet available, but one authority stated yesterday that dOOOyds of transparencies have been evolved in the signwriters' shops daring the last few weeks, and these artistic efforts will be hung for public view during the next day or two. President Roosevelt, this authority calculated, had been portrayed at least a hundred and fifty times, and Sir Joseph Ward had form- ] ed the subject for the painter's brush j on an equal number of occasions, while j even Admiral Sperry had not escaped. Many of these portraits are, it may be i said, really creditable compositions, J when it is remembered that they are intended not for the admiration of posterity but for the decoration of a second or third-floor window, xor others, however, little that is favourable can be said. President Roosevelt would lose the happy smile he is so generally depicted as wearing if" he could look upon a number of what are facetiously described as his " likenesses," while Sir Joseph Ward and Admiral Sperry will doubtless be , surprised that tliey can look like so many different people and yet appear to be so unlike the faces that they see in their mirrors every morning. Where the transparencypainter has left man and turned • his attention to the lower creation, he is generally more successful, and some praiseworthy work has been turned out, but even in this department many of the transparencies fall .short of the Royal Academy level. of the strangest lions, eagles, and kiwis that ever, graced a zoo have been or are about to be let loose in Queen Street and other adjoining thoroughfares. Most of the lions are notable for abnormal muscular development, while the eagles are- remarkable principally for a ferocity of mein that would be sufficient to frighten any real lion, far less the quiet kiwi with whom he is generally bracketed. The picture poster hoardings have been termed the picture galleries of the multitude, and these transparencies should provide the visitors to Auckland with a picture gallery that is as interesting in some respects as that in the Municipal Buildings. THE AUCKLAND WELCOME. [Per Press Association] . AUCKLAND, August 6. t ollowmg several days' rain the weather appears to have set fine. The display of the fleet decorations is proceeding with the utmost expedition. The main thoroughfare is ablaze with flags and banners of welcome from the towns throughout the dominion. The display of electric light will be very fine, and the town will be a perfect forest of native shrubs and foliage. A sergeant of police, five uniformed constables and Detective Gibson will go from Christchurch to Auckland for the arrival of the American fleet.