THE ILLUMINATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 102, 30 April 1913, Page 5

THE ILLUMINATIONS.

Queen Street presented a gay and animated scene last evening, many thousands of citizens, old and young turning out to see the illuminations, the chief objective of the crowd being the waterfront, where the Ferry Building stood conspicucusly brilliant. The large and gorgeously coloured crown swung over Che wharf approach, the illuminated masts and outlined shed, and the string of coloured globes at the landing stage, all helped to make the water-front brilliant and festive looking, while from the dark hulk of the big battle-cruiser in mid-stream shone forth a great crown of light, silhouetting the massive warship against the dark background of the night. At the other end of Queen Street the tower and facade of the Town Hall, looking down the street, were a blaze of red, white and blue Kght3, so artistically arranged as to present a very attractive illunmination to the crowds who viewed it. The only private attempt at night decoration -was at the Waverley Hotel, on which crossed flags in coloured lights, with words of welcome above and below, shone out prettily, while a coloured star decorated the corner of the block. Very effective were the Illuminations over the water at Devonport, a striking feature being the lighting of the crown of Mount Victoria with 'hundreds of gas jets. The whole water-front was, •moreover, etrung with lights from Stanley Point to Victoria, wharf, behind which the fire tower glowed under a mantle of radiance. The Devonport illuminations lent a charming and fairy-like effect to the northern shore of the harbour, and attracted many an appreciative glance from the crowds assembled on various points of view.