NOT FROM MARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 86, 13 April 1939, Page 12

NOT FROM MARS.

ONE-LEGGED ROBOTS.

MYSTERY IN ALBERT PARK.

CENTENNIAL EIGHTS TEST,

Two sets of three green-painted circular metal boxes overshadow Albert Park flower plots. . . . They look like something out of H. G. Wells' earlier books, dealing with an invasion of Martians, or the robot horrors imagined by writers of "marvel" fiction; They are not, however. These strange 4ft 6in erections are the experimental forerunners of what the Centennial celebrations may do for flowers and shrubs in Auckland civic parks and gardens. For the past fortnight visitors have been amazed to see strange colour effects on flower beds after sunset—blues and browns and greens, and so on. Various coloured glasses are attached to the undersides of these one-legged monstrosities and the high candlepower electric globes within do the rest. Experiments Explained. The explanation of these experiments was given this morning by Mr. R. H. Bartley, general manager of the Auckland Electric Power Board, who is chairman of the illuminations and decorations committee, which is a section of the pageantry sub-committee, which in turn, is 'a section of the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council. This is not really as involved as it sounds. ' Part of the programme, which will be recommended to the page.intry subcommittee by our section, will be the treatment of the various plots in Albert Park —and, in all probability, in other small flowering areas adjacent to the city," he said. '"It is considered desiraJ>ic that special attention should be given to the artistic lighting of trees ;ilso. Proper treatment with the right tones of light can produce beautiful and striking effects and make a wonderful displav for a comparatively reasonable expenditure." Attractive Illuminations. It was for that reason that experiments had been carried out in Albert Park, he continued. Estimates would then be available to place before the pageantrv sub-committee. Satisfactory results had already been obtained, and, providing that the scheme was approved by the responsible committee, there was no doubt that this form of illuminations would prove attractive and provide added interest for spectators during the celebrations. With one exception, which was in an olive tree on the Princes Street side of the park, the tree-lighting experimental units had been taken down.

"These can produce wonderful results," said Mr. Hartley. "The idea is to got the li»lit oil (he under part of the leaves. Adapted to the right trees — those on which the leaves will turn and twist—the effect is to create a tree that is animated and ever changing."

He added that it was hoped that his committee's suggestion for treating the Craft on Bridge area would be adopted. That was a scheme for treating certain of the specially beautiful trees adjacent to the bridge. Another class of tree, particularly suitable for such lighting, was the Norfolk pine,—though in a different wav.

Norfolk Pines Suitable. "Its shape and symmetry lend themselves to tree-lighting effects," he said, "and our committee is looking into the possibilities in this connection, particularly in regard to the old mission house at Mission Bay which has Norfolk pines adjacent." There were endless ways in which the parks and reserves of Auckland and its environs could be beautified. The only question was whether there was enough money available to handle the proposals. That was a matter which rested in the hands of the senior committees. At present his committee was preparing a report complete with photographs and sketches, which would show the results of the experiments in Albert Park.