CHRISTCHURCH BY NIGHT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10999, 24 June 1901, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH BY NIGHT.

THE ILLUMINATIONS.. '"'' SPLENDID APPEARANCE OP THE CATHEDRAL.

It was a light-hearted, merry-making ] crowd which commenced to pour into the ' city's main thoroughfares from all points of the compass almost before dusk had set in in the evening. At an early hour the throng had assumed tremendous dimensions, and perambulation with ease and comfort was an impossibility. Up and down the muddy streets, which played sad havoc with footwear and ladies' dresses, the people wandered, and as the various designs of illuminations flashed up, it seemed as though come fairy hand had been at work turning the dull outlines of buildings and arches into a dazzling mass of radiant jewels. "Ah! Ah! Oh!" exclaimed group after group as they were suddenly confronted with some new" display. The hundreds and hundreds of cadets who have been so much in evidence during the past week were again to the fore, and entered heartily into tne prevailing spirit. Their boyish prattle and shrill, merry laughter contrasted with the deeper tones oi their older uniformed brothers, and much good-natured bantering was indulged in., Tue census returns may have shown a predominance of the gentler sex over the sterner sex, but it was a most palpable fact that there were many Jacks without their, Jills,

The illuminations were eagerly scanned and ciiticised .by crowds oi impartial observers ot all a-ges and sexes. In Armagh street, for instance, so expectant were the crowd, and so eager .were they to be the first to witness each new display, that when a flaming torch sprang up out of the darkness behind the stands, a grand rush' was made. When the people arrived at the seat of the illumination, however, they were gratified undoubtedly at seeing a gentleman underneath this toroh light busily calling forth the supreme merit* of various decorated cushions and other articles he proclaimed himself willing to sell to those who cared to buy.

It was a piece of bad luck that the istvreets •were in such a muddy condition, for all courses were shaped for the footpaths, and the traffic thereon became more congested and difficult every minute. However, nobody except journalists appeared to be in a 'hurry. Strains of music were heard at intervals in several of the streets as the evening wore on. Some of these were issuing from the ordinary Christian musical instruments, others appeared to be the result of the manipulation of some strange and terrifying instrument hitherto unknown to us. CATHEDRA!, SQUARE AND VICINTY. Being the centre of the city. Catflhednil Square was also the locality where the •best and most effective show of illuminations had been made. There is no doubt thab it lends itself admirably for this purpose, as it is almost suirounded by large buildings; but that full advantage was not taken of these facilities was apparent. The illuminations were, speaking generally, patchy in nature, and unequal in quality. Ji/raTon the Post Office, on.which a ideally excellent display could ihavo been th'e total effect was spoiled by a want of artistic taste and arrangement. The patchings of the display in the Square possibly could not have bsen avoided, seeing that each particular business place selected its own illumination ; - but the same remark hardly applied to the Post Office. Of course, the redeeming feature of the display in the Square was the illumination of. the Cathedral, which was undoubtedly exceedingly effective. The tower portion of the spire of the .CatJhedral on each ot its four sides was outlined with coloured electric lights, as were also the windows and gables. Higher up, artistic use had *been made of the steeple po. t on, and the openings were lit up; the topmost portion was lit up by a flashlight, operated; from, the side of Mr E. W. Roper's premises. The motto, "Welcome to our future King arid Queen," showed up well on the tower. The total effect was grand in the extreme, and could only have been heightened if the whole building had been illuminated on the same scale. The illumination started at 6.15, and was continued' till after- midnight. Next, as regards size, but a long way after as regards effectiveness was. the display on the Pest. Office buildings. On the north front, the plan of the illuminations was much more harmonious than those on the . east front. Over the north porob there was a representation of the Royal Ooat-of-Arms in gas. Over the clock, on the same front, "there was. a transparency showing Prince of TValesls feathers ; other transparencies depicted a capstan and anchor, and a crown with a wreath round it; there were also three other transparencies. On the eastern front the chief attractions were two transparencies—one intended to represent his Majesty the King and Queen Alexandra, and the other depleted the Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall. Transparencies, it is readily granted, cannot be expected to reproduce faces with photographic fidelity, but it is generally held that some artistic taste can be exhibited in the subjects treatedThis quality was almost, if not entirely, absent from some of these particular transparencies ; indeed, one might search and search in va:n for any artistic qualities whatever. There were two smaller transparencies shown—one depicting the rose, shamrock and thistle, and the otdier the Royal Arms. On the clock tower the gas illuminations consisted of a crown and wreath, with the Royal monogram, lit by acetylene gaa; and also a fine representation of the head of the late Queen Victoria, encircled by a ribbon hearing the words, "Lest we forget." The minor illuminations on this front were, generally speaking, good ; but, of course, their effect was almost completely spoiled •by the two large transparencies. During the evening coloured lights were burned from the roof of the Post Office, and some fireworks were exploded from the roof of the building adjoining the Harbour Board. Amongst what may be termed the minor illuminations, most noteworthy was that on Messrs J. M. Heywood and Company's premises. It was in electric light, and was oblong in shape, with a border of lights. There were three devices within the border, in different coloured lights— one a crown, the middle one a star, and the lower one the letters "E.R." The spaces between the devices and the border were filled with greenery, and the effect of the whole was exceedingly pretty. On the Government Life Insurance Buildings an attempt was made with rows of red, white and blue lamps to' brighten the mass. There were three rows of these lamps, and the effect was fairly good. On the south .and east sides there were two eight-pointed stars in gas, and on the corner of the building there was a device in gas representing the rose, shamrock, and thistle, , flanked by the letters "E.R." There were also two large five-point«i stars. Mr W. H. Hargreaves displayed a transparency showing the map of the world, with British possessions in j red. This was flanked with British flags, awd below. , 'was the motto:. ''Welcome to Our Royal Visitors." At the tap were. \ tie letter* "E.R," At Mr E. W. Roper's < office' there was shown the letters, "E.R." in gas, surmounted by an eight-pointed star. Messrs Fletcher, Humphreys and Co. had a fine design in gaa of the rose, shamrock, and thistle, witih a ribbon bearing the , letters "KR.I-" .As Mr, George Humphreys in the Frepeh consular agent here, a transparency representing the ooatI of-anns of. the. Republic«was. shown". At Warner's Hotel there was a sign depict-, ing the RoyaJ Arms, with the'motto, "\Velcome to our Royal Visitors." The lights

■were, in front, Vbacs soxocnrhat *pcolss|§p 1 effect. ' At the Federal Clvib'- 1 a gas design of a rose, with the 1 in the centre. > The Ocean Accident 3HK&v-.;iw ance Company showed *n appropriate fl||*'*£?'' parency, and the AjM.P. % Ifghtecf with fairy lamps and n, ctwiifMJjf-\ t c'.ectric light. On Messrs Balttfety , e' v !? ing there was a • very effective oval WH- -* gae. • - ■ - > ,'SjV>; I The Canterbury dab had a gas design iV.\ J i a Cargo etar with rose, shamrock and toistU^' ?• in the points, flasiked by "E.R." ' m I letters. The City Council was ftitffiy § I minated. At the oorner of th***hoflstt»'*- 1 ; I facing Worcester street and the tehvM Vμ""*' ' a design, in gas, of Justice, whilst- «» , ■ handsome terra-cotba figures of i and "Indnetry" were shovm in OtttJiife i» "'" r ' gas. There were also four transwMn. : ' cies. The Agricultural Arch vra* efi«|£ftd»' ►"*: . lit m>. ~ : ;-; ' > In Gloucester etxeet the "Lyttelfcon finW' '•'' ■' had tine word "Wetcome" in EgfcS; ~ and a representation of a crown in* JSajjS' fashion beneath. Along the top of i&ejfcaf < ing was a string of different colourefciLv- - trie lights. Tie Masonic Hotel ". > device in gas consisting of a wap*#t35 c i ,-, " Zealand; in the iipper left corner ' ' chief's head was shown, with the f'lW&d. • ( the other corner a Masonic emblem WW"d«"Tene kohe ,, ".1.(50*15:06") underneath.'.'' ~; picted. Over the Misses Broadway'a 4«»'raises there was.an effective design m «W.*tric lights—a crown encircled vnih lights. At the Rink St&lAes there was a design In-, gasMANCHESTER STREET. Very little effort at iUnminifcion. waa made till one reached Messrs Hubbard, Haflj ,&nd", Co.'s. where an electric crown set in a equ rd was placed. Mtssr^MilnexandThottp.- : , son's premises bore the motto "Welcome Greetings to our King" in coloured glass,- ' -with lamp?* and over Messrs Pitouthly/l • and Co.'s office the American flag in etecX - trie lamps shone out brightly, a fitting em. , *.'- • Mem to be over the American Consulate*' , ,- The Union Steamship Company** office waav" lit up by a gas design, showing the com* ~ ' pany's flag, an anchor, and .the "E.R." At the Queen's Hotel alarge parency, representing "Our Sorts ef Work, a scene from the South Afrioaa;eoD.f' flict, was. shown, and over the south dwHW'--wav of the Canterbury Hall a large elecfcdo "Wedcome" blazed forth. Messrs H. J; Weeks and Co. showed a series of Roys] pictures on a screen by electric light \ At ■ the junction of High and' Manchester ebtteti - the Shamrock Hotel was made bright. Witi a gas device, representing a large n»hit«} star, with a shamrock leal in the centra, th» letters "E.R.," and "Advenoe Oaajwjjijay/'i also ajppearing. ' ',;'. V " > HIGH STREET. . -!l . ' Messrs White and Co.'c premise, /b»- > ween Tuam and High, "ataeobt;." ; were covered with transparencies and 'UloW toes, making a great display. The "word»V ; < "Welcome to our Sailor Prince," "GxeefcC ings to our King and Queen," and other v similar loyal sentiments were shown, a line , of coloured electric lamps running r portion of the building. At Mr J: on the opposite side, transparencies the Duke and Duchess with underneath, appeared, and also the Prince Wales'* feathers. Messrs Strange- tuwsft Co. made one of the finest d&V~ plays in the city, their corner baQ{£/& a blare of light "Ohrißtchinrcin "God Save the King, ,, "E. R., ,, "G. a crown, an anchor, and other devices m&S, ; a goodCy show, but the flags crossed—was the beet effort of all, aad!t[ gave a-finishing tonoh to a clever aod listic arrangement in the way of illumina?-"' tion, whJoh Sid the proprietors special credii-3 The flags were a blue ensign and a Jack, made up of tiny eleotrio lamps,. arranged that the flags appeared to wawft"'' in the breeze. Over the White"':V Hart a transparency wa* depicting their Royal Highnessej'.' presumably landing in New Zealand, Duke assisting a Maori woman to her feefc,", aa ahe kneels to pay homage to the KingV <. eon. Messrs Ashby, Bergh, and Co.'s pre- ; miees looked really well, being outfined with / coloured electric lamps, and in the oentjt ~\ a, large orown of silver stars lit by tricittf", aod flanked by the letters "E. 8 . ,,-;; ,,, Above Cashel street the Empire especially conspionous for ite iSlnminatiowC;," The words "E. R." were lit up in large; ~. letters, and tbe eSecb ol tlve fancy arrayed round all the arcs and windows extremely happy. . --MCASHEL STREET. . \l'r One of the best illnminated of the whole city was Cashel street. - The -*■ Zetland Arms was dtoorated with nollest» t -'_ than three transparencies, representing tne'Ophir, with the words, "Our Sailor Prince/ vtwo flags, and the letters "E.R.," with tiMK .- legend "Haere Mai," upon a scroll, and 9 « scene typical of New Zealand, with tue mot>i / to "Zealandia Welcomes her Royal tors." A representation of the Prince of.-•..-Wales's Feathers waa shown on the Rotherw, £. field Hotel, whue the front of Mr B.ton's shop 'was illuminated with a,trasH£ t. J parency of the King and Queen. The "Press" 1 - office was illtuninated! with rows of gal lights, aad ti* letters "KA," "wi* Jft-,; neath them a picture of the Duke and -.., Duchess, and the words, "WeICOTU, • to our Royal visitors from the Weedy-; Press , and Truth' below thafc. -- Messrs J. Ballantvne and 00/s r were handsomely illuminated with two MOg; " rows of bright electric lights, and one.roir -\, of red. The designs on this bvMutg e3a», . include an intertwdned yellow C - awl - * white "V;" a crown, placed between the . letters "E" and "R;* Pxm» of ;'_ Wales's feathers as a cemVe-pwpej; the E«t»-.. ters "V.R." circled, with purple ligbto«> L . betoken the nation's mourning for tie M# - Qiieen, and a white anchoT. Abovftjai , v these, bstween two stare, were O«.i@ "Haere mailAke lake!" Messrs Beathflßd . Co. had the letters "JS.R. , £™YtAmm, j • borate drapkgs, too, were off by means of groups of «W*»'Wft • The Bank of AultraW - with the letters •'E.R/' on either Side td J , crown, and stringy of }W*%Ll ' fine effect. PastTaigh and Co. had an illuminated words "Gk-d Save the Kang."- ™wntHotel made a fine appearance ™ *Sgu of flags and the arge *W* Failtef" in electric lamps, b « of a crown. The; Queetf* kotel showed a transparency of Our i*oji ; at Work," namely, in South Africa. COLOMBO STREET, ' ; Colombo street, for : 1 that it did not form part of the Royal w*** • was left comparatively umllunumated. Kb* } word "Welcome," in fairy *>m™SL«&-' \ spicuous above the premises of Mr «-««-, ■_ SneU. Above M&n Edward Rcece gj t , ~ Sons' was a ga« representation Royal anne, with on one *«??* f "E:A.," the "E" in «g- ' white, and on the other 'M.G., W*^- , -- in gold and the"M" in white. Y nd s?*p ■;•; tlire waa the motto "Loyal and F»£*? : surmounting a transpaa-ency. J*^.,' ; Mason and Sti-uthers , front '- design of an anchor, with on each side, and the motto "brute* , w *-> ; = Stand" over all. ' . '"' , V-" 1 HEREFORD STREET- $\ The Rank of New Zealand kJ&£!jßv'> street had a large iron crown ontae gable, with the words, "Edward, R»g Emperor," following the outline ol gable. The deeign was lit with gas. Igte Alliance Aa?rur«uice Compan/e .Jg^' , ', showed a large traaisparency. On the - of the National Mortgage and fa"gy.Compaiiy, Limited, were two crossed with the letters "E.R," i» gaa. design, and in front of the central J™g&£\. waa a crown. The windows of the SoegJ British Insuranoe Company were « r with light*. The New Zeataad;l*« Mercantile Agency Compaay'e the design "E.R.," with a tb«m. The New Zealand ImuraaMe had a star deeigm and on the Bank New South Wales were the letters *•*•«*}£ and between them a crowo, »™ u lf?r leaf on either *i<k>. ITie Union Bank h« •£. a crown, with the d«dgn ''E. 8., ; neath. it "Our Gracious King, God Him," *iJ : f"T, Strings of lampe were hung ***?**JJZ~JS road between Colombo street and toe *«r»^| ? race, and loofced exceedingly pretty. • In Lichfield street many of the ln=rg» bedecked their premises Mc Bine, Harris, and Co. decorated ther lishment chiefly with flags, A <vW*fj»R

v- «— — — I , ' «!Ai*ric l«npe on th« white backartmad :wa' ? S!«wtibv Meww D. Benjamin and Co. The # !S«» of Mmn Alfred Tyree and CVj. >r SSrSocncd by a letter »E," witbla v ;.- ~!«lerf light- M«»r» Huttcrworth.Brosi. xlis. ).'■ S*rtd a crown with strings or fairy lamps. OaMeesr* Row and Glendining's buildings * an anchor, and rowsofmanylight!", atid Messire Parsrood, Hon, Zfj Ewen had a desigu with strings of lamps, ,ne motto "Welcome to our j^ral'viwtor?." THi: NORTHERN WARDS.

tlhe illuniinstions in the northern wards af the city could not be said to be on anyAbMt " Jav^n iiCa^c - With the exoepSp <*{ Victoria cireet and Colombo street Iwj were pr.t<.tical ; y no illumination.*, and of searching and scrutiny could jLjOTOf anjthini; more elaborate than a lj»hte<l window «r a strlni; of Chinrse lanffe end Carey disp'ayed U™ *—jKHjareiicies. one of the King nnd Qu*en, Zj & other of the Duke ar.d Dj>«>ese. TttLv their verandah afeo thenj vtao* string •JjlLuli incandescent lamp*. Bey*nd some f*Seee lantetTO hung from thc y verandahs *?i*e various shops. no illumiuaJLoTeoßld be H;s.'overed imtil Cook and j reached. In trout of this cstab- ' • SA«eet*«i I fl;lced "K- n " ™ th ft * tar fcT>«en , Atm*tri>H4»« displayed a dovice *- «»f a Shield, embodying the SJifowfllnr initials "K. K." Further up ttettre* in front of the Murket Hotel, a Urfl* sictorial trausrwvrency was placed ex- ; WUtiofl views of nneient aM modern r*««ti*«roh. The Jouble arch at the corB« -ot Colombo juid Armagh streets was Sjujniaatwl by atrings of coiouml meanjLc«nt lamps hung diagonaSy and crossing fothi roiddip. Thh formed •J- fc f* r P i «j; T Jdfa»Uy a«d im> greatly admired. The ilhjof the Government arch over Victoria slreet bridge was, however, one of the of the evening. Underneath each of tIM fluin an:hf s, and at regular mteivals .nart hunches of small incandescent lamp? v \w6d, wink similar bundles were kuß« underneath the smaller arches on either »iflc The effect of those ra»U eolmired liffhts nert-Kng in the matipo and fern soul Hfiining out from amid the dense foliage was witrttitcmg beyond description. The illujninatkm r>f this arch might be said to fimeh the dtcplay, f«»r very little was obSrred lieyond. The Victor: a Cycle Works, Itnrh down Victoria street, and on the optttttte *idft of Diiflmni street, were rather elaborately illuminated. One large star -vrae n(aoed on'top of the building, two smaller enwin froeit of the upstairs windows, and one larjfe fttar flgain above tlie verandah. JthMFS T. Gup** and Co. had placed in front of estnbli#hlwent a large transparency «(the Rovhl «rms.