FIREWORKS DISPLAY ATTRACTS THOUSANDS AT DUNEDIN

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1948, Page 4

FIREWORKS DISPLAY ATTRACTS THOUSANDS AT DUNEDIN

P.A. DUNEDIN, February 29. Fiery brilliance sensationally transformed the sombre setting of'Hancock Park, SI. Kilda, info a wonderland of blazing colour cn Saturday night, when the Centennial fireworks display enthralled a crowd of countless thousands. This magnificent display, presented on a lavish scale never before witnessed in New Zealand, provided a climax to carnival week, beyond the expectations of the most optimistic. For 70 minutes' from the time that Mr C. D. Brock waved his magic wand at 8.45 p.m., a vast canopy of sky was splashed with the fiercest' and most delicate of colours. Sensation followed sensation from the breathtaking moment when, without warning, the first thrilling barrage of maroons was released bv Mr Arthur Barnett, chairman of the fireworks committee. Until the grand finale, as 300 special rockets roared their message of farewell, the crowd was held entranced. Since the early' morning, the highways from Invercargill, Centrai Otago, Timaru, and beyond, had teemed with traffic. The destination was Dunedin, the attraction the fireworks. The crowds had congregated at Hancock Park before mid-day, and during the afternoon the multitude increased. Favoured by line weather and a considerate wind, which carried the smoke out to sea, away from the spectators, the performance was a success in every detail. There was not one damp squib in the whole box. Even old Vulcan himself must have marvelled at each tremendous fiery cataclysm of gorgeous finery, and every one of the amazingly beautiful set pieces. GREAT ENTHUSIASM Variety 7 marked the entire display, and its novelty was a delightful feature of a breathtaking wonder of aerial display. Notwithstanding the novelty, the appeal of spectacular set pieces held the vast crowd enthralled, and each new device was greeted with tremendous enthusiasm. Most of the crowd had seen some type of fireworks display’, although the scale on that night’s exhibition was beyond the wildest dreams of most of the onlookers, but there were few who had been able to visualise beforehand the exact nature of the numerous devices. Printed programmes, couched in the flowery language of tne show business, did not convey any indication as to how the pieces would be presented. The tens of thousands who came were not disappointed. Apart from the scheduled attraction of the sight, of a Kiwi laying a mammoth egg. the display went without a hitch. The effort of going through its performance, in public, or possibly the common or garden stage, fright, caused the familiar native- bird to keel over and give up the ghost almost before its task was begun. Disappointment at this abortive display by the bird, which should have been cn its best behaviour, was nullified as the crowd gasped with delight and wonder at the other set pieces. NAVAL SCENARIO

s The most impressive of all the set - pieces was a magnificent conception - of a naval engagement, styled in the programme as the Battle of Motopan. As the glowing silhouettes of the opposing battleships set on and separ- . ated b.y a realistic sea appeared, the onlookers gazed entraijced. The best was yet to be. however, as “shells” were tired from each ship in turn, and j in due time, direct hits were appar- ) cntly registered. An added touch of ; realism was sent to the setting, ' when fires appeared to break on the vessels, following the firing of salvoes, glowing in brilliant whites, reds, and greens. The whole device was , a masterpiece of the pyrotechnic art.' Second only in popular esteerh — and so placed only from what might be termed the pyrotechnic point of view—were the magnificent life portraits of the King and Queen. With amazing clarity, and for a period of fully two minutes, these pieces glowed in the sky. No vivid colours were 1 used, and the simple dignity o£ bright > white light.:, in which the Royal fea- > tures wore so accuratey traced, was more effective than any colour ; scheme could possibly have. I The whole display, as part of the . Centennial celebrations, nad as its ! background the Otago • Province’s > homage to the pioneers. It was, , therefore, most fitting that a huge set i piece should depict the arrival of the ■ ships Philip Laing and John Wickliffe. The artistry of the presentation delighted the descendants of the people who landed from the vessels. To leave no' doubt in the minds of ’ any, the date—April 15, 1848—was , printed in letters of fire below the i scene.