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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2659, 12 May 1908, Page 7

Of all fireworks, none is more beautiful, from a pyrotechnic point of view, or more generally popular, than the sky-rocket. The powder ingredients are sulphur, charcoal, and saltpetre,, roughly,in the proportions of 14, 26, and 60 respectively. Except in the case of military or life-saving rockets, the cylindrical case is of paper or pasteboard, somewhat constricted at the fuse-end. Into this the powder is rammed tightly, a conical space being left for the insertion of the quickmatch which passes through the constriction of "chokehole" into the mass of powder. ( _ J This forms the body of the rocket, which is closed at the top with a plaster-of-Paris plug. Through/ this small hole Allied with,a ftise com-, muriicates with the conical-shaped head, holding stars, serpents, crackers, or gold or silver rain. ..The whole is, of course, attached to a slender stick to direct its flight.

On the fuse being ignited, and' the main cylinder of powder exploding, the enormous quantity of heated gases generated force their way downward through the narrow box, urging the rocket upwards in the air. The danger from falling sticks is really very small. Rockets are always shot just a little to one side, so that the sticks will not drop on the watching crowd.