FIREWORKS DISPLAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21993, 27 December 1934, Page 11

FIREWORKS DISPLAY

BEAUTIFUL EFFECTS NOVEL AQUATIC SETTING VANTAGE POINTS CROWDED The crowds which gathered in numbers exceeding all expectations to watch the Auckland Harbour Board's display of fireworks off *Point Resolution last night were not disappointed. Although more extensive exhibitions have been given in the city 011 a few occasions, the novel setting and beautiful effects obtained through releasing the fireworks from a barge moored in the stream made the display a memorable one. For several hours prior to the commencement of the display crowds gathered on vantage points on both sides of the harbour. In addition to the dense crowd which gathered 011 the waterfront road, every raised point from the city to Orakei and Kohimarama was visited by spectators, while large numbers lined the foreshore at Devonport. The display commenced, shortly after 8.; 50 and continued until almost 10

o'clock. First, rockets were shot high into the sky, many bursting with a loud explosion. Others burst into manycoloured lights. These tfere followed by a rain of golden and silver fire, lighting up the barge and the surrounding sea with a red glow and presenting a beautiful sight. Star shells followed, bursting into spangles of gold, blue, green and red, and making a track like the light of the moon across the water. In quick succession came "geysers" of sparks, which were caught up by the wind and blown in a streamer across the water, and a series of triple globes of lights which drifted slowly down to the surface of the water and then bounced several times like balloons before being extinguished. There followed coloured light bombs, flares and giant Catherine wheels. The display concluded with a set piece, in which the letters A.H.8., enclosed in a frame, and the words "good nicht," were outlined in coloured lights. Considerable trouble was experienced by the party on the barge in releasing the fireworks, owing to the wind. Sparks entered the shed on the barge where the fireworks were stored, and at one time the barge caught fire. The wind also disorganised the programme somewhat, causing many of the rockets to be kept until toward the end, and resulted in the display taking longer than would otherwise have been the case.