EXQUISITE BEAUTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26708, 1 March 1948, Page 4

EXQUISITE BEAUTY

Breath-taking Aerial Display STARRY MAGNIFICENCE Roaring high into the sky, a barrage of 10 vicious maroons announced the beginning of the fireworks display. At the zenith of their flight they burst with loud detonations, and showers of a million multicoloured stars descended gracefully. In the background, the red, yellow, blue and green lights of a magical illumination gleamed like an aurora. A thunderous cheer from the great crowd indicated its instantaneous appreciation. A cannonade of coloured rockets was even more effective. They, too. burst, creating a daytime brightness which illuminated the multitude of eager faces, and disintegrated into a galaxy of starry magnificence. Tumultous applause again rose from the excited spectators.

Each aerial display possessed a spectacular effect all of its own. There were scores of them. The shower of snowflakes was truly a fantasy of silver light. So, too, were the batteries of jewel-headed cobras. A barrage of sparkling diamonds, a silver aurora, glittering dewdrops. and torrents of tinsel fire representing the Sutherland Falls all produced a beauty beyond the realms of imagination. No Waitomo Caves compared with the magnificence of the batteries of irridescent glow-worms which filled the sky. The barrage of thunder and lightning rockets was a challenge to the elements.

One aerial cascade quickly followed another throughout the evening. Every colour of the spectrum blazed in majestic brilliance. Sunrise and sunset were portrayed with superb artistry. Clusters of gold and topaz fell with an exquisite incandescence as did the showers of luminous moonstones, emeralds, and radiant sapphires. Garlands of poppies and cornflowers, primroses and violets, as well as clouds of golden daffodils and shimmering buttercups bloomed in breath-taking splendour. The “Hanging Gardens of Babylon,” a feature of the victory celebrations display in London, made a delightful impression. Special features included the “Pride of Dunedin,” produced by a huge rocket, gorgeous “ Stars of New Zealand ” in brilliant fire, and a flight of “ celebration ” rockets. The "Wrath of Jupiter” was a similar cannonade to that fired at Durban on the occasion of the royal visit last year. The throng marvelled at. the magnitude of the presentation, but more was to come to hold them spellbound. “Jupiter’s Thunderbolt” was produced by a salvo of five special shells and its effect was also amazing. Disintegrating rainbows and snowers of autumn leaves proved an enchanting lull before a further storm. Without warning, demon detonations rent the tranquil night and a fiery whirlwind swept angrily into the sky. While hissing serpents, whirling snakes and writhing scorpions startled the onlookers, they were shaken by the awesome “ Grand Display of Large Tourbillions.” the monsters screaming and hissing as they flew before a mass of seething fire which eventually consumed them in a flurry of shooting stars. It was a colossal spectacle, the onlookers, they we crhswka