THE ILLUMINATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2260, 24 June 1897, Page 3

THE ILLUMINATIONS.

The spectacle which met the gaze from aomcof the many emiseuces which surround the city was not ao much one of grandeur as of an enchanting fairy vision. A myriad array oE tiny ooloured lights twinkled in every portion of the town, gracefully outlining and enhancing the architectural proportions of some edifice in one place, forming themselves into charming devices in another, while in a third quarter gleaming like coloured balls of fira. The blaze of the bonfires on the Peninsula height? scintillating across the placid waters of the bay presented a striking feature in the picture, while luminous glares in various parts of the »ky told of other similar conflagrations obscured from view by the intervening hilltops. Now and again a rocket would bo discharged on its fiery mission, and would momentarily form the centre of attraction as it pursued its beautiful sinuous course and burst into brilliant fragments. The buraing of coloured fires from the tops of buildings about the main portions oi: the city created * peculiarly striking effect on the scone, as "the surrounding places were disclosed to view bathed in ever-changing; and intensely vivid hues. The private dwellings beyond the business portions of the city were also, generally speaking, more or less illuminated. Most people appeared to have adopted the simple yet effective device ol drawing aside the curtains of all of the windows and lighting the gas jets or placing lamps or tapers in a conspicuous place, but many citizens, especially those who had gardens surrounding their houses, made much more elaborate preparations for celebrating the joyous event. Chinese lanterns, transparent pictures of her Majesty, and prism lamps were freely brought into requisition. The dwelling houses illuminated in this manuer were fairly evenly scattered, and no particular portion of the city could feß singled out as being foremost in this respect. Comparatively little illumination was effected by suburban shopkeepers, who, no doubt, concluded, and wisely so, that very few people would be left in their respective districts to witness their decorative skill, but in most; instances private houses in the suburbs presented! a gay and joyous appearance. What may be termed specially, though nofc exclusively, the portion of the city occupied b/ warehouses, shipping offices, and grain marts— the part extending to the south-east of Rat* tray street — was not behind in brilliancy in its', demonstrations of loyalty. Bond street , an<? other adjacent streets, where merchants most do congregate during business hours, was as beautiful as a scene in fairyland. It is trus that the means adopted were for the most parti simple and similar, but they were none the lesd effective on that account, and great variety and! much taste was displayed by diffcrent'personrt in the use of the same kind of materials; to'

that there was jao monotony, and none conld have> wearied "of the more than gemlike lustre that shone from windows, g&bleo, parapets, roofs, aud other portions of buildings where the well-nigh nil-pervading prism lights could be placed with advantage. OF course there was one notably brilliant exception to this general description— the Union Shipping Company's offices, of which special mention mast be made. But apart; from that, which in it3elf was a festival in pyrotechnics, there' was almost a surfeit of good things in the way of tasteful illumination. The Bank of Australasia had a gocd transparency and. had nisde proTis:on for a gaslight star aud for the letters "V.R." in gos jets, but wa3 unfortunate to the extent that the lighting was fitful and uncertain. Pri6m lights in great number, artistically arranged, served for the adjacent buildings. The New Zealand ShippiDg Company had no less than 288 of these bright little lamps, and the Eastern Australian Steamship Company about half that number. In addition to the fairy lamps the Victoria Insurance Company exhibited fine transparencies. Messrs Neill and Co. made a very good use of no less than 720 prism lamps on their extensive premises.' .Messrs J. Rattray and Son adopted the . same method with similarly satisfactory results. On the Exchange Buildings (occupied by Messrs Smith, Chapman, and Sinclair, the Trustess, Executors, and Agency Company, ,Messrs Murray, Roberts, and 'Co., the Mutual Asauranpe Company of Victoria, and the New Zealand Refrigerating Company)~there was in gaa jets a Maltese ctos?, a crown 6ft in diameter, a line of lights, the letters "V.R." and figures "18 37-lg97"— a pretty device with whioh the wind played havoc. The Evening Star's device— a gas etar and the letters "V.R." — which should have beeu bright, was even more unfortuuate, for it was completely extinguished before 9 o'clock. Messrs Thomson and Co. had their prominent building made conspicuous with tasteful window illuminations, and Mr North's factory was treated in a somewhat similar fashion, though not with tbe same degree of success. Messrs W. E Reynolds and Co., whose premises extend from Bond to Crawford street, adapted transparencies and window lights with good effect. In Crawford street the only illumination of the new Agricultural Hall buildings consisted of the arc lawp&. Messrs Stone, Sod, and Co. had transparencies and window illumination, and Meesrs Coulls,Jgulling, and- Co. made a great display with tnPßi lamps in the shape of the letters *' V.R." on a large»scale. Messrs J. H. Stanley and Co. adopted the general method of fairy lights on a somewhat elaborate ?cale, and the same system "extended over the premises of Messrs Bathgate and Woodhofcge, Messrs G. -and J. A. Cook, and Mr H. D. S^roaach. The Kaitangata Coal Company did nos remain satislied with' such illumination as must result indoors from its generous distribution of coal, bub made a festal display of no slight merit, having a "V.R." 7ft in height, and an artistic display generally ot fairy lights. In Lower Rattray street a number of creditable displays were %PD^Rde. The New Zealand Insurance Company's Mpzk showed a good transparency of the Quoen, coloured lights, and fairy lamp?, in the exhibition of which Messrs Barr, Learv. and Co, Mr •«. R. Thornton, Mr G. M. "Barr, "and Messrs-X. S. Paterson and Co. took a part. The display bj^tho Provident Industrial Insurance Company' "was similar, as Was that made by Messrs Kearns,- Wilson, and Co. The Perpetual ■ Trustees and Agencv^Qpmpany, and Mr Bum-side,-Mr C. S. Keeves,>n,d Mr J. C. Short (of the Terminus Hotel) combined to have the block well illuminated, the illuminations comprising coloured lamps, a star, a crown, and a large artistic transparency of the. Norwich Cathedra?, whioh was prepared-*, by Mr R. H. Fraser. The Harbour Boftrdvoffices ■were illuminated, and bore in letters of c6lcured light tbe words " Tbank God for the noble life of our Queen." This .was done on the suggestion and according to the desire of the eecretary of the board (Mr John L. G_illies), 'and both design and txeeutiou were admirable. The Dunedin Amateur Boating Club had their boathouse lighted up, and at 7 o'clock let off rockets, coloured fires, and finished up with a bonfire of tar barrels. r Some reference has already been made to the extremely Jjeautiful* display made with characteristic genVrosfty by the Union Steam Ship Company,- but it would be diffioult to give a fair,' mucli-less an' adequate, description of the effect produced. It must suffice to record tire bald" tactf 1 hat the multitudes which thronged the stj-getß ahdt were attracted from the main 'fctigronghfaires • admired the spectacular treat provided; ' and '-mingled applause with other manifestations of delight as they beheld the > result 3' !of gdyl taste, electrical science, 'and a generous expenditure of tbe very pesfc fira-wbrks. The company's illuminations; comprised entirely of the electric light, were 'of a most' striking and beautiful character. Eich" of the minarets surmounting then' handsome offices was cobhected with the other by a fesfcoon of electric lamps, coloured in red, green, blue,' and •white, extending the whole length round 'the Vogel and Water Btreet frontages, each festoon being of 'a different' colour' to itt immediate neighbours.- In each of the alcoves at the foot" of the minarets was fixed an electric lamp, and on -the top of the flsg pole a 300candle power lamp was a specially brilliant feature of the display. On the front of the building facing Water Btreet a large "VB" was displayed, composed of 65 lamps, while on the Vogel • street sida the illumination was msgnificent. In the centre of the building there was fixed an immense double star of six points the outside lines beiDg in red, the middle in white, and the inside in blue, while the centre was formed of a large 100 candle-power lamp. 1 On tbe onn side of the "star appeared the figures " 1837 " in coloured kmpp, and on the other side "1897," also in coloured lamps. Thie group alone comprised 240 lamps, and in lh£ •whole .display acme 500 lampa were employed, ranging from- 8 to 300 candle-power. The illumination reflected the highest credit on Mi "JR. C. Jones, the company's electrician,' undei whose supervision the work was done. A royal s&fate of 21 bombs was fired from the top of the building, and at 9 o'clock there was a brilliant display of -fireworks from the same place, 'consisting of 'rockets, Roman candles, company's signals, blue lights, &c, the ditpl&y being kept op for half an hour without any intermission. The Colonial Bank "buildings presented a charming example of the decorative art. The bymetrical lines of coloured lamps displayed the architectural beauties of the edifice in a promitnent. manner, while>.the word " Victoria " wai depicted by means of 50 incandescent lights. She method of ill&niaation adopted by the Royal Insurance Company, whose offices are el6o in the Colonial Bank building?, proved strikingly effective. Several- hundreds of candles were placed in the large window, white la shield bearing the royal coat of arms — the emblem 'of the company — completed what wag generally conceded to be one of the most brilliant spectacles in the city. The efforts that had been m&de to illuminate the Government buildings in a manner befitting so auspicious an occasion appeared to have been chiefly centred on the post office. Over the main doorway » crown Tuth the letters

•;V.R." were displayed by means of an unusually large gas devise, while at either end of the buildrng the dates "1837" aud "1897" were displayed. Prism lamps and transparences were tha means adopted to illuminate the telegraph and custom house offices. Messrs Arthur Briscoe and Co.'s and Mr John Edtnond's business premises were brilliantly illuminated with prism lamps, while the Union Bank of Australasia was conspicuously lighted . with gas, the royal insignia being displayed i across the pillars. Messrs SSoufc, Mondy, and Sim's offices, the Ship Restaurant, D. M. Speddiug, the Gridiron Hotel, the Old Times Restaurant, and Mr A. Thompson's place of business ware , also illuminated, candles and prism lamps being the illuminants, the Ship" , Restaurant showing a lange transparency. Mr [ Thompson's shop displayed the New Zealand > ensign, and a line of bunting was stretched ' across the street. Messrs Raid and Gray's foundry was made prominent by coloured papers stretched across the window frames. Mr S. Jacobs' shop was decorated 'with festoons of fair.? lamps drooping from the verandah in front, while a transparency was placed ovf v the doorway. Mr Thomas Ross's shop, uexb door, was likewise a brilliant spectacle, prism lamps being utilised with admirable effect. From the upper portions of the Colonial Mutual Insurance Building*, wber« these shop 3 are situa:-ed, there was a capital display of coloured fires and fireworks. Mr Edwards' fruit shop and Peterson and B&rr'o , also presented a pleasing appearance. Along the shop front of Messrs Thomson, Bridger, and Co.'s premises there was displayed in luminous characters the following quotation from Tennyson: "A thousand claims to reverence closed in her as mother, wife, aad Queen " ; while the windows were gaily decorated with fancy I&inps and tastefully arranged silverware. Wain's Hotel was illuminated with a handsome gas design. Iv Brown, Ewing, aud Co.'s window a representation of Nanseu's ship the Fram in the 1 frozen north attracted large crowds of sightseer*. Mr John Hopkins manifesced his loyalty by a large and bnucisome transparency ; while other places that were more or less illuminated were Mr Pryor's fruiterer's establishment, Mr Pressly (ceedf-man), Loasby's chemist's shop, Stewart's fithmorger's shop, Loughlin's Empire Hotel, Price's chemist's shop, the Prince of Wales, and the Imperial Hotel. Mr W. G. Neill's office windows were ! occupied by transparencies, while further | down Messrs Hordern and "White mads a : brilliant display. ' On tb.6 west side of Bond ssreet Messrs , Mackerras and Hazlefcfe and R. Wilson and Co.'s i premises displayed the letters "V.R." and wa3 ! artistically festooned with lamps. In Liverpool | street the Otsgo Chess Club exercised a pleasiog j ingenuity in recording the event of the period, |. representations of various . chess pieces being displayed ia their windows, while in the same street the Sonth British Insurance and United Insurance offices were illuminated, the former bearing the inscription "V.R. and Vivat," and the latter with coloured paper. In Stafford street J. and T. "Wren and Mr Sew Hoy's premises were decorated, and in Walker street the Caledonian and the Rising I Sun Hotels and Gilmour Bros. | On the north side of High street most or the j business people had taken some trouble to i illuminate their premises. Messrs Wright, ! Stephenson, and Co. had the letters "V.R." j ever the doorway, hung with prison lamps, also ! a device representing the rose, thistle, and ' shamrock. The arches of the windows in the j front of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Com- ' pany's buildings, as well as the,parapat, were ; adorned with lamps oF a similar description, aud there was likewise a transparency over the doorway. Messrs Roes and G!endinicg contented themselves with the lighting the gas in the inside of their premises, but as the building has a great many large windows the effect was pleasing, although by no means particularly striking, ati.d Messrs Butterworth Bros. 1 madeva brilliant display, the 'whole of the windowa^in their largp' building being hung , with fairy x lamps of 'various colours. The ; Drapery Importing Company bad the three j letters by wKich they are usualJy designated , covered with pri^m lamps, and also the letters | "V.R." At W*fcSdp'a Commercial Hotel there was a good display' of bunting, while Chinese lanterns and a gas illumiuatiou in the form of an arch over tbe door way s also formed parb of the' decorations. In the Grand Hotel Buildings white globes, which were ..illuminated with gas, were to be seen round fcbe^ whole of the parapet in the first storey, wh ; .ld,prism lamps adorned the two upper storeys. "^Messrs W. v and R. Scott had a transparency representing a scene in Maori land across their doorway ; the Icttsr "V." in one window and "R."ln.ttus other, while prism lamps were hung in afKoi; the windows. Messrs A. and J. M'Farlane ha' 4 their premises inside decorated with trees and s fairy lamps, while transparencies also formed part of their decorations. In Ratbray street Messrs S. N. Brown and Co., Messrs Butler Bros., Mr Couston, Messrs Laidlaw and' Gray, and Mr P. Miller all bad transparencies of one kind or another in their windows ; while Messrs Taylor, Wood, Carroll, and Georgeson illuminated their premises with fairy lampa. The Shamrock Hotel had a gas illumination in the form of the letters "V.R." ; Court's Hotel was decked with fairy lamps and a transparency, and Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm's premises were all lit up with gas ; while fairy lamps and the electric light > also added to the attractiveness of the display j made. A brilliant electric light was to be seen at Speight's brewery, and the D.I.C. buildings in Rattray street were decked with Chinese lanterns. In the Arcade very little trouble had been taken to illuminate the buildings. All of the shops were, however, lit up with gas, and in one or two buildings transparencies had been fitted up in the windows. The National Insurance Company's offices were much admired. As with other places, prism lamps distributed here and there on the front produced a capital effect. The Royal Exchange Assurance Company adopted a similar method of beautifying their premises. The Standard Insurance Company's windows were adorned with the same useful articles,and the Otago Club made use of them, too, forming with them the words "Ofcago Club," in large letters, above the insurance office. Messrs Sargood, Son, and E wen's warehouse was a perfect work of art. Countless lamps were disposed about all the windows, and a beautiful large transparency was utilised as the centre piece. The Bank of New Zealand attracted considerable attention. On each of the windows on the street level were a number of prism lamps, with stars in the centre, and over the entrance was a coloured transparency representing a. lake, with a volcano in [tbe distance and Maoris in the foreground — a copy of one of the scenes on the bank's notes. Its size was about 10ft by 14ft, and it was a pretty piece of workmanship. The National Bank had arranged that its illumination should be provided by an electric arc light of 3000 volts, but unfortunately the light was irregular, and occasionally amounted to little more than a flicker. Messrs Burton

and Patterson, MessrsJWilkinson and Son, the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and others on the same side of the street al«o made displays. ! The gas illumination on the Bank of New South "Wales could not fail fco attract attention. There was a prettily-worked crown, 4fb by 2£Ft, with a star on either side, and most of the windows in the premises were bright with light. Mr W. lies .-had a neat display of pictures in his upper windows, and in the street window he showed an eye-catching transparency — " Britain's defenders by sea and land. Over the main entrance of the Government Insurance BuildiDgs at the corner of Rattray aud Princss streets the letters "V.R" were illuminated by means of the electric light. Mr TV. D. Houston h&d a fla6 transparency represenfiog Windsor Casble erected in the upper portion of his premises. Messrs Wilkie and Co. had each of (heir windows adorned with transparencies of the Queen, surrounded by national emblems. Messrs J. and T. Young had the archway over the foobpath in the froufc of their premises hung with fairy lamps, and I had tbe globular lambs in front also lighted | with gas. Mr Joseph Braithwaifce had a large i transparency over each doorway — one repre- • sentiug a horseshoe with the Queen's head in ' the centre and the dale of her coronation, the other containing a motto with reference to the Record Reigu and a Masonic emblem. Mr G. M. Marshall had a comical transparency erected in front of h : s premises, which served to advertise a patent | medicine ; and Mr- A. J. Bloxara and the i Massey-Hatris Company both adopted a similar i plan for advertising their wares. Meesrs E. i Souness, Pryor aud Son, Whitcombe and ! Toombs, Davey, Young and Andel-son, John ' HiMop, and the Kangaretle Boot Depot I all had small transparencies of different designs i in their windows, while Messrs Craig and .Smith i and P. Dow each had a few fairy lamps in , the front of their premises. The Australian Mutual Provident Society's ] high building afforded capital scope for a show, and the management, not slow to recognise their advantage, had every window in the four storeys illuminated with coloured lights, the eff. cb being exceedingly fine. The Mutual Life Association of Victoria, Mr' B. lies, and Messrs A. Lorie and Co. made special displays of prism lamps, &c, and the City Hotel showed two long rows of Chinese lanterns. In Dowlicg street the Shades waß prettily illuminated with rich mauve lights. Mr Samson's salerooom, the New Zealand Clothing Factory, and Messrs A. Beaver' and Co. and Messrs Ahlfeld Bros, also lighted up with good effect. Mr James Hislop displayed a couple of , transparencies (tbe Queen and the Crown), and Messrs^ D. Benjamin and Co. were to the fore with "D.B. and Co." in large letters formed with coloured lights. The Otago Daily Times 1 office, with its many windows covered with red, ' white, aud blua stripes, formed an attractive j sight Above the main entrance were two tranj sparencies, representing the Queen in 1837 and in 1897. Messrs Burton Bros , Messrs Collie and Pullen, and the Dresden Company aff ordftd pretty sights. The Dresden Company had the word " Dresden " in large letters, formed with priam lamps, on, the front of their prejnises. Messrs C. Begg and Co.'s electric light showed its I searching rays far and near, quite eclipsing Mre I Gill's 'rows of prism lamps, which looked very ! nice when, seen by themselves. Mr D. Scott { showed a transparency, also the letters "V.R." In Moray place the Coffee Palace was illuminated, together with Mrs Smith's shop on the ©pposite side. Mr Frank Hyams's shop was brilliantly decorated with prism lamps, and in one of his windows was displayed an Imperial crown, made from numerous gems set in wax, which attracted a considerable amount of attention. S The crown ia lOin across the widest part, and 10,{:in high, and is surmounted by a Maltese cross formed entirely of diamonds. The centre . and side crosses are also of diamonds, while the globe is formed of beautiful white pearls, with the centre cross of rubies. The Jleur-de-lis are in emeralds en pavet, while the centre of the erosu is a, blaz-5 of opals and sapphires. Messrs Herbert, Haynes, and Co.'s premises were illuminated by transparencies in all the windows of the upper storeys. The Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Company had a gas star burning in front of their building, while in the window j there was a display of bunting. The New Zaaland Clothing Factory's premises, Octagon, were illuminated with prism lamps, and a display of buntiag was also to be seen in the i windows. The Octagon was a centre at which a great crowd congregated. Two rows of prism latnp3 were festoonsd along the street line, one on either side, and the statue of Robert Burns was decked with culoured lights, while all the buildings round about were illuminated. The Town Hall was shown off beautifully. A number of | Boz sigaal rockets were sent up from the steps, together with Roman candles. Coloured fires %were shown qu the. towers on top, but the wind rose to such a degree that this part of the j programme had to be abandoned. Roman ; candlea were also sent out from the turrets [ and from the high tower, and immediately 8 } o'clock struck an extra display was made, fout ; dozen roekebs pf various sizea being despatched within 20 minutes.* .The display was under Captain Mitchell's direction. The Railway ( Brigade were associated with the City Brigade for the occasion — not only for the purposes of the display, but also to help if an alarm of free had been given during the course of the display. The Town Hall was brilliantly lighted. Th^ere were three gas jets iv each of tbe front windows, J coloured lights adorned the side windows, aud in the front of the hall there were «>iars and a crown iv gas illumination, the whole forming a very pretty scene. The Douglas and Oban Hotels bath made a show, and Rise's buildings were lighted throughout. Messrs Smith and Smith > showed a transparency of "Britannia, the Queen of the Sea 3," with two other attractive pictures — a three-decker ship of the 1837 , period and a modern ironclad (1897). The pictures each measured lift by 9ft. Iv addition, numerous coloured lamps were suspended in front of the premises. A large allegorical transparency representing Knowledge, Science, j and Art driving away Envy and Ignorance, ; - was displayed by the Athenaeum Committee, J The motto was " Knowledge is Power." Messrs J F. A. Hooper and Co. 'a shop was brilliantly illuminated, and a large transparency of " Britannia rules the waves " was on view. On the upper side of tha Octagon Messrs Eaton and Crow, Mr W. D. M 'Bride, Mr J. Robin, and Mr J. Hall made some sHghb { preparations for illuminating their premise?, some of them making use of fairy lamps and other transparencies in their decorations. Entering George street one was immediately struck with the appearance of Messrs J. and J. Arthur's premises. They had the whole front of their premises decorated with prism lamps I of varied colours, with the letters "V.R." as j the centre piece, together with two rows of ' Jamps in garland form — a pretty sight. The upstair windows were also decorated. Messrs Simon Bros, showed numerous prism lamps above their verandah, I the graceful curves in which they hung t forming a neat and takicc picture. Tlie

i New Zealand Bible, Traot, and Book Society, 1 22 George street, made a characteristic display, the most striking part of whioh was a large, well-lighted transparency. It represented her Majesty sitting reading a Bible, the expression on her face being very good. On the top was the royal coat of arms, having on^either side "1837-1897," while at foot, in the form of a waging ribbon, was the mobto "The Secret of Britain's Greatness." A 1500 candlepower limelight projector was worked, and 'as the light swept the street it gave a very fine effect. Both windows were dressed with flags and pictures of loyalty, and the shelves were covered with rows of red, white, and blue paper, the books being similarly arranged. A large coloured photo of her Majesty, neatly draped with flags, made au excellent centrepiece. The >ffecb of the whole display was very fine. Others who made displays worthy of note were Mr Solomon, Mr Driver, and Mr Ritchie. Mr Aldrad Bhowed transparencies on tbe street level and lanterns and fairy lamps aloft. Mr Watthorn's display was most elaborate, his building was literally covered with lamps. At Mr Buchanan's a quantity of coloured fire was burnt, which had the effect of casting a lutid glare far along the street. Its effect on the shops in the neighbourhood was very good. Mr Sligo's shop was nicely shown off, as was also the Glasgow Restaurant. Mr W. Morton, of St. Andrew I street, had his verandah decked with lanterns of red, white, and blue, with a transparency of the Queen, the eight being a most attractive one. Messrs A. and T. loglis, Mr Brown, and Messrs Irvine and Stevenson. had the whole of their verandahs prettily festooned with prism lamps, a most efftctive display being made. On Messrs InghVs one-atorey building there was a b j autiful crown, Bft iv height, and two large stars formed of the same kind oE lamps, and on their three-storey building were the letters "V.R. aud two stars in gaß illumination. Messrs Irvine and Stevenson had a transparency, and Mr Brown the same. Mr Carter's verandah supported two sefcj of "V.R." — one on each end — formed of coloured lamps. Mr Lees's premises were exceedingly handsome, the windows beiDg hung with prism lamps innumerable. Further down the street the display was nothing very great, but mentiou may be made of Messrs Lilly Bros., Fyfe and Curaing, Mackenzie aud Sanders, E. F. Lawreuce, the Drapery Sapply Association, the City Boot Palace, Messrs Omand and Drew, D. Booth, J. Horsburgb, Struthers and Scott, Searle and Eberhardt, R. P. Bagley, and the Austral Cycle Agency. The business portion of George street at the north end of the town was all more or less illuminated, most of the shopkeepers contenting themselves with brilliantly lighting their premises by means of gas and making a display with lamps of various kinds and patterns and of varied hue 3. Many of them during some portion of the evening burned coloured fires at intervals, and the Ecene in this part of the town was strikingly bright and animated. The branch of the National Bank was illumi- | nated with fairy lamp 3 hung outside 1 the windows, and blue and red lights wero burned pretty well continuously. Mr O; H. Nicholls's shop was also illuminated by means of fairy lamps, and he also gave a pyrotechnic diiplay from hrs upstairs windows. Messrs Cole and Springer's illuminations were of a similar type, and banners weresuspended from the upper portion of their premises. Mr J. M 'Donald j made a display by means of fairy lamps, ' and Mr C. Bills's display took a somewhat similar form, though on a rather more extended scale, and a variety of fireworks were let off during the evening. Messrs J. and T. Christie's premises were well illuminated by means of lamps of varied designs, and here again a. good fireworks display was given. The frost of i Messrs Duthie Bros.' large shop was plentifully 1 hung aboub with fairy lamps. A row of these ran along the- top of the verandah, and they were hung in festoon shape about. A large dis- ! play in bunting was also made by the firm, and | the interior of the premises were well lighted . up with a new supply of incandescent lights. I Mr R. Macquaid's fruiterer's shop was rendered ' very-bright and attractive with lights, and over i the door was a large star. I The norlh branch of the Bank of New Zealand had a well-designed representation of the Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock oveciits doors, lit by means of gas. 1 Mr W. Elder's premises were illuminated with prism lamps, and there was also a display made with flags. Messrs Mollison and Co. had outside their place of business a large " V.R." outlined by means of priam lamps, and inside a crown. An elaborate display was also made with lamps of varied colours. Mr A. Binnie's place was conspicuous for a number of desigps iv wire I frames suitable to the occasion, which carried prism lamps^ Mr P. Bilson showed in his window an unusually large transparency of a moonlight effect, surmounted by two Queen's j heads and flags. Mrs A. Martioelli, Mr G. j Hastie, Mr W. Bull, Mr J. J. Helmkey, Messrs j Bowie and Co., and Mr C. A. Bressey all had j their premises illuminated with, lamps or : Chinese lanterns ; while Messrs .Freeman and ' Komeril, Mr Pollock, Mr W. Taylor, Messrs j Bcundell and -Hayward, and Messrs A. Miller. , and Co., in addition to these, displayed transparencies in their windows. Mr W. Breiner's premises were similarly illuminated, and Mr A. H. Shelton, the Calcutta and Foochow Tea Company, Messrs Fraser and Graham, Mra Todd, Mrs Metcalfe, Messrs R. Johnston and Son, and Mr F. Humffcay, all illuminated in a Bmall -way. Further down George street, the hill overlooking the road -vras literally a blaza of light, almost everjr private residence, and these are for the most part large edifices, being elaborately lit by dozens of lanterns, in addition to apparent^ 1 every available gas jet and lamp in | the house. Several of the illuminations in this quarter were very handsome. Pitt street at i its lower end was also exceedingly well illuminated. The northern portion of King street, being rather far away from what is considered as the i business parb of the town, was not largely ilia- j ! minated, but among those making a display I may be mentioned Mr F. Meenan, Mr T. Fogo, ! Messrs Allan and Smith, Mr R. P. Bagley, aDd ! Mr I). O'omrie, all of whom had their places of business brilliantly lighted up and illuminated , with lamps and Chinese lanterns, and gome of i them burnb coloured fires duriug the evening. The Caledonia Hotel had a large hoop suspended over the door carrying Chinese j lanterns, and this was kept revolving. The Great Northern Hotel displayed a large picture of her Majesty, and was otherwise illuminated. The university presented a very pretty spectacle, acd was so striking an object that, it could scarcely escape observation. It was most tastefully decorated with a very' large number of j lamps, well arranged. The Hospital Buildings j were all kept lighted during tbe evening, and ' the passer-by had no difficulty in catching the strains of the National Anthem. i In 'South Dunedin there were no great displays of illuminating devices, but Mr Bottine's butcher's shop presented a very attractive appearance, the windows being prebtilv dr-i. corated. On Oaa's Hotel there 8 was a traml

parent pic Lure on which was represented ' a gentleman attired in Highland kilts, aud which the passers by confidently took to represent the* genial proprietor himself, while further dosva Mr Smith's butcher's shop was also tastefully illuminated. PRIVATE CITIZENS' ILLUMINATIONS. The display by citizans-was very attractive. Taking the city as a wholo the illumination wa3 very general, and citizsns were not- alow to respond .to the m.ayor'B request to illuminate their promises in the evening. Cargill street, London street, and other streets on the hills responded loyally, and as seen from different parts of the city the effecb was very fine. The Convent in Smith street, tha Boy&' High School,- and Mr H. Crust's residence at Montpelier — situated oq one of tbe most commanding eminences in the neighbourhood of the city — made capital displays. High street, Manor place, and obhsr thoroughfares also lent their quota of gaiety to the appearance of the city, and from all quarters numerous rockets, Roman candles, &c, were seat up. Ab the Fernhill Club a special display was made of Brock's Crystal Palace fireworks, such as rockets with coloured stars and asteroids, ships' signals, fire balloons,- Roman candles, j and blue fire. The club was beautifully illuJmi naked with prism lampa. Those present in the grounds were the guests of Mr Thomas Brydone. '» • BONFIRES. The ascent of three rockets, whioh were fired I under the superintendence of Messrs D. H. Hastings and G. Morgan, was the signal for the simultaneous lighting of bonfires at Loean's Point by the Albany street School boys, Wesb Harbour, Stoney Point, Signal Hill,' Cleland'a at Pine Hill, Mount Cargill, Flagstaff, Ro»lyn, Russell street, Mornington, St. Clair Cliffs, j Lawyer's Head, and seven other plaoes at various points on the Peninsula.' Tho signal was given precisely at 7 o'clock, and all responded save Flagstaff. As soon as the fires were well started a quantity 'of firework* were discharged at Mr Morgan's baths, where the signal had been given. A« I will be seen by studying fche points afc which ! the bonfires were lit, they practically formed' a | belt round the city, and burned with great ' brilliancy for a considerable time. THE STREETS IN THE EVENING. In the evening the streets presented an un« 1 usually animated and brilliant appearance. ; Shortly after 6 o'clock the tramcars began to 1 bring crowds of people into the heart of the ] city from the suburbs, while pedestrians also , began to stream in from all quarter*. Soon the main thoroughfare, from Manse street down to j Knox Church, was a, moving black, mass, while j many of the thoroughfares adjacent to Princea j street also contained throngs of people. Indeed, ■ never before in the history of .the > colony was ■ such a vast multitude assembled in the streets o£ Diuiedin ; indeed, if in any. ci by in New Zealand. The City and Suburban Tramway Company had made what they considered to be good arrangements for regulatiDg the traffic in order that no accidents might occur, aud so relinquished tbe main thoroughfare, tho crowd holding undisputed possession of JPrinces and George streets from Manse street, down as far as i Koox' Church. Neither tramoar* nor vehicles } of any kind ran between the points mentioned, { the Tramway Company fiudieg it more convenient to run their cars between Kuox j Church and the Leith in a northerly direci tion, and between Manse streets and tha suburbs lying to the south of the city. | Shortly after 7 o'clock the rain began to fall, i although not very hard, and continued to do so for an hour or more ; but, as the crowds had come out to see the illuminations, and everyone thought that they might never witness such a sight again, they were not going to be driven home by a little drop or rain. For some hours they therefore continued to perambulate the streets and to admire the brilliant scene. The crowds, on the whole, were exceedingly orderly. A few men were, however, to hi seen about who had been showing theic loyalty to their Queen by imbibing too freely. A band of young fellows also made themselves | conspicuous by marchiag ia a body through the tows aiDgiDg, »nd pushing tbeir way through the crowds without any regard for the feeling-* of others. About 9 o'clock some little excitement was caused by the fire bell rinsing out au alarm of fire. The manager of the Friendly Societies' Dispensary in George ! street had been burning' some coloured fires in one of the upper storey windows of his premises, when the window sill became ignited by a spark. The Fire Brigade werequickly upon thescene, and the fire was extinguished before much damage was done. The crowd, recognising that ib would have been au unpleasant, episode io the day'« proceedings to have a flre, loudly cheered the brigade for their promptness in turning out and rendering timely- assistance. By about 10 o'clock tbe bulk of the people who had been sight-seeing- all .the - evening had returned to their homes, and the tram and vehicular traffic in the main thoroughfaro was resumed. It is worthy of mention that, although the crowds io the atreete, tte has already been said, were unprecedentedly large, no accident of any kind has been reported t« have taken place.