GUY FAWKES DAY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14005, 7 November 1938, Page 4

GUY FAWKES DAY

CELEBRATION IN PAHIATUA very quiet this year. Tlio cvlebration of Guv Fawkes la v in Pahiatua was much quietei tins year xlian usual, possibly because or tlic restrictions placed oil the sal-* of fireworks of a dangerous nature, and the Borougn regulations prohibiting the lighting of firewtrks in the streets of the Borough There , were fewer bonfires also, and the usual ring -of fires around tin* bills was •missing. There has been a considerable amount oi activity with fireworks ever since the election, when many shops put their stocks on 'sale for tlie purpose of celebrating that event. W ith the approach of Guy Fawkes day this activity increased, and shops selling fireworks were doing a brisk trade, during both Friday evening and Saturday. On Saturday after noon there were sporadic outbreaks of cracklings and poppings, but it was not until the approach of darkness that the real activity began. The first bonfire to be lit was near the Foresters’ hall, where a red glow could bo seen shortly after half past eight. Others in different parts of the town lollowed, and there were quit * a number lighting up the sky on the hills to the east of the town. A sound as of distant musketry made vtseH heard throughout Pahiatua. and in hack gardens could be seen little knots ot people gathered conspiratorial ly round a small flame while the Officer I Commanding Fireworks read the clJrections on the outside. The celebrants were fortunate in having an exceptionally beautiful evening for Guy Fawkes night, the sky being clear with a moon almost at the full. The bright moonlight scarcely detracted at all from the effectiveness of the rockets which began to spread their coruscations of sparks across the skv about nine o’clock. Many different varieties of these, some very striking and spectacular, continued to go up until late in the evening. One of Guy Fawkes night, that was missed this year was the intermittent booming of the “heavy artillery” of fireworks, the big bombs, whose sale, owing to their dangerous nature, has been restricted by the authorities. The marking of Guy Fawkes night by extensive celebrations seems to be dying out. In South Island towns the custom is almost foigotten, except by children, and even in the North Island, the festivities are not nearly so elaborate- as they were a few years ago; the tendency seems to be to carrv this type of celebration over to Christmas and New*Year’s Eve.