THE ILLUMINATIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5904, 23 June 1897, Page 4

THE ILLUMINATIONS.

Amongst the noteworthy features of the celebrations, the illuminations must be given a prominent place, and it is perfectly safe to assert that on no previous occasion lias the city been so generally decorated, or with such taste and brilliancy. The evening was delightfully fine, the j atmosphere being warm and the wind-^-so important a factor in the success of illuminations on last night's seale — almost entirely absent. There was no organised demonstration, but the many thousands of people who thronged the streets had their time fully occupied in inspecting the numer.ous designs in gas, transparencies, &c, which were exhibited, the chief of which are here briefly detailed. IN GLOUCESTER. STBEET, the rooms of the National Association were decorated with fairy lamps of various tints arranged to show the letters "V.E." and " N.A." with a diamond in the centre. On the opposite side of the street, where the Military Circus was stationed, an eightpointed star in gas, encircling the figures 60, looked very pretty. The Criterion Hotel displayed a transparency of the Queen, while the offices of the Lyttelton Times Company were very finely decorated At the main entrance a bunch of twentyeight incandescent . lamps, the candlepower of which was 1500, was so arranged as to splendidly illuminate an excellent painting of tho Queen over a representation oi' the coat of arms, the corners being devoted to illustrations

of the printing press in use when the Queen came to tlie throne, and that in use to-day, underneath being the appropriate motto, " Our progress during the reign." The windows of the three storeys were decorated with coloured paper, showing ! a variety of designs, while the Cathedral | Square side of the building was brilliant j with Chinese lanterns, Ac. The rooms of j the Selwyn County Council exhibited » ( I transperancy displaying the coat of arms. ■' The offices of the Gas Company were j brilliantly illuminated with designs in gas, including a large crown, with a representation of the rose, shamrock and thistle, : and an eight-pointed star, with the figures (50 in the centre. In addition to this the windows v/ore all arohyd with gas, aud the effect was vwy flits. In „ I ... fiA'MfiDBAL SQUARE, > ; , Messrs Fletcher, Humphreys and Co. dis- s played a gas illumination of tho rose,. { shamrock aud thistle, with the letters i V.R.I. Avorked into the design, and also a • i splendidly executed transparency of the E crown under the coat of arms, with the i letters V.R. at the sides tfo fewer than eighty-Six gas jets were used iv tho ilium' nation, but the picturo lost much of ' .r effect by the inefficiency of the ligh* «& All the windows of the building M%. lighted with Chinese lauterns of /twro designs. The building of the New «*?»*» Government Life Insurance D . «'&Uand displayed a rose, shamrock and .fljwtttteent theletters V.R. under an eigh' /«»Mle, With while Messrs Russell and V . framed star, was brightly illuuiinat' lanterns. Mr E. W. ■*£ h V Chinese tho letters V.R. ir Koper showed H. Fuhrmann a- /' S|». 'wMe Mr Coal Company c /& *»» Westport parencies. Messrr A* '^gaycd transCo/s display cor '.\ f Hey wood and double triaugl, /«*»* f* ™™ ?™ » Warner's Hot *<J d to ? lettere P' » £ asparency of ' /^hc^edavery fine transcoat of ar .AieQeeen supported by the coramerc' f 3' the "A century of Messrs ' progress, being interwoven, an -n n- x^^etyand Co. exhibited a crown Wfr llMied by a floral design, with the ~™ /b V.R. -over 1837-97. One of the ,„ yfc <sffective displays was that of Messrs ,<®ram Bros., which consisted of a wellysoottted transparency of Windsor Castle, . iTv-thile fairy lamps were hung tho whole j length of the building. Messrs Kayo aud I 'Carter depended entirely upon fairy lamps i for their display, which consisted of the letters V.R. and the arching of the windows, •the 'effect being very good indeed. Tho Gas Company's show-rooms and the office . of Messrs D. C. M'lntyre and Co. f ; -were both illuminated, the latter by a of "God Save the Queen." £ At the Cathedral tower an electric search- _ light of 2000 candle-power and an arc . 'light of 1500 candle-power were shown. [, Pride of place in the illuminations must be g given to the Post Office, where the display a was exceedingly effective. On the eastern £ -side, under the clock, a design in gas of a x crown looked very well, while the arches K over the entrance and the windows were ji also illuminated, and pretty coloured fairy lamps were hung along the wall. On the ' northern face the design was a large x representation of the coat of arms. \ WORCESTER STREET. The City Council Chambers were well illuminated, gas devices and transparencies being used. The former consisted of the words "Industry." "Concord" and " Justice," and, iv addition to the transparencies, the building was decked with fairy lamps. The design at the Cantor- | bury Club consisted of a double rose, shamrock and thistle, made on a large. ' scale. HEREFORD STREET. In Hereford Street the illuminations were on a very extensive scale. The Bank ' of New Zealand had a large gas design with the words "Victoria, Queen and Empress," over the figures 1837-97. The rooms of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association were illuminated with a neat design, with the letters "A. and P.A." worked in ; and the Alliance Insurance Company displayed a transparency illustrative of the Queen's colonies, with the motto "The nations offerings show the nations love." The offices of the South British Insurance Company were lighted by gas, the windows and pillars all being outlined. The National Mortgage and Agency Company showed a very pretty gas design, the upper portion of which consisted of thehouse flag of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company and that of the White Star Line crossed ovor the crown, with the thistle worked in the centre. The display of Messrs Hement Bros/ consisted of the letters V.R. iv incandescent electric lights. At tho offices of the New Zealand Shipping Company the illuminations comprised the ensign and the house flag of the New Zealand Shipping Company crossed, with a crown prettily worked in the centre, the letters V. R. I. being below. The Christchurch Meat Company displayed an electric arc lamp, the light from which was diffused through an ensign. The New Zealand Loan .and Mercantile Agency Company displayed a transparency of a lion and Britannia, under an eight-pointed star with V.R. very prettily worked in the centre. The Silkstone Soap Company displayed the letters V.R., lighted by a number of incandescent lamps, while the offices of the Standard Insurance Company were decorated with fairy lamps arranged to form the letters V.R. Messrs William Wood and Co's design consisted of Britannia, and that of Messrs Gould, Beaumont and Co. of a crown surmounted by a floral device, and the letters V.R. at the side. The Bank of New South Wales displayed a very effective gas illumination, comprising a floral design with a crown and the letters V.R. Messrs Harman and Stevens showed a very good transparency of the Queen, while the Union Bank of Australia had a most attractive and effective design, consisting of a

; < crown under a flcral device, with the letter . V.R. at the side and the figures 60 bel <s the whole being above the words " <>w> Gracious Queen— God Bless Her." 6ur . offices of the New Zealand Insuran The pany were illuminated by coloured .4fc <Gtom*the windows and a gas device rr j pmea in the rose, shamrock and this J jgrase&fcitag the Hereford Hotel a twelv d% w&fie at was erected. «rtp^aited -star COLOMBO ST r Starting from ColomJ .<*s&. irst noticeable illumi ■ j© the Oxford Hotel, wlier i*fflfdn'Wa%ithat at the parency of the *■& v vei;y effective trantlessrs T. Arms* yfcoyttl Arms was shown, endows taste r ./Wl^iani'GQ.-had all their hem the f in one of picuous, w .omt\i 'of Britannia was conFuse acror m '(appropriate surroundings, irch of ' jt Mteikbt Sjmare, the triumphal md o- jhd ! Gity Council was illuminated, me A'tftfo'of the towers was a very [V *Bttfsp-arancy of the Royal Arms, si / 'Ghtistjhurch Meat Company's retail j<fp 'had a -star Hn gas with V. R. in the «Terftre, and agahi on each side. Messrs ('Cook and Rioss, in addition to a gas star •tlWd V. R., had festoons of coloured fairy ; 'latnp3 on each £ront. Mr G. T. White had ;| a yevy fine transparency, the centrepiece ■ 'being the Royal Arms, surrounded with 1 .medallion pictures, and 1837 to 1897, with 1 .R. underneath, Messrs Toneycliffe and I Carey's windows were lighted up and tastefully dressed. Mr H. Fnhrmann displayed . a largo transparency, consisting of the Royal Arms. Messrs Sorrell and Davies ■ ■ arid Lamb had an effective illumination, I . consisting of a large star and crown ' J composed of coloured fairy lamps, the ; ' verandah being hung with Chinese • lanterns. At the G.T.C. there was a trans- ;. parency of the Queen, and another at Mr j T. Turner's. Messrs Jameson and Anderson • j had V.R. in coloured fairy lamps. Messrs ■ | Aitken and Roberts showed a transparency ; ; on the corner of their building, consisting : ! of V.R. over 1897 in a laurel wreath. ■ j Messrs E. Recce and Son's premises were I I well illuminated with the motto " Peace ' and Prosperity," and a large V. R. worked > in gas letters. Messrs Mason, Struthers ( and Co's premises were festooned with Chinese lanterns, and coloured fires were » burned on the roof. i HIGH STREET. Both sides of High Street along the Tri- | angle were hung with Chinese lanterns, and nearly all the shops were lighted up, • and some pretty window decorations were ; shown. From tho first-floor windows of ' Mr R. Hill Fisher's office Mr T. Crook ■ showed a series of limelight views of early New Zealand and some amusing pictures. On the front of the City Hotel there was a " large transparency of her Majesty. Messrs Kenneth Matheson and Co.'s premises ; were tastefully draped. In front of the ; upper storeys and under the verandah ( were a couple of transparencies, and the windows were artistically dressed. ; Messrs Petersen and Co.'s transparency was ; a vignette of the Queen with "Diamond ; Jubilee" underneath. Messrs Wallace aud Co.'s and Mr W. R. Cooke's chemists' ; shop windows were both festooned with ' coloured fairy Lamps. At the Empire Hotel there was a transparency of the Queen, with the motto "The pen is mightier than the sword," and with V.R. and .a long festoon of coloured fairy lamps. The transparency at the White Hart Hotel represented her Majesty welcoming the New Zealand Couting6nt in London. Mr J. Freeman had the front of his premises prettily illuminated with coloured fairy lamps, forming a V.R. and other devices. ■ The illuminations of Messrs Wood Bros, were decidedly novel, and consisted of a tower and working windmill, with " God Save the Queen" on the fans, the whole being formed with gas jets. Messrs Tribe and Co. had a large transparency representing Lord Melbourne instructing the young Queen just after her coronation. A large electric arc lamp was suspended over Messrs Ashby, Bergh and Co.'s shop. The illuminations' at Messrs Strange and Co/s premises were on an extensive scale, in gas, extending along nearly tho whole of the front. Just above the verandah wore the words, "A nations rejoicing," in 2ft letters, and above this a diamond enclosing "GO years," pierced by an arrow, upon the feather of which were the words, "Record Reign;" over this, again, were the words, "Queen and Empress " in large block letters, surmounted by V.R. Tlie firm also had a most elaborate window display. , At Burkes Hotel there was a gas star' with V.R. worked in," and " Advance Canterbury " in large gas letters. Messrs Bates and Co. j had a gas star, and their windows were festooned with coloured fairy lamps. The illumination of Messrs A. J. White's premises was on a very extensive scale. Along the whole front of the new premises were a series of very fine transparencies, representing various scenes in trade and commerce, with the train emerging from the Lyttelton tunnel, the whole being surmounted by the Royal Arms, and interwoven with the words " Peace and Progress." In the other portion of the premises there was a large star in gas jets. Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser and Co.'s buildings were prettily illuminated with fairy lamps and Chinese lanterns, with V.R. in gas over the parapet, and a number of pretty flags. CASHEL STKEET. At the top of Cashel Street Mr H. S. Harris had an exceedingly fine transparency of the Royal Anns. At theßotherfield Hotel the only stained glass transparency noticeable, was exhibited : it consisted of the Prince of Wales' feathers, with U.R. (unbroken record) in gas letters behind. At the Zetland Arms the transparency was a large one, representing the Royal Arms with an English sailor and a Highlander m kilts on each side and the motto, "Here's health to the Queen." Messrs Shaw, Robinson and Co. had a very effective window display. Along the front of the Christchurh Press Company's premises were three rows of gas jets and a large V.R. in gas letters. Messrs Ballantyne and Co. had three large British flags displayed over their verandah, and the windows, which were most elaborately dressed, were lit up by electricity. Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs had three transparencies — the Queen in the centre, and on opposite sides 1837 and 1897, and rows of gas jets running up each side of the building and across the front. The verandah around Messrs Lonargan and Company's premises was hung with Chinese lanterns and the windows were all dressed and lighted up. At Warnes' fish shop there was an effective gas star. Messrs Beath and Co.'s transparency was " God Bless our Queen," surrounding a crown and V.R., and a most effective window display. At the Cafe de Paris there was a tastefully arranged star with V.R. worked in and flanked by a shamrock, rose and thistle. The front of the New Zealand Clothing Factory's premises was prettily festooned with coloured fairy lamps. The D.I.C. had the title of the firm in gas jets and in the windows were a number of fairy lamps, two of them being shaped into a V.R. At the corner of the National Insurance Company's building was a gas device consisting of a shield enclosing a lion rampant. There was a ! most effective display at the Bank of Aus- | tralasia, consisting of a buckle and strap in gas jets with "God Bless Our Queen," ; with "60 years "in the centre. Messrs G. G-. Stead and Co.'s illuminations consisted of a prettily-arranged laurel wreath in gas with V.R. in the centre. Messrs Wardell Bros, had three powerful electric arc lights and a crown in incandescent lamps. Over the Christchurch Meat Company's shop was a very large V.R. in electric incandescent lamps, and below, in coloured electric lights, " 18,37—60 years— lß97," and from the shop below Mr T. Crook made a most ofl-ective limelight display. The Kaiapoi Clothing Factory had in large block letters a gas device, " Our. Empress Queen " enclosing a large star with 1897 worked in, and a number of fairy lamps in the

wiuuuns. aim jrwuran vjv""i' DJ . a ' „ 'l * o xln " sedation's premises were illuminated with fairy lamps and Chinese lanterns. The front of tlie Metropolitan Hotel was lined with gas jets. At the Queen's Hotel there was a transparency of the Queen ; and at Messrs Pyne and Co/s a crown and V.R. in gas. MANCHESTER STREET. At the Union Steamship Company's office there was a very well executed gas device, consisting of the house flag over an anchor flanked by V.R. Messrs Milner and Thompson had an electric arc lamp over the front, and below it, in coloured glass letters, " Our Queen'B Jubilee Reign —60 years— lß37-1 597," and the windows were decorated with coloured Chinese lanterns. Mr H. Atkinson had a large coloured light on top of his building, and in the windows was a very tastefullyarranged display of drawing-room, furnituvo and Britiah flags. Above the Zealandia Cycle Works there was a powerful electric arc lamp, and below it a revolving wheel in coloured electric lights. The Star Cycle Works had alarge gas star and coloured lights in the window. From the flagstatl above Coker's Hotel there were festoons of coloured fairy lamps, and on the front a V.R. in the same, and four incandescent lamps grouped under the portico, "LICHFIELD STREET. Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen made a most effective display. On the main front, in large block gas letters were the words, *' Long Live Our Queen," whilst the whole building, from the top of the flagstaff to the ground floor, was festooned with coloured Chinese lanterns. Messrs A. Tyree and Co. had a transparency of the Queen, with. 1837-1897 on either side. THE COLLEGES. The illuminations at Canterbury College were on a large and gorgeous scale. Festoons of blazing cressets were hung from tree to tree, and coloured lights were burnt continuously along the whole of the front of the Boys' High School and the . College. All the rooms of the latter were t -lit up, the fine window of the large hall showing to particular advantage. The ; -chief display was made in front of the ! Museum, where, besides festoons of lights, ; blazing mottoes were shown. The first of : these was a large V.R., and then followed "The Queen," "1837-1897," "Science," "Art," and"" God Save the Queen." These were all quite novel and triumphs of art. In addition, thousands of explosives, R6man candles and coloured fires of every variety, completed a most elaborate exhibition. The whole display was under the personal direction of Professor Bickerton, assisted by Messrs Bickerton Bros., while Mr S. Page manipulated the search-light in the astronomical tower. At Christ's College there was a gas device in large block letters. " God Save the Queen." OTHER ILLUMINATIONS. Coloured fires were burned on top of the new building of the Christchurch Working Men's Club ; a transparency, consisting of a shamrock, rose and thistle, and V.R. was shown at tho Clarendon Hotel ; at the Christchurch Club there was a gas .star, with 1837—1897 on either side; and at the Occidental Hotel a gas star with " 60 " in the centre. There was scarcely a shop or building in the city at which some attempt at illumination was not made, and coloured fires were burned in a number of buildings. THE FINAL ACT. GREAT CROWD IN CATHEDRAL SQUARE. SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. • Shortly after 11. p.m. the vast concourse of people commenced to gather in Cathedral Square to participate in the final act of the days rejoicings. It was computed that 11.30 p.uj. would approximately I represent the time that the day's celebrabrations in London would commence. A suggestion was made that, with a view of subjects of her Majesty in all her posses sions joining in singing tho National Anthem, a signal would be given when the hymn should be commenced. At Christchurch tlie signal consisted of throwing open the western doors of the Cathedral, inwhich a short service was being conducted: The Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Searell. was stationed in i-he enclosure around the Godloy statue. By this time the whole of the square was one mass of people, densely packed, and as the notes of tho Cathedral organ pealed out the familiar strain the band struck up and played the first verse of the Anthem, the mass joining in. Then Mr G. W. Russell called for three cheers for her Majesty, a call which, it is hardly necessary to say, ; was responded to most vigorously. In response to repeated requests the band repeated the verse, and the vast assemblage cheered again and again. By this time midnight was fast approaching, but the crowd exhibited no indication of a wish to depart, and well into Wednesdr y morning the air was rent by cheers for the Queen, intermixed with occasional bars of the Anthem, which has been sung and re-sung by thousands of loyal subjects during* the past few days. At 11.30 p.m. a short service was conducted by the Rev Canon Harper in the Cathedral, which was packed to the doors. The order of the service was : — The National Anthem, prayers, Handel's Coronation Anthem, prayers, the' Te Deum to music by Professor Stanford, and in conclusion the Hallelujah Chorus. At the close of the service a peal of bells was rung. I