RAIN REDUCED RISK OF GUY FAWKES FIRES IN WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 November 1949, Page 4

RAIN REDUCED RISK OF GUY FAWKES FIRES IN WANGANUI

A light rain which fell in Wanganui early on Saturday night relieved members of the Wanganui Fire Brigade of some of the worries associated with the celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. No calls were received by the brigade although fires large and small were burning throughout the city and suburbs and rockets were soaring through the sky. On Saturday morning many youngsters were up at the crack of dawn to trundle their guys along suburban streets and solicit a “penny for the guy." Interest in this means of raising money with which to buy fireworks has dwindled and on Saturday the absence of fireworks and the fact that shops were closed gave the youngsters little incentive. On Friday night, city shops were deluged with inquiries for fireworks, but supplies had already been exhausted and many children had to be content to watch the displays of others. Many people pooled their stocks and Guy Fawkes Night parties were plentiful. Guy Fawkes Day actually passed off very quietly in Wanganui. Usually one or two youngsters receive major burns but this year they seemed to be of a minor nature only . A Press Association message stated that rain marred the celebration of Guy Fawkes historic gunpowder plot of November 5, 1605, in Auckland on Saturday night. While public displays oorganised in suburbs were postponed or cancelled, many families could nor organised in suburbs were postponed their ration of fireworks and setting a match to a saturated bonfire in the backyard of a nearby empty section in spite of the unfavourable weather