RECORD REIGN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 361, 24 June 1897, Page 8

RECORD REIGN.

The loyal subjects of Auckland, this week have been most fortunate in the weather, which on June 21st and 22nd was all that could be desired. It is scarcely within the province of a sporting journal to go into particulars of the magnificent display of loyalty, but whilst citizens generally vied with one another in giving effect to brilliant illuminations it is but right that we should pay more than a passing compliment to the publicans of the city, as nearly every hostelry added very materially to the brilliant scene. Amongst some of the best displays in the centre of the city were those at the Albert Hotel, the arrangements of the Chinese lanterns were very pretty, while just lower down the Thistle looked very well. The decorations at the British were pretty, and Messrs Stimpson and Russell’s lanterns in Vulcan Lane had quite altered the generally dull appearance of the neighbourhood after nightfall. Mr Kidd at the Commercial presents a pretty gas display, while the lion rampant at the Imperial attracted a lot of attention. The decorations at the Waitemata, the Thames, and the Waverly Hotels all completed a brilliant display in Queen Street. A NOVELTY. In connection with the brilliant display on Tuesday night the novel exhibition carried out by Mr Hazard on behalf of the proprietors of the Sporting Review, created a vast amount of interest. The display consisted of the despatch of ten balloons from the vacant piece of land opposite the Public Library, and to each balloon, which was inflated with heated air, was attached a Review cheque for £ 1. It was a lovely evening for such a display, .but unfortunately Mr Hazard had a lot to deal with from the unruly spirits who had assembled near the spot from where the balloons were liberated. These hoodlums, when each balloon was despatched, discharged stones at it regardless of consequences, and one man sustained a lacerated wound on the head from one of the missiles. . Many of the balloons were injured by the stones, but the display on the whole was an excellent one, some of the balloons reaching a high attitude and drifting in a southerly direction, hordes of youngsters following so long as the light of the aerial messenger was visible. A couple of the balloons took fire, but whether the cheques escaped the results is not at present known. So far only one cheque has been recovered, that being attached to a balloon which found a resting place on one of the highest trees in the Domain. It was rescued on Wednesday morning. A lantern display of pictures that have appeared in the Review entertained the large crowd which had assembled in Wellesley Street while awaiting the despatch of the various balloons.