JAPANESE FIREWORKS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3634, 6 March 1883, Page 4

JAPANESE FIREWORKS.

The AAVllingtou correspondent_ of the Christehurch Telegraph says: — ''The exhibition of " daylight fireworks " given 0:1 board the Japanese mau-o'-war was a very remarkable (me. What took place was this: "First, from a small mortar on the forecastle, was fired almost vertically into the air a, "shell," which, 011 reaching its greatest elevation, burst into a compact of bright yellow smoke. From this cloud there slowly descended a large figure, apparently of thin coloured paper, which sailed "slowly and obliquely downwards until it reached the water, fully a quarter of a. mile from the starting point. These figures were marvellous works of ingenuity. One was a life-sized woman in a gorgeous dress of pink and green, who floated through the air, bowing and waving her hands in the most tillable manner to the delighted spectators. Another was a monster yellow cock, with vivid scarlet comb and flowing tail, the bird being in appearance about the size of ii small cow. Its movements were so natural that the people almost expected to hear it crow when it sailed down. In another case a '' horse and his rider '' careered majestically past hi mid-air, and then a large shark in brilliant blue and .silver swam in the most natural manner, the motions of tail and tins being marvelously realistic. r A gigantic yellow hen, a s-uperb pink and white tulip rising from a green flower-pot a largo red and green lamp, three balloons, and a parachute, three globes—respectively red, white, and blue, and other devices were disclosed on the successive bursting of the shells ; but perhaps the prettiest display of all was given by one which, on bursting, left a Kolid looking-sphere of peculiarly deep yellow smoke which threw out in all directions long golden chains, each terminated by a brilliant golden ball. This was exceedingly fine and striking in the sunshine. The'evening displiy, though extremely pretty, was less remarkable in its novelty. AVh.it rockets were sent up were very mild, the Japanese pyrotechnic strength evidently lying in their shells. Some of these were strikingly beautiful, the symmetricallycircular shape taken by the contents of the exploded shells was singularly exact,' and the golden rain, the crimson and gold stars, the ruby wheels, the feathers, and other devices excited genuine and well deserved admiration.