FIREWORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1928, Page 7

FIREWORKS

THE ELECTRIC HARE,

LONDON, Nov. 1

Yet more novel ties have been invented as fireworks. Every year, immediately alter the feverish rush leading up to November 5, makers of fireworks apply themselves to the task of designing novelties for the next year. This year the Electric Haro will be tne rage for every small boy. It costs a penny, and is a miniature war rocket which shoots along the ground in a delightfully irresponsible manner. Another new-old effect is produced by the Indian Marvel,. which is more oxpensive and produces a- fountains of fire about 15ft. high. Joke bombs and sparklers are also being distributed in large quantities, being very popular on account of their safety indoors. WOMAN IN PIERROT DRESS. This has been a record year, and it was interesting to see in many of the shops black trousered overalls which resemble a pierrot’s fancy dress. Everybody was working at high speed, whether moulding “stars” (expelling them from a small pump with a rubber bulb like a tiny motor horn), or ramming the composition into the paper cylinders which afterwards become rocKets and Roman candles. The mixing of the compositions is done in separate sheds, each ingredient being carefully weighed and sifted through a sieve. The gunpowder is stored in large underground magazines and is issued in small quantities. BUSY GRANDMOTHER, There seems to be an irresistible appeal about fireworks-making. Mr Allen Brock, one of the directors of O. T. Brock and Co. had been an architect before the war, but afterwards he decided to return to the industry which had been in the family for 200 years. r J nere are about a dozen men who have been with the firm for more than fifty years. It is one of the few industries where the old-fashioned hand operations still prevail. This may perhaps lie in part lue reason why this occupation is so often a family affair, For example, Miss Dolly Martin was to be seen helping her grandmother to make “touch paper”—the blue paper fuse which is lit by a match. The old lady was swabbing the paper with the saltpetre emulsion. Until a few months ago the mother was also employed at the same work. She has left for domestic reasons, but the other workers are speculating how long she will be able to keep away.