NEW GUINEA PROTECTORATE

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 301, 4 December 1884, Page 3

NEW GUINEA PROTECTORATE

Itapscßißixt; the illuminations at Port Moresby Fim the occasion of proclaiming the protectorF'ate over New Guinea, the correspondent of i the Age writes:—" The night chosen for the ■ illumination was beautifully fine. The water in the bay was as smooth as glass, and in the darkness the vessels in harbour loomed dimly. Suddenly and simultaneously the whole of the warships were brilliantly illuminated, blue lights being burnt from each yardarm and gunport, while signal rockets were sent up at intervals. Shortly afterwards the Nelson . broaght into action its magnificent electric light. The Nelson was lying at anchor a mile from the village, but by the aid of this light the huts on the shore could be plainly distinguished. For the amusement of the natives the siren or fog-horn of the Nelson was sounded. The effect was ludicrous in the extreme, the initrument alternately groaning and barking, and making the most extraordinary noises. Those who knew what it meant, both Europeans and natives, laughed heartily at this part of the entertainment, more particularly when the sounds were so focussed that a splendid echo came from shore. The effect on natives varied very much: some of them were amused, others were frightened, but all were astonished at a display such as they had never seen before, and were never likely to see again. In some instances, I was informed, the natives thought the two electric lights to be the eyes of some great monster, and when they heard sounds of the siren they immediately conPi eluded that it was the voice of the monster, 1 and, acting under this belief, numbers of them ran away and hid in the bush in terror. While the illumination was proceeding the the moon rose through a light bank of clouds over the hill, and the electric light and the firing off of the rockets was one of the prettiest sights anybody could wish to see.”