DISTANT FIREWORKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 504, 6 November 1928, Page 15

DISTANT FIREWORKS

AUCKLAND CELEBRATES THE FIFTH VIEW FROM DEVONPORT The fifth of November this year was not allowed to pass without the time-honoured custorfls and observances so dear to the hearts of children, and last evening young Auckland celebrated the great occasion in the usual manner. Fire brigades throughout the city stood on the qui vive, ready to dash to JJie fires which usually follow on these displays of youthful enthusiasm, and carelessness of consequences. About half a dozen fires, ranging from a house to gorse hedges, occupied the attention of the brigades, and provided them with some thrills. The scene at night from acrbss the harbour was awe-inspiring. At 7.30 p.m. a thick smoke pall hung low over Devonport and acrid fumes told of hastily fired green woods and scorched grass. The crackle of exploding crackers and dull booms of bigger bombs rent the air and young folk raced in wild glee. Guy Fawkes of legendary evil was once more dragged into the glare of national animosities; though actually the celebration of old fire worship ceremonies, inherited down a long row of centuries, is the basis of the annual November celebration, and not the survival of long forgotten politics in England. Australia does not celebrate November 5 at all. In the cool evening, viewing the scene from Mount Victoria, through the smoke veil a fountain of fire leaped and danced away in North Devonport, while a half hundred waning and waxing glows in the dark marked where industrious youth stirred the bonfires. At Devonport’s new park, at Melrose, three fires blazed and human figures stood out sharply in the firelight. Over in the city where a hundred thousand points of electric light burned steadily in the moonless night, one could see from St. Heliers to Point ■ Chevalier. On Mount Eden’s flanks livid flames floated and vanished; high over Mount Hobson a new constellation hung for a few moments in the sky, and from a score of points wriggling ribbons of fire climbed into space. Somewhere behind the Domain blue lights winked wickedly in pairs for a few seconds, only to appear again later. The flare of fires made a foil of dawn-red over the city and fitful flashes momentarily brightened the picture. It was entrancing and withal mysterious. In the foreground a brightly illumined ferry—or should one say fairy—boat glided acVoss the waters on legs of light; silent and distant fires burned vigorously and noiseless fireworks made patterns in the blackness of night; it required little imagination to suppose that one gazed on a city of mystery. Below, in a garden, a joyous child made circles of colour with matches and Roman candles, and of a sudden yells of delight folio-wed an ear-split-ting detonation of a “big one.” The fifth, of November was indeed fittingly celebrated.

INDOOR FIREWORKS ACCIDENTAL DISPLAY IN SHOP (Special to THE SUN* MASTERTON, Monday. The fireworks display began too early here when the whole stock of gunpowder goods of Mr. A. J. Daysh, Queen Street, caught fire. Sparks from a demonstration of a certain firework set alight to the stock, and for a few minutes the shop was filled with multi-coloured lights. The brigade quickly suppressed the. outbreak after damage estimated at about £SO hacj been done.