SEEING THE SIGHTS.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 208, 25 June 1887, Page 5

SEEING THE SIGHTS.

The V>e=-t of order prevailed dm ing the display, oivl the c'iLection srivoti by the Town Clerk that citi/ens .-hould go '" riov, v"' the Avestcrn a:u! " up " the eastern side Avas dxily observed except in a very few instances. Mr Superintendent Thomson had brought in all the constables from the suburbs and had fifty men under his personal direction. The traffic was tluio brought completely iinder control, and no accident of any kind occurred. The crowd was most orderly and good - tampered, and although some crushing of course took place, there Ava-5 no disturbance of any sort. Taking the illuminations as seen by pursuing this course and commencing at "Wellesley-^ueet, they attracted notice as follows :—: — The upper window of Mr Eagleton's premises Ava- coveied with a transparency 6ft. by 4ft., painted by Pulford and May. The paint ii q represents a Maoii chief with a greenstone in his hand. Above are the words " God Sa\e the Queen," and beneath "Advance New Zealand " Ch-er the A-erandah of Mr Edson's pharmacy there Avas a small tiansparency, executed \L Henderson's. The de-ign Ava.s simple, consisting of the letteis V.Il. and a crown. The transparency outside the Auckland Savings Bank attracted a large amount of attention. It represented Britannia, with a lion couchant at her feet and a Union Jack in her hand. Thi.s picture v, a- executed at .Mr J. Hendersons establishment. The gas illuminations Aveie arranged by Mr Foster, and included two gas sLms, each of which is five feet, on the second story, and V.R. in four feet gas letters on the top. The lamp in front of Robson's Dining Rooms A\as co\erd Avith a transparency showing a Maltese cross on one side, a crown on another, and the letters Y.R. on the third. The transparency Avas of perforated Avork executed by Kilian and Fisher. Mr Mears's book and music stoi-e was decorated Avith Chinese lanterns ; the windoAV Avas also lighted up and decorated with festoons of evergreens and camellias, "a picture of the Queen in each window. Messrs Payne and Hazard jointly exhibited a transparency representing Queen Victoria with the royal arms and Windsor Castle. Mr Goodson exhibited a transparency representing the Crown and letters V.R. The transparency over the verandah of "Wilson, Williams, and McCnllagh's premises AA'as a handsome one loft, by 10ft., and Avas painted by Pulford and May. The painting is on blue ground, and represent? a scene of commerce and industry. It is sin-mounted by the Royal coat of arms, and beneath are the figures of diggers and natives, surrounded by packages of merchandise and implements of industry. Beneath are the Auckland seal and the words "God SaA-e the Queen." Nikau and fern trees and the native flax, in flower, are shown on either side. The Australian Mutual Provident Society displayed a transparency ■representing a group of statuary. Beneath is the motto, " Amicus certus in re incerta," and the Maori rendering of the words •* God Save the Queen." viz., " E te atua tohunga te Kuini." The group of ■statuary was very cleverly transferred to canvas by Mr Backhouse, of NeAvton. On the top story there Avere the letters V.R. with a star and portrait of Her Majesty. A transparency seven feet by six was displayed at the Greyhound Hotel. In the centre is a painting of Her Majesty, with a wreath border, and above are a croAvn, New Zealand Flag and Union Jack. Beneath are the Avords in Maori — " Kia ora Kumi Wikitoria." T. and S. Morrin and Co. displayed a large transparency, 15ft by 10ft, which had been manufactured for them by Kilian and Fisher. It represents a large &tar, Avith a croAvn in the centre, and the letters V.R. above. Beneath are the words "God Save the •Queen."' Oza the verandah of the Direct Importing Company's shop av&s a perforated crown in transparency, Avith the motto, "Dieu eb rnon JDroib !" The transparency Avas made by Kilian and Fisher. The Melbourne Drapery Company displayed the electric ligbt over the verandah, and a pretty star in the windoAV. The decorations at fche establishment of W. H. Fenton & Co. consisted of a royal coat of arms over the doorway verandah, at the foot of the transparency being the name of the firm. Kilian and Fisher supplied the transparency. Messrs Porter & Co. shoAved three nicely executed paintings on the upper windows, and had the premises Avell lighted. From the British Hotel to Morrin and Co. 's a string of flags Avas suspended, and there was also' a string of flags running from Dignan's livery stables to the fire-bell tower in Albert-street.

•Jtunting was displayed from Mr SJaorias .drapery establishment. Afessi's Hesketh and Aitken exhibited as a transparency the letters V.R. in perforated work. Mr C4raves Aickin, chemist, displayed a V.R. in gas on the top storey. Air JVafford, dentist, displayed a transparency representing Her Majesty, and the letters'V.R., with Union Jacks, very tastefully arranged. The illuminations of the olhces of the ScwJ:h British Insurance Company, at the corner of Quoen and khortland-etreets, were carried out on a scale of some grandeur. On the first lioor front theie was a large 2 transparency in oils executed by Pnlford and May. It is fourteen feet by eleven in size, and represents Britannia in a standing posture with the New Zealand flag in her right hand and an anchor in her left. She is encircled by a ribbon, on which are the words, " South British Insurance Company of New Zealand." Above ore the Royal arms of England and the flags of all nations in a cluster, and beneath, the motto " Semper Fidelia." entwined in a wreath of roses, shamrocks and thistles. The gas illuminations on the building were arranged by Mr R. Tudchope. Each cornice was lighted by small jots of gas. A gas star were placed over the head of the figure Britannia, on the top of the building, and there was also the letters V.R. in gas on the second story. Apart from the gas letters and the lighting of the transparency, no fewer than 300 gas jots were used to illuminate the exterior of the building. Ha\ ing got thus far by walking down the w estern side of Queen-street, as tar as Wesb Quecn-atreet, the pedestrian found something like a stoppage of trailic. The South British illuminations called for more than a parsing notice, and there was a general pause here for a few minutes, after which the immense crowd moved onwards towards the wharf. Short-land-street could be observed brilliantly lighted, but it was unwise to cross at this &tage, and minute inspection of the illuminations there had to be postponed Allens drapery establishment, in the Arcade buildings, showed a largo transparency, loft, by 10ft., painted on light ground by Pulford and May. In the centre of tho picture iana n full-sized picture of Her Majesty, surrounded by the various British tlags. ' Above is the Royal coat of arms, while tho Kew Zealand Public Seal is worked into the right corner and the Auckland *eal into the left, In the foreground are scenes representative of lifo in Canada, India, Au-stialia, and Kew Zealand These include the lady occupant of a sno-u sledge.a tiger attacking an Indian, an Australian stockman and kangaroo, and a Maori chief. A group of statuary painted by Pulford and May -uas displayed outside of the Mutual Life Association otAu&trala&ia buildings at the corner of Queen and Fort-streets. The motto of the Society appeared underneath. The ' Stars and Stripes " were displayed at the window of the American Consulate in the Arcade Buildings, and Messrs Kel-f-ey's fancy goods store and the premises of the Auckland Tobacco Company were gaily decorated with Chinese lanterns. Messrs Stone Bros., H. F. Anderson, and Cruickshank & Co. displayed bunting from their premises.