Up Queen- street

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

Up Queen- street

Leaving the wharf and coming up Queen - street on the eastern side, the illuminations on the western side came into due prominence. The Waitemata Hotel was decorated with Chinese and Japanese lanterns, and the premises of the National Insurance Company were similarly lighted. The transparency prepared for the New Zealand Insurance Company by Kilian and Fisher was- circular in shape, and measured twelve feet by nine. It is a representation of the seal of the Company, and shows a fern tree in the centre, surrounded by perforated work ornamentation. Above are the letters V.R. and crown, and beneath the words " Vivat Itegina," purrounded by a wreath. About two hundred coloured lamps were also festooned over the front of the building, and the windows were covered with coloured paper, the whole having a very pretty effect. The decorations outside the Colonial Bank consisted of six-feet V.R. letters in perforated work, with about two hundred Chinese lanterns festooned in front. Kilian and Fisher caiTied out the contract. Messrs Collins Bros, premises in Queenstreet were ornamented with coloured paper on the windows. At this point the spectators turned into Shortland-street, where the illuminations were also very good. Above the entrance to L. D. Nathan's warehouse, the motto " Kia ora Kumi Wikitoria" had been formed by Mr Foster out of gas letters. The translation is " Long Life to Queen "Victoria." Over the entrance to the Evening Star Office in Shortland-street there was displayed a large transparency painted by Mr Steel. The design is a very elaborate one. In thecentre is alikenessof the Queen, encircled by a wreath of rose, shamrock and thistle, which is bound together by the outstretched arms of a young Cupid. Beneath are several cherubs representing the colonies of Australasia, and in the hands of each is a garland with which to crown He* Majesty. The legend "AustraPs Greetings" is inscribed below.. Above Pier Majesty's head is a blue ground representing the sky, on which the Southern Cross is reproduced. The transparency is 14ft by Bft. Mr Pelford j effected the gas illumination of the building. Along the top cornice was a row of jets, while a similar row and a gas star were fixed on the second cornice. Beneath were the letters E.S. on either side of the transparency, and above the doorway a triumphal gas archway. The window of Messrs Kidd and Wild- | man was handsomely decorated with artificial flowers and lights. The transparency at the Auckland Club, executed by Mr Petford, was a triumphal arch in gas over the doorway, with a large gas star, flanked by two smaller stars on tne upper story. The illuminations at A. Clark and Sons' warehouse in Shortland-street were confined to a large star in gas jets over the doorway. Mr Williamson executed the work. Mr Norrie, cabinetmaker, had his premises decorated with bunting. Returning to Queen-street, and reviewing the t western side, the spectators' attention was firet held by the illuminations at the Bank pf New Zealand. New Zea-

laod^ past osid present, was the subject of a large transparency painted for the Bank of xfaw Zealand at Mr Hendersons establishment. The picture measures 17ft. by 'Jit. Gin. In >the centre is the royal coat of arms, surmounted by the crown and Narious British flags, and encircled by a wreath of roses, shamrocks, and thistles. The right and left«corners contain the Aucki land and New Zealand seals. The picture in the foreground to the loft represents New Zealand in 1837- Tarawera is seen in the distance* with a view of Lake Taupo, on which the untutored savage is paddling his canoo, Several .kiwis and some nikau and ilax complete this side of the picture. The other side represents New Zealand in 18S7, and shows Britannia with trident and shield, and the emblems of commerce and industry at her feet. The Bank was also brilliantly lighted. The illuminations at the Bank of New South Wales consisted of tho caligraphic letters V.K. in gas, each letter being 3ft. Gin. In the centre was a crown four feet in size. F. and W. Fowler carried out this. A pretty design in gas had been arranged by Mr Foster in trout of Devoreand Cooper's oiiices. Tho letters Y. R. were formed out of gas jel&, and on either side there was a two-feet crown. An illuminated painted transparency was di&playcd outride the New Zealand " Herald "' Olrice. It is elcsen feet either way, and was painted by Pulford and May. The head and bust of Her Majesty arc .shown in the ccntro larger than life-size. Beneath te a wreath of laurels, and on cithci side scenes representing a Maoii chief under the -waving fronds of his native fern, and a gold-digger, .spade inhaud, beneath a nikau. Under the picture of her Majesty is a tablet bearing tho following inscription :—: — She wrought her people lasting good, 1 [er Corrt was pure, her life serene, God gave her peace, her land repose, A thousand cUiims to reverence clooe, In her as mother, wife and queen. The illuminations at the Bank of Australasia consisted entirely of gas light design, arranged by Mr Fo&ter. One largo star was iixed at the corner, and two smaller stars in Queen-street, besides two stars and the leltei-s V.R. in Wyndham-street. There was aLo a curved gas wreath in front, and the lamps in the inteiior of the building were fitted with coloured fancy globes and lighted. In front of the offices of the New Zealand Printing Company, in Wyndhamstreet, was an illumiuated transparency representing a large bell. The centre of the picture gives a view of the Queen s face in 1837, and beneath arc the words " Victoria, 1837," surrounded by a wreath of laurels. Kilian and Fiaher supplied the transparency. At this point the Occidental and Queen's Ferry Hotels, in Vulcan Lane, came into viuw, each being decorated with Chine-e lanterns. The National Bank Buildings block, which is at the corner of Queen and Wyndhani - streets, was, extensively illuminated. Kilian and Fisher had placed over the main entrance a royal coat of arms in transparency. Above it, on the first iloor, was a perforated transparency eight feet in height representing the crown and Prince of Wales feathers. The four windows facing Queen-street on the first floor, were covered by large perforated letters N.8.N.Z., and the.se were lighted from bhe inside. The upstairs windows of the Wyndham-street front were covered with the letters H.R.— H.R. (Hesketh and Richmond) also in perforated work. A pretty effect was gained by festoons and colouied lamps, 300 of which were used. Mr Humphries, of the British Hotel, was one of the few publicans who arranged illuminations in honour of the Jubilee. Mr Henderson had completed for him three large transparencies, which were shown from the upper part of the hotel. The first painting represents a scene in the Auckland harbour, with the warship Nelson in the centre, the Calliope Duck and North Shore in tho background, and in the foreground the pier, on which are consignments of merchandise under the watchful e^e of a coastguardman, and the 1 various emblems of industry. The second picture represents the landine of Captain Cook in 1767. The ship Endeavour is shown in the background, while in the foreground Captain Cook is standing on tho sea bhore beside a native. Beneath is the motto "Advance New Zealand," and^ on either side arc nikau trees and native ilax, in flower. The third picture is a painting of Queen Victoria, encircled by a wreath, and surmounted by a crown and Union Jack and New Zealand ensign. Beneath is a cluster of shamrock, rose and thistle, and the inscription " Kia ora Kumi Wikitoria." (long live Queen Victox ia). These pictures arc each seven feet by six. The illuminations at the Union Bank were in the hands of Mr McDermott. They consisted of the gas letters V.R., three feet by three, encircled by a wreath of gas jets, and seven gas streamer stars. Four of these were four feet stars, and the others three feet. These illuminations had a very pretty effect, seeing that there arc 300 lights in each star, and between 4,000 and 5,000 jets required for the illumination of the design. The transparency for the Aurora Hotel in Victoria-street was painted at Hendersons, The design is a rising sub, with the letters V.R., and the motto " Cead mille fail the." Turning into Victoria-street, spectators paid some attention to Sargood, Ewen. and Co.'s warehouse. The entrance was surmounted by a painted transparency, representing the Royal coat of arms, on the sides of which are grouped the British and Colonial Flags. Beneath is the motto, " Loyalty, Unity, Industry." On either side of the transpai'ency, the letters Y. R. were formed oxib of coloured lamps, the size of each letter being six feet. Above these, and on the centre of the building, were the crown, anchor, and Prince of Wales feathers- The front of the premises' were also illuminated by about three hundred coloured glass lamps. Kilian and Fisher executed those decorations. The Royal Mail Hotel was decorated with bunting, as was also the premises of Mr M. H. Keesing adjacent. At Messrs Brown and Barrett's premises the flag of the German Consul was dis^ played. Mr Arthur Wrights premises were decorated with bunting. He also liberated a fire balloon in the evening. The firebell tower in Albert-street was also a prominent feature in the display, being brightly illuminated with a large number of lights. The Working Men's Club had the credit of tho largest transparency that was shown. ' It is 24 feet in length, and 9 feet high. In the centre of the picture is a view of the Queen, encircled by a wreath of oak and laurel. The letters V.R. are worked in monogram at the top, and beneath is the Royal coat of arms. The public seals of the city and the colony are shown on the upper corners. In the foreground to the right are a golddigger and a native woman carrying her picaninny in approved native fashion, and to the left is an Indian scene representing an elephant and a huntsman with his jaguar. At the end facing tho wharf is a picture of Britannia, with the

ii'idenfc, on a dark blue ground. At the other end the initials " W.M.C." are worked into a monogram, which is encircled by a wreath. Above are a crown and the words " Vivafc Rogina- 1837— 1887," and beneath the motto ' • United we >Stand. " This painting was executed by Pulfoid and May. The front of McArthur and Go's warehouse was illuminated by no fewer than 320 small coloured glass lamps. Over the front entrance was a large transparency representing the erent and motto of the firm. The former is a greyhound, and the motto, " Fides ot Opera." On each side of the transparency is a large perforated V.H. in six feet letters, and on the top story perforated star, Prince of Wales leather, I and crown, all lx;ing iohtooned with coloured lights. These decorations were done by Kilian and Fisher. A coat of arms on grny ground, painted by Pulford and May, to displayed over the verandah top of Smith and Cauohey's. Two large four feet gnd letters [6. & C.) weie fixed by Tuclehopo on the top of tho building. Kilian and Fisher al&o assisted in the decoration of this shop. They fixed up a large ornamental into which the letter* IXL arc worked. The letters V.R. in perforated woik, each pix feet, were placed on cither silo of the star. Two hundred colouied gln^s lamps wore also u^od in the illumination of the premises. Mr Condon had a eoac of arms on white ground placed outride his hotel. The transparency was painted by Pulford and May. Kilian and Fiahei had prepuicd for tho tuiloiing e-suibli.shmenb of l\iv Adam.-, at the toot of (<roy hlieet, a transparency gi\ing a poiLait of the Quoen, v,hh the red onnign on one side and iho Union Jack on t.hu other. Abo\ov,-eio tholottcio Y. R. on eii/her side of the cioun, and beneath tho \vOids "Cod Save tho Queen."'