over
nine:
great glow of light hung over the town. The Chinese fireworks commenced on the Parade Ground soon afterwards, and a few rockets were sent up at intervals, while the steamer Titania threw its electric light intermittently on the harbour. Shortly before the bonfire on the Peak broke into a bright blaze, and a few minutes later other beacon fires flared to heaven from other points on the heights. About nine o'clock the bulky form of the Victor Emanuel suddenly emerged from the dense gloom in which she lay, a mass of glowing crimson, every port and spar being distinctly revealed, while the Constance and the Leander rose out of the obscurity under the luminous lime light, which brought them into startlingly vivid relief. Simultaneously a hissing stream of rockets soared upward from the barge on which the fireworks were being let off, and green and crimson fires were conspicuous on Victoria Gap. A few moments later showers of rockets sprang from the Peak and different heights, and the coloured stars falling from them at that height produced a novel and beautiful effect. At this time the illuminations were at their best. The city was flooded in light, with the purple haze above it, the long lines of twinkling lamps which marked the course of the white Bowen Road, the slender string of red lamps which indicated the track of the Tramway up the face of the Peak, the thick line of lights near the summit, the illuminated bungalows of Messrs Veitch, Chater, and Dennys, standing out against the sky, and the water below crowded with gaily lighted craft, and from which in the darker portion the men-of-war apparently bathed in coloured flame, while far off on the other side the Kowloon Police Station stood an oasis of lambent light in a wilderness of blackness, formed altogether a magnificent and never-to-be-forgotten sight. The men-of-war illuminations were remarkably fine, the vessels now appearing in blue, now in crimson, and anon in silvery whiteness, and their sudden emergences from the gloom were greeted with exclamations of astonishment, delight, and approval by the Chinese, who watched the ping-shün (soldier-ships) with the keenest interest. The streets and Praya were crowded with moving streams of sight-seers, who scarcely began to thin before eleven o'clock, when the illuminations commenced to wane, but half-an-hour later there was sensible diminution, and at midnight the great spectacle was over. Below we append as many details as we could gather in the time:--
IN VICTORIA.
The City Hall, with its fine façade and handsome lines, lends itself readily to decoration, and its illumination on Wednesday evening was a sight that could not easily be surpassed. On the Praya side were the words "Victoria Regina" in immense letters composed of coloured lanterns running the whole length of the building, surmounted by a crown, with the figures 1837 and 1887 above and below it, while a series of arches composed of lanterns was carried along the top cornice. The eastern façade, facing the Cricket Ground, had Chinese transparencies fixed in the top of the arches of the verandah on the ground floor, while the upper part was covered with an artistic arrangement of hundreds of Japanese lanterns. The front of the building was covered with festoons and lines of coloured lanterns, with a series of shields with trophies of flags running under the top cornice, some of the shields bearing pictures of Hongkong at various periods of its history, and the others appropriate devices. In the centre were two larger shields with the figures 1837 and 1887 in blue on gold ground with flags draped above, and on the wings flanking the entrance were other large shields, the upper ones bearing St. George's Cross and the British Lion, and the lower ones the Prince of Wales's Arms and the Irish Harp respectively. The shields were draped with ensigns. A large transparency, showing a portrait of Her Majesty, was placed over the main entrance to the Hall. There were numerous lanterns hung in trees in front, in some cases up to the very top branches, and the general effect of the whole design was superb.
The Dent Fountain, which had been cleaned up, played jets of water. Drinking cups had been provided, and the fountain was much patronised by thirsty Chinese sight-seers eager to quench their thirst.
On the opposite side of the road Beaconsfield Arcade was illuminated with lanterns in the arches of the top verandah, and Messrs. Schmidt and Co., watchmakers, had a star in gas over their entrance. Beaconsfield, now occupied by Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, had its front covered with white lanterns.
The magnificent building of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank was most artistically dealt with. Over the portico were the words "God save the Queen" in gold letters on a white ground, with the figures 1837 and 1887 on each side. There were also shields bearing "V. R." and other appropriate devices, and the whole façade was illuminated with red and white lanterns, with one monster lantern 11 feet high hanging in the entrance with the Royal Standard and Union Jack painted on it, surmounted by the Crown, the figures 1837 and 1887 appearing below. This huge affair drew forth many exclamations of astonishment from the Chinese. The eastern side of the Bank building was treated in a similar style. There was the name "Victoria" in gold letters on a white ground on the entablature over the centre pair of columns, with shields and trophies of flags on each side, the shields bearing the novel and appropriate device of the colours of various countries quartered—British, American, French, and German. There were also shields bearing "1837" and "1887," and lanterns were hung round the pillars and along the top. The dome was lighted by strings of small coloured glass lamps carried up and around it, and stood out prominently. On the bamboo scaffolding of the still unfinished side of the Bank the letters "V. R." and figures "1837" and "1887" were formed by white lanterns on a large scale and were very effective. Coloured lights were burned on the Praya side of the Bank at short intervals.
Proceeding along the Praya we next come to Messrs. D. Sassoon, Sons and Co.'s hong, illuminated with large masses of white lanterns under the cornice, the verandah arches being outlined in red with a large white lantern hanging in the arch. Messrs. Schellhass and Co. made a good show with red, white, and blue lanterns. The offices of the Messageries Maritimes were hung with beautiful variegated lanterns in lines. One of the most conspicuous features in the illumination as seen from the water were the stars and stripes of the United States which covered the whole front of Messrs. Russell and Co.'s hong worked out in blue, red, and white lanterns, sixteen hundred in all. The same design was adopted in the illuminations on the occasion of the Princes' visit, and was considered very successful then, but it was still more so this time, the ingenuity of the gentlemen who had the work in hand having discovered means of improving what appeared perfect before. There was also a design in white lanterns on the flagstaff. The chief feature in Messrs. Melchers and Co.'s illumination, and one that excited much admiration, was a large transparency painted from the Norddeutscher Lloyd's picture advertisement representing a fine Atlantic liner. On one side of this, in similar transparency, were the Norddeutscher Lloyd's arms, and on the other, also in transparency, three flags crossed—the British and German and the house flag of the firm. The paintings, excellently executed, were the work of Bung Qua, who was superintended by Mr. Baptista. There was also a large display of lanterns, with the letters "V. R." in coloured glass lamps. The lower part of the same house is occupied by Messrs. Blackhead and Co., who had flags hung out. The corner house of this block, occupied by Messrs. More and Seimund on the ground floor and by Messrs. Holliday, Wise and Co., Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg and Co., and the Wharf and Godown Company above, was illuminated by white and coloured lanterns and various Chinese transparencies. One of the latter over the door in Pedder's street had moving figures, and appeared to amuse the Chinese.
Crossing Pedder's-street, not noticing for the present the Clock Tower or the Triumphal Arch at Pedder's Wharf, we come to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s hong, which had a large transparency with "V. R." and underneath it a St. Andrew's cross surrounded by thistles. There were