NEW BRIGHTON AND CITY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22424, 10 June 1938, Page 21

NEW BRIGHTON AND CITY

Amalgamation Proposal BOROUGH DETERMINED TO PROCEED Steps for the amalgamation of New Brighton Borough with the City of Christchurch are to be taken by the Borough Council late in July or early in August, the Mayor of New Brighton (Mr E. L. Smith) said last evening. The proposal has been under discussion for more than a year, but various set-backs to its progress occurred, and it was shelved to await the Local Government (Amalgamations) Bill being brought down in the house. The Borough Council is determined to proceed with the amalgamation, if the support of the City Council and the. Heathcote County Council can be obtained, without waiting* for the bill, Mr Smith said. The onus rested on the borough to make the next move, and it would do so.

Nothing could be done by the Borough Council until it has dealt with urgent business in the way of estimates; but directly that has been done a special amalgamation committee of the Borough Council, which has been appointed, will meet and decide what action is to be recommended. Probably late in July, Mr Smith said, the New Brighton Borough Council will invite the Heathcote County Council and the Christchurch City Council to a conference, with the idea of reaching finality on the matter.

Gordon, who was memorable as the Irish mother in “The Irish in Us,” are other featured players. “Sensation" fearlessly reveals the relentless go-getter methods of Fleet Street’s “Murder Gang"—a pack of crime reporters headed by “Lone Wolf” Heaton, who stop at nothing to get exclusive “behind the scenes ’ stories to splash sensationally across their front pages. The story in this instance concerns the murdered body of a young waitress which was found in a ditch. Who killed her—and why? Playing the role of “Lone Wolf” Heaton is John Lodge, England’s new action star; and opposite him, as Claire Lindsay, his fiancee, is Australia's own Margaret Vyner. CRYSTAL PALACE “LAW OF THE UNDERWORLD” AND “HARMONY LANE” A polo-playing society favourite by day—a sinister leader of a racketeer mob by night—this is the character Chester Morris portrays In RKO Radio’s “Law of the Underworld,” which begins to-day at the .Crystal Palace with “Harmony Lane.” On the basis of this dual character revolves much of the intriguing action of the film. The adventures of twg, young lovers who are forced to join the mob, and the efforts of a new prosecutor to wipe out gangsterism in the city, comprise the other factors which are interwoven with Morris’ “Jekyll-and-Hyde” activities to make the picture one of the season’s most exciting films. How the gang chief finally sacrifices his own safety to save the young people from conviction brings a climax to the story. Anne Shirley and Richard Bond have the roles of the lovers, and Walter Abel plays the part of the prosecutor, with Eduardo Ciannelli and Lee Patrick as two of the gang’s doublecrossing members who seek to supplant Morris. Paul Guilfoyle, Frank M. Thomas, and other well-known players are in the cast of this production by Robert Sisk which was directed by Lew Landers. The second feature is “Harmony Lane,” dealing with the life of Stephen Foster, the composer of the popular songs: “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming,” “Oh! Susanna, "Old Black Joe.” “Old Folks at Home,” and “Camptown Races.” MAYFAIR “IN OLD CHICAGO” In the sprawling, rickety slum quarter of Chicago in 1871, a cow belonging to the Widow O’Leary kicked over a lantern into some straw. This, according to popular legend, was the origin of the great fire which wiped out Chicago, and it is the explanation for the disaster that Darryl Zaniick has used with fine dramatic and spectacular effect in the 20th Century-Fox film, “In Old Chicago,” which is now at the Mayfair. For 25 blistering, awe-inspiring minutes the terrific conflagration flares from the screen, ranking with the. earthquake in “San Francisco” as a record of''major disaster. Fire-engines plunge through the streets of the doomed city; with futile streams of water men battle against the advancing wall of flame; the lawless element begins to riot; and the tattle in the great stockyards break loose and charge in maddened flight toward the river.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED Jeanette Mac Donald, Clark Gable, and Spencer Tracy are the stars of “San Francisco,” which begins at the Tivoli to-day. “Madame X,” starring Gladys George, heads the new programme at the Majestic. Deanna Durbin’s latest film, “Mad About Music,” in which she is starred with Herbert Marshall and Gail Patrick, has been so popular at the Regent that its season is being extended; At the Liberty, beginning to-day, “Making Headlines.” starring Jack Holt, and “On the Avenue,” starring Dick Powell, are being shown. To-day’s new programme at the Grand comprises “Three Live Ghosts” and “The Last of . the. Pagans.” • PREMIER THEATRE An outstanding, double feature programme will commence .at the Premier Theatre, New 'Brighton, to-day, with James Cagney in “Something to Sing About.” The associate feature shows John Wayne in “Idol of the Crowds,” a high-speed ice hockey story. •