LIKE TROPICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 8

LIKE TROPICS.

CALM TASMAN TRIP.

PASSENGERS ON MARIPOSA.

COMEDIAN TURNS TO FILMS

"The smoothest crossing I've known ' —it was like going through the tropics," was how an officer of the Matson liner Mariposa described the transTasman trip on the arrival of the vessel from Sydney this morning. Sunny days and calm eeas had made the voyage a perfect one, strongly contrasting with the rough weather that had been experienced in recent weeks on the Taeman, lie said. The only incident to record was the receipt of the news of the victory of the United States over Australia in the Davis Cup tennis tourney, said the American officer—and his elated mention of this brought a scowl from an Australian passenger with whom he was chatting. Among the prominent passengers is Mr. W. T. Miller, superintendent of airways in the United States Bureau of Commerce, who is returning to America after investigating air mail possibilities in New Zealand and Australia. Mr. A. (i. Stephenson, head of the Sydney and Melbourne firm of Stephenson, Meldrum and Turner, architects, arrived to supervise the reconstruction of the Wellington Hospital, on which an estimated sum of £000,000 is to be spent. Mr. Stephenson's firm recently submitted to the Auckland Hospital Board plans for the reconstruction of the public hospital here. "Succumbed" to Talkies. "I suppose I'm one of the last to 'succumb' to the talkies," said comedian Jim Gerald, whose energetic stage mannerisms have many times convulsed New Zealand vaudeville audiences. He revealed that he was on his way to California to 6ign motion picture Contracts; that done, he will come back for a tour of Australia and New Zealand, and then return to Hollywood to begin production. The comedian said he would be given typical "crazy" roles, and some good vehicles for his fun-making had been obtained. As for the show business in this part of the world, it was booming again. Big audiences were reacting , better than ever to flesh and blood talent on the stage. Travelling companions of Mr. Gerald, who is accompanied by his wife, are Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Vaughan. Mr. Vaughan is closely connected with the motion picture industry in his position of general manager of Filmcraft Laboratories, Sydney. This company played a technical part in the industry that was not generally known, he said. From the negatives of films produced in the major studios, including those of Hollywood, it made the prints for distribution throughout Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Vaughan was formerly • chief cameraman in both countries for Fox Movietone News. He is now on ■ his way to Hollywood for a periodical "check-up" with the producers. With > Mrs. Vaughan he is to spend a holiday 1 in Honolulu.

Boom In Jewellery. An account of the growing demand now being experienced in Europe and America for more expensive jewellery and plate was given by Major N. Stewart Dawson, one of the joint principals of the old and widely-established business which bears his family name. Major Dawson is returning to London after a business visit to Australia, and he was accompanied as far as Auckland by his brother, Mr. P. Stewart Dawson, who has charge of the firm's branches in Australia and New Zealand. Major Dawson said that large pieces, which two or three years ago it would perhaps have been impossible to pawn at a fraction of their value, were finding a sale once more. Jewellery, in fact, was coming into a boom period again. Mr. H. N. Baylis, a through passenger, is an Australian who has lived 17 years in the United States. He is in the real estate business. He has been spending a six months' holiday in the i Commonwealth, visiting relatives and friends, and is now on his way to Detroit! He said this morning that his mother was born in Detroit and had come out to Australia in the Spreckles Company's Mariposa 50 years ago. His family were early residents of Australia, his father arriving in 1831 as captain of the 17th Regiment. In the early 'fifties his grandfather was a police magistrate at Wagga Wagga. Mr. Baylis served for the duration of the Great War with the Australian forces, and after demobilisation took up his residence in the United States. The Bishop of Melanesia, the Rt. Rev. W. H. Baddeley, returned from a holiday visit to Australia. Bishop Baddeley attended the Anglican General Synod in Hamilton in April, and he will leave again for his scattered island charge tomorrow by the Melanesian Mission ship Southern Cross, which has been for a period on the slipway at Auckland.