LYTTELTON NEWS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19251, 5 March 1928, Page 14

LYTTELTON NEWS.

— Ftcnic. Tli p I 'iir.strhurrh Hn.rd ivaru Association jiirnic whs li <? I<l at. Diamond Harbour on Satuvd ;iv under ideal weather conditions. There was an attendance of 500. and tins large number was expeditiously handled by tho Lyttelton Ferry Launches Company's fleet. Swimming. The 100 yards chanicionship of the T,vl- - Ladies' Swimming Club was held at the Graving Dock on .Saturday afternoon. There much much interest in the event, which carries with it a cup presented by Mr IT. if. Gardiner, I'urau, and a large number of spectators were present. Result:—Miss Olive Sproule 1. Miss Mary Pitcaithlv 2, Miss Patricia Ronalds Misses J. Nichol. R. Miller, P. Khayle-George, P. Rhind, and X. Pitcaithlv also started. After the first fifty yards liad been covered the race resolved itself into n contest between Misses Sproule and M. Pitcaithlv, the former winning by five yards. As the distanco was only approximate, no time was taken. Plantation Threatened. A grass tire which started on the hillside on the Sumner road side of the Time-Ball Station on Saturday afternoon seriously threatened the Council's pine plantation, which was only saved by the work of the Fire Brigade and a large number o£ helpers, mostly residents in the vicinity, whose homes, in some cases, were also threatened. After the fire had burned for some time on the harbour side of the hill it commenced to travel rapidly and could he seen approaching the plantation at a great rate. A belated alarm was given at 5.50 p.m., after the fire had got, into the undergrowth of the plantation. However, after half an hour of strenuous work with beaters the fire was checked and the plantation saved. "Bon Hur." "Ben Hur," Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer's stupendous production, will be seveened at the Harbour Light Theatre to-night and to-mor-row night, with a matinee to-morrow afternoon. As a motion picture, General LewWallace's novel and its remarkable descriptions have been given the dimensions of life and reality. A lost age is recreated with a fidelity that seems incredible, and would be but for the evidence of countless legions of warriors, the swarming hordes eddving around historic shrines, the mute appeal of the architectural majesty of Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, and the inspiring sweep of war-vessels across the blue Mediterranean. "Ben Hur" brings an ancient world to throbbing life. The pomp of Rome and the agony of Israel surge throughout. A masterpiece of surpassing bfauty and massiveness. it breathes a sense of majesty that, combined with its symbolic splendour and reverential suggestion of the tragedy of Christ, holds an audience spellbound. In such moments ns the chariot race and the sea fight of tho galleys, the thrill of nervous action, clashing combat, and Hashing steel awakens a tumult of excitement. During the screening of the prologue at. matinee and evening sessions Mr Dave McGill will sing "The Star of Bethlehem." The orchestra has been specially augmented for both evening screenings. JJ ARBOUR LIGHT THEATRE. TO-NIGHT and TO-MORROW NIGHT. (Matinee To-morrow.) The Screen's Mightiest Production, "BEN HUR." Mr Dave McGill' will sing "The Star of Bethlehem" at all Sessions. Augmented Orchestra Both Nights. PIILCES —Evenings: Circle 2s, Stalls 3s 6d Matinee: Circle, Adults Is 6d, Children Is; Stalls, Adults Is, Children Gd. Reserves (extra) at King and Cousins.