PARAMOUNT AND ARTCRAFT.

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1922, Page 7

PARAMOUNT AND ARTCRAFT.

Few countries in the world are so rich as New Zealand in the atmosphere and fomajice, the scenes, and the episodes, and tho setting that are the natural material of the film story of the cinematograph. From the very discovery of the twin islands to the present day there is scarcely any period that does not furnish some thrilling chapter tathe brilliant story Consequently there is much interest in the first big National picture story produced in N-ew Zealand, and entitled. "The Birth of New Zealand," the work of a New Zealand cinema company, presented to the public at the Paramount and Artcjaft Theatres last evening. The story starts'from the beginning with the landing of Captain Cook, and later ths scene shifts to tho Far North with old Koromeka, Captain Hohson, the signing .of. the Treaty of Waitangi, and-then shop's the_ march (stolen, on. the French, who arrived to annex the South Island. These earlier and historic scenes are, perhaps, the best done in the whole and that is saying » good deal/ After the prelude comes the play. The story reopens m Auckland of the early 'forties/ the arrival of settlers and the simple, hearty life of the early pioneers. • Tile Maoris spring once more to the front, and there are stirring incidents-in Hone Heke rebellion in '45, the burning of Kororareka, and later on the newly-discovered gold- ' fields of the far south, and the Gabriel's Gully rush. The story involves highway robbery of a coach, and the kidnapping of a little child. Then follsws_ the lescue and, the sacrifice of the faithful but unsuccessful lover, and the story ends on a note of pathos. To the ordinary picture-lover, /and especially to the youth of New Zealand, the picture has much to commend it as a vivid story of the life of the early pioneers, of their country. To-day a. special matinee was 'given for Boy Scouts, and the picture, with an amusing comedy, "Getting Married," featuring Marion Davies, ; will be continued during the week.