ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 February 1926, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE, TO-NIGHT

“REWTS LAST STAND.” To-night will mark an epoch in the history of the motion picture industry in Hawera. “Rjewi’s Last StarM is to he screened at the Opera, and it is confidently anticipated that it will meet with as favourable a reception as it has already done in Auckland and other towns. Written and produced for MLaori Films. litcL., by Rudall Hayward (the historical correctness being attended to by Mr James Cowan), the picture deals with the period of the Waikato War, and especially with the historical defence of Orakau, the most dramatic and picturesque incident in the history of the Dominion. With all the races .with which British arms have come in conflict none were finer fighters than the Maoris; and of all "Eli© battles between Maori and Pakeha none showed to better advantage the war-like qualities or the former than the Battle of Orakau. Shut up in a hastily-constructed -pa, a force of 300 poorly-equipped Maori men, women and children, with little food and no water, endured continuous rifle .fire for three days, and kept at bay a British force- of 1800 mien. History scarce affords a parallel to the dauntless reply of the natives, when, after three days, they were offered their freedom if they would surrender. “We will fight on for ever and ever!” they declared, and when the offer was made to let the women go free theanswer came in the same spirit: “The women will fight as well as the men! It was impossible for the Maoris to hold out long under such conditions, however, and seizing a favourable opportunity, they slipped out of the pa and mad© a dash for the bush. But for the fact that a troop of cavalry was handy at the time they would have escaped practically scot free. But the horsemen rode down th© fugitives, and many of them fell before they could reach safety. A special music score has been arranged, and picked supports_will be included in the programme. The local season is'strictly limited .to. two nights and one matinee. The box plan for reserved seats is at Mrs Cook’s.