An Exciting Life

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 231, 1 October 1935, Page 8

An Exciting Life

NEWSREEL CAMERAMAN FILMS OF NEW ZEALAND Several poison-tipped spears, a native’s head-dress of forbidding appearance, a combined battle-axe and canoe paddle, and other unusual trophies adorned one of tha first saloon cabins on the Marama which arrived the other day from Sydney. They belong to Mr F. McKcchnie, a cameraman, rvho has come to New Zealand to make newsreels of interesting subjects in the Nortli and. South Islands. Mr McKeclinie recently spent three months in New Guinea and it was while touring in the interior of the country that lie collected the trophies.

Mr McKechnie is a Mew Zealander— Dunedin is his home town —and since he first left this country in 1920 he has seen more and crammed more experience into his comparatively short life so far than half a dozen men do in a lifetime. With his camera ho has “covered" important events all over the world, and in America he is regarded as one of the aces of flying cameramen in the newsreel business. One of his exploits was to fly from Albany to New York filming the race between one of America’s fastest trains and a speed boat. He was the first civilian to ride in the giant dirigible Los Angeles when the airship made one of the longest non-stop flights ever undertaken. Starting from Lakehurst, New Jersey, the ship flew to Port Kico in two days. While ho was in New Guinea Air AleKechnio obtained a newsreel of about 3000 natives in full war dress. It is probably the first time that such a scene has been taken by a movie camera. He flew 200 miles into the interior of New Guinea where he made many interesting films. The natives in this part of the country are primitive and ferocious, he said. More cannibalism goes on in New Guinea than most people realise. Thero are very few countries that Mr McKechnio has not travelled in. In fact about tlio only place he has not visited is Abyssinia, he said. A. Narrow Escape. Air McKechnie will be remembered by many people for his hazardous undertaking on White Island, Bay of Plenty, last year. With his camera on his back and his life in his hands, ho walked up dangerous paths to the crater’s edge and obtained extraordinary films of the belching fumeroles. While on this expedition, he was caught by an eruption and narrowly escaped with his life. He nonchantly dismisses such incidents, however, as trials and tribulations of iris work. Ono means adopted by him of obtaining films is to balance himself and his camera on the wings of aeroplanes while in flight. This is no mean feat, and, obviously, it requires a good deal of nerve. His programme for New' Zealand is not so strenuous or as exciting as it has been elsewhere. It includes films of the Dominion’s industrial life, such as timber falling, sheep shearing, cattle drafting, and newsreels on scenic subjects, native life, wild life, sports gatherings, etc. Other interesting subjects, such as newsreel oddities, will also find a place on the silver sheet. Air AlcKcchnie intends to take some ‘shots' of a trick dog in the Auckland district. This dog, according to reports, feeds the hens, collects the eggs, drives a horse in a sledge, collects tools and carries them to workmen engaged on the Toof of a house, and does many other unusual things.

It will take Mr McKcchnie • sir months or more to complete the programme mapped out for him.