AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 18 February 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

PERMANENT PICTURES. The Empire Theatre: was -filled by ■ a large and enthusiastic audience last evening, when the ' cinema drama "Hinemoa" was screened for the first time.. The scenery of this film alone'is a great attraction, and 'the whole production is of' a very high order. The subject is the beautiful Maori j love legend." It is the .story of ] Maori maiden and her lover Tutaneitai. This' youth, a handsome young brave, ! lived on the island of Mokoia, in .Lake Rotorua, while 'Hinemoa lived on the , mainland. The lovers met in secret, for Finemoa was destined, to be the bride of » powerful chief: In the twilight summer evenings Tutanekai would play his flute and sing love songs which the winds wafted across to the mainland. It was arranged that Hinemoa should cross the lake to her lover in a canoe, but their friends kept the boats hauled up on the beach at'night, and so frustrated their plans. At 'last, becoming reckj less, on© night Hinemoa- threw herself into the lake and swam across the belt of water, four miles broad, which separates the island from the mainland. Then she rose from the lake, "beautiful as a wild white hawk and graceful as the shy white crane seen only once in a hundred years/' Tutanekai flung his garment over her, led her to his house, and she became his bride. This picture has been acted and- filmed in Rotorua by members of the choir of Maoris in charge of the Rev. F. Bennett, formerly of Nelson. The supporting programme- is one' of variety and charm. Those present enjoyed an extremely fine entertainment. The programme will be repeated this evening. Richmond will be visited to-night as usual, and Takaka on Saturday. v