A MAORI FILM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 69

A MAORI FILM.

SPECTACULAR FIRE SCENE. CAMERA MEN SCORCHED. AUCKLAND, August 3. ■ A raupo whare filled with tea tree and saturated with crude oil and benzine proved more inflammable than was anticipated by the producers of the Maori film “ Tauranga,” when engaged in filming a scene at Ohiwa, near Opotiki. The story on which the picture is based calls for the burning of a Maori village, and for this purpose a large meeting house, a chief’s whare, eight smaller whares, two storehouses, and three watch towers were built. As soon as the stage had been set with “ dead ” warriors lying about the village, the cameras were placed in position, and the order was given for the opposing tribesmen to rush in with flaming torches and set fire to the village. Within a few moments the place was burning fiercely, roaring flames and dense smoke making the scene unexpectedly realistic. Soon the heat became intolerable, and under cover of the smoke the “ dead ” sprang to life nad ran for safety. Throughout the scene the director. Mr Collins, and his two photographers, Messrs W. Cline and H. Smith, held their positions, notwithstanding the flying embers and almost suffocating heat. Each received painful burns, their clothing also catching alight. The Maori actors, who were scantily clad, suffered from scorching. Some of them gave a remarkable demonstration of their recklessness by rushing at the f ames and dancing a haka. Fortunately none of th. burns was serious enough to call for the services of a doctor, a wellequipped first-aid outfit being sufficient.