AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 96, 23 December 1913, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL, The date*for the Eltham Axemen's Carnival i.s again drawing near. This year the Committee have spared neither trouble nor expense in securing tho best axemen and cyclists possible.. They have induced an Australian team to make the trip and enter for all events. Included, in this team are Wi Tech and C. Miley, who have just finished training, on the Main Trunk line. Tech is one of the finest made axemen who ever competed in Eltham, standing 6ft, Oin, in height and weighing 17 stone. He holds the world's record for chopping an 18in. underhand and also holds the championship of Australia for single-handed sawing. Miley, who is a line cut of an athlete,' chopped in Eltham in 1910' and won the foot championship of New Zealand, heating D. Pretty and all other best New Zealandors in the very fast time time of 1)5 seconds. The same year he put up a world's record at Taihape in an 18-in standing block, time lmin 24sec.

The cyclists include some of the best men in Neyv Zealand, amongst whom are Fred "Jumbo" Wells, P. Griffin, and the veterans Bert Campion and Alf Parkes. Jumbo Wells has competed and won cycle events in all parts of the world, besides having held records on the track from one mile up to 100 miles. It might be many years before Taranaki again sees such a great rider. Mr Hansen seems to have made a good job of'the handicapping, and given fine weather there should be-some great finishes. Since last year the track has been' done up, the corners.banked and re-grassed and it is how one of the best grass tracks in the Dominion.

The Taunmta Domain where the Carnival, is held lis a suitable, place, for a pleasure resort, there being a large piece of native bush, with a ,river running through, thus making a lovely place for picnicking. Altogether, tint; year's Carnival points to be the besl ever held.

BERNARD'S PICTUREB. Last night's change.of pictures proved to be an all-star programme. There was not one dull moment throughoutThe Vitagraph feature is entitled "The ■Vampire of the Desert." adapted'from Grey ; 's famous elegy. "Near to' Earth'' is of more than usual stirring incident. "Trhe-'lErnesto I)iio" is about the limit uiffc&obatic han'd balancing.. ;■ Wednesday's-new series will introduce a,perfect Xmas programme. '\the Hen;-that Laid the Golden Egg"' is » "delightful colqred Jairy pajijtopiime 'by jlfa*%o. The magic has its soiirco in a M'ondbrful hen! that ,h n s been., won, by Uaequjpp, a peasant at a conn/fry fair. ,ilHns riijrd is nojsoYmci 1 in,its jiew home 'than it'lays an 'enormous' egg, froiri which a lovely feathered fairy emerges, \vhp converts jthev o|hcr^occjtipants,,oi the.fowl-house into creatures as charming as herself. The whole company go through a graceful ballet, afterwards transform ing. themselves into, and ins \\iieruis■*covcr t full ol ' money. < - , farmhouse] is transformed into tle„<i the previous hen being provided Hvitjh agiltli'd cabinet in which to \jvc. .No\V two rogues apncai - who learn thp soeret'of the eggs., and make off jLJi their contents.' In desperate peed of money, -Jacques kills the njagic hen, sate of its eggs, but this act is his ruin and the .film cuds with a tableau of the most bewildering description. The Vitagraph Co. is well represented in the drama. "The Still Voice," 2oOUft in length, and a host of other star films. ()u XUfa's .night .at 8.30 sharp a special Biblical programme will be screened/including the famous colored drama "The Life of Moses." Syd Bernard will! introduce sacred trombone solos, l "The Holy City," etc. The programme has been 'Specially selected for the occasion.