TAIPOROHENUI PA HALL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1932, Page 10

TAIPOROHENUI PA HALL

BOARD RELINQUISHES CHARGE.

OPENING CEREMONY YESTERDAY. The new Aining hall at the Taiporohenui pa was formally opened yesterday in traditional Maori style. There was a large gathering but the attendance was affected by to-day’s meeting at Waitara. The proceedings opened in the morning with pois by Normanby and Pareora teams.

Tupito Maruera, chairman of the Taranaki Maori Trust Board, which has financed the construction, officially handed the care of the building over to the Taiporohenui. natives. He referred to the name, Kautu kite Rangi, which was one of the paddles of Turi’s canoe. The hall had been built by the board to encourage Maoris to keep together so that the old Native customs would not be lost. It would encourage Natives to return to the pa at intervals. 'Without these gatherings there was a danger that the young people might forget the traditions of the race. The handing-over was acknowledged by leading Taiporohenui Natives. Dinner was served. The feast was in the traditional Maori style and the tables groaned under the weight of the good things. In the afternoon the pa was visited by the Methodist Maori Mission party. A service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Rakena and an address given by the Rev. Mr. Haddon. Sacred music was sung by the members of the party. Last night an open-air concert was held. The programme was mainly contributed by, Hawera performers. During the past few days meetings of the Maoris to discuss Native matters have been held. Details of the proposed memorial to Turi were given by Tupito. It will be in the form of a canoe called Koatu Whakamahara tonga mo Turi,

and it is hoped’ that a start will be made on the erection next month. The have been organised by Mr. Scotty Parenui, chief of the hapu. • ' ' ; ,

CINEMATOGRAPHER’S ADVENTURES

address to. alpine club. A few of his experiences as a cinematographer in different parts of the world were briefly related by Mr. Howard Bridgman, of the New Zealand Government Publicity Department, at the Mount Egmont Alpine Club’s evening at Hawera on Thursday. Mr. Bridgman is visiting Taranaki to obtain a series of new still pictures of dairying r and' factory scenes, including good herds with homestead and mountain backi grounds. • Incidents in . the production by .an American film syndicate, with. Mr; Alexander Marky as director, of the. beautiful Maori love ’ story entitled “Mara,” now being., shown successfully in America, were narrated by Mr. Bridgman., Mr. Marky was unused to the Maoris, he said, and it was . only by the exercise

of great patience and perseverance that the picture was completed after some years’ strenuous work; Some wonderful scenes at Lake Taupo were obtained, often at great discomfort to the photographers, who at times worked standing in the water. About 300 Maoris were gathered by Mr. Marky from the Urewera and Wanganui districts to participate in great battle and other mass scenes. On one occasion when it was desired to make the last big scene the Maoris had disappeared and it was only with difficulty that they were , persuaded to return.

Another interesting experience, said Mr. Bridgman, was a flight at heights up to 11,000 feet over the Fox Glacier and near Mount Cook to obtain scenes for inclusion in a big historical feature picture of New Zealand. It was a wonderful experience .to go through the large studios in Hollywood, said Mr. Bridgman. The studios and stages were up to 100 feet high and the same in length. Walls were all sound proof and the studios full of big sets. He had seen Robert. Montgomery and Norma Shearer .making a scene for a picture and the scene took from 3 p.m. ,one afternoon until 3 a.m. the following morning, leaving Norma Shearer almost in a state of exhaustion, so it was hard work. There was very powerful lighting up to 1,000,000 candle power. The artists received big money, but they certainly earned it. The making of cartoons was a wonderful process. There were 30 girls to assist the main artist, who would have to do 15,000 to 20,000 drawings for one cartoon, each drawing representing a movement. The girls handled; the celluloid transparencies and put the finishing touches to them.

He found people intensely interested in New Zealand, but very many had no Idea where it was and little information concerning it. Eating at Hollywood was very expensive and after one or two experiences he decided that entertaining in Hollywood was too expensive a pastime. On the other hand clothes could be obtained very cheaply. LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN. OHAWE TROOP ON INSIDE RANGE. The Ohawe troop, Legion of Frontiersmen, fired a match on the miniature rifle range, Trooper Uttinger recording the best score. Two application shoots of five rounds and ten rounds rapid were fired. Scores were:—•'

1 HAWERA OPERA HOUSE. “SALLY IN OUR ALLEY” TO-DAY. “Sally in Our Alley” will open a season of four nights and four matinees at the Hawera Opera House to-day. Gracie Fields is without question one of the most captivating personalities on tire audible screen. Her completely winning performance in “Sally in Our Alley” makes it easy to understand .why she is the idol of the English vaudeville stage, commanding a salary of £6OO a week. She plays with exceptional talent the part of Sally Winch, whose ready-made ; philosophy of life is as laughable as it is practical Besides “Sally,” she sings “Fall In and Follow the Band” and “Fred Fanackapan,” a rollicking Lancashire ballad. A new print of the film will be used for ths first time at Hawera.

Trooper Uttinger .... Ap. An. Rap. TL 98 25 25 '48 Sergeant Briggs ....... 25 23 45 93 Sergt-Major Hey .... 25 21 45 91 Lieut. Langley- -... 21 21 46 88. Sergt.-Major Stevens . 22 24 41 87 Corporal Henry 23 22 38 83 Trooper G. Shaw .... 19 19 44 ' 82 Trooper Ogden 20 18 ' 35 73 Trooper J. Cox ...... 24 11 23 58