DEATH OF INVENTOR

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1934, Page 8

DEATH OF INVENTOR

MR. ROBERT MILLIS, AUCKLAND. FATHER OF STRATFORD RESIDENT, j Advice of the death of her father, Mr. Robert Millis, at Herne Bay, Auckland, has been received by Mrs. H. Burmester, Stratford. During his life Mr. Millis was connected with several well known New Zealand newspapers, and he was familiar to Dunedin people as founder of an engineering firm there. Of Mr. Millis the Dunedin Evening Star, by whom he was for some time employed, said: “He is remembered with sincere respect as for many years in charge of the machine department. He was an exceptionally skilful artisan, capable of controlling responsibility, resourceful in an emergency, always ready to apply the inventions with the perfecting of which he was for ever occupied, and withal a man of high character. The late Mr. Millis was bom in Perthshire in February, 1850, and was two years of age when brought to Auckland by his parents. They settled at Thames, where as a boy he worked at goldmining. He married when only 18 years old, and was employed first in the machine room of the Southern Cross, and later as machinist in the New Zealand Herald office. At Dunedin he was employed for a time with the Globe newspaper, then with the Evening Herald and later the Evening Star. He was in charge of the machine department in each of those offices. While with the Star he invented the block-bottom tea packet, and he travelled to Great Britam to secure the patent rights, which he sold before returning to New Zealand. On his return he founded the firm of R. Millis and Son in Moray Place, Dunedin. Sixteen years ago he retired from the business in favour of his son James, and went to Auckland. Ten weeks ago he fell suddenly ill, and his condition became steadily worse until his death on Saturday, August 11. His first wife died 12 years ago.

One of his sons, Mr. Albert Millis, was killed in the Great War. He is survived by a family of three sons, Mr. R. J. Millis, Balclutha, Mr. J. H. Millis and Mr. E. Millis, Dunedin, and four daughters. Mrs. H. Burmester, Stratford, Mrs. H. Miscal, Takapuna, Auckland, Mrs. E. Dyer, Auckland, and Mrs. O. Schuberg, Taumarunui. PLAZA, STRATFORD. ‘■THE WHITE SISTER.” A new contribution to the list of imposing screen achievements comes to the Plaza Theatre to-day in the presentation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s talking picture version of “The White Sister,” with Helen Hayes and Clark Gable in the principal roles. In its poignant, touching narrative, its beautiful direction, its effective camera work and in the brilliant performances of its two -wellknown stars, this picture stands out forcibly as an example of the best in cinema art. F. Marion Crawford’s immortal story of the girl who enters a convent when she believes her lover to be dead, only to meet him again after she has taken her holy vows, is too well known to bear repetition. Sufficient to say that the new talkie version of the tale brings out its most forceful moments, describes the experiences of the romantic Italian girl and her soldierlover in a series of warm, sympathetic, human episodes and brings the narrative to a close in as heartrending a tive to a close in as heartrending a climax as has been seen on the screen in some time. ELTHAM TALKIES. “ONLY YESTERDAY.” It would be difficult to tell of a film showing more sweetly and more delicately the tale of a woman who loved, and yet was never destined to have her loved one, than “Only Yesterday,” which will be showing at the Eltham Theatre to-night and Monday night. It is a i powerful and compelling picture. The story is woven around those fateful years of the World War—the great crash on Wall Street in the fall of 1929. Margaret Sullavan plays the leading role as Mary Lane, and has opposite her John Boles. Billie Burke plays the part of Julie Warren and she has with her the inimitable Reginald Denny. KAPONGA THEATRE. “AMATEUR DADDY.” TO-NIGHT. In “Amateur Daddy,” which shows at Kaponga to-night Warner Baxter has every opportunity to prove his Americansim, even to the most sceptical. _ As a pipe-smoking, hard-working American construction engineer, he is seen as the typical, kind-hearted bachelor characteristic of everyday life. Marian Nixon is paired • opposite Baxter in the unusual and whimsical romance of bachelor love ,from Mildred Cram’s novel, “Scotch Valley,.” Rita Laßoy and William Pawley are also featured. John Blystone directed.

The prizewinners at the Eltham Oddfellows’ Lodge euchre party on Thursday night were: Men, Messrs. R. Hodgkinson 1, A. Martin 2, R. Scown, 3; ladies, Mesdames E. Burgess 1, J. Baker 2, S. Bloor 3. There was a good attendance.

DUNBAR CUP FOOTBALL. POST OFFICE TO PLAY MIDHIRST. A Rugby football match between employees of the Stratford post office and Midhirst Dairy Company for the Dunbar Cup, held by Midhirst, is to be played at Midhirst at the week-end. Mr. D. McCready will be manager of the touring team. The post office representatives are: Burgess, Boyle, Attrill, Jenkin, Wills, Bublitz, Hickey, Rogers, Mail, Milne (2), Richardson, Francis, Vincent, Dwyer. Emergencies, Whyte and Mangan. Records of previous matches for the cup are:— 1931: Midhirst 19 v. Post Office 0. 1932: Midhirst 6 v. Post Office 6. 1933: Midhirst 13 v. Post Office 10. GENERAL ITEMS. Representative 'Match Prospects. Asked if Eltham would receive a representative match this year, Mr. W. D. Young replied at the Eltham Football Club social on Thursday that it had been very difficult to arrange a match owing to having to play a number of return matches. He was certain, however, that next year Eltham’s claims would be favourably considered. In the past New Plymouth had been able to show good gate receipts and if Stratford or Eltham were given their share of representative matches they would have to provide good attendances. Hawera in the match against Wellington had shown £4ll and if Eltham secured a match, say, against Hawkes Bay he was sure Eltham would show receipts of over £4OO. In arranging representative matches the union had to see that the best results were obtained. PERSONAL. Mr. C. E. McGuinness attended a meeting of the Taranaki Power Board yesterday for the’ first time since his recent accident. Members expressed pleasure at Mr. McGuinnss being able to attend, although he ;was still on crutches and far from well. FORTY YEARS ZN TARANAKI. STRATFORD RESIDENT’S DEATH. The death of Mrs. Minnie Thompson, wife of Mr. Charles Thompson, Cordelia Street, Stratford, occurred yesterday morning at her home. Mrs. Thompson had been in poor health for a long time. She was born at Kahutara, Wairarapa, just over 76 years ago, and was the second daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James McMaster, Martinborough. Sixteen years after her mariage to Mr. Thompson at Picton about 56 years ago, they came to Taranaki, where they have resided ever since. Mrs. Thompson is survived by her husband, four sons and three daughters. The eldest son died during the influenza epidemic, and the youngest was killed in France, where four sons served during the Great War. The interment will take place at Kopuatama on Sunday afternoon. EUCHRE PARTIES. A Ramon Catholic euchre party at Stratford on Thursday night was well attended. The prize winners were: Ladies, Mrs. J. McDonald 1; Mrs. McNeil 2 (after playing off with Miss Z. Schumacher), Miss A. Uhlenberg consolation; men, Mr. P. Uhlenberg 1, Messrs. J. Walsh, J. McDonald and W. Schumacher 2; Mr. J. McDonald winning the re-play, Mr. Gordon consolation. A competition was won by Mrs. Tomlyn. ADVERTISERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS. The annual dance of the Eltham fire brigade will be held in the town hall on September 10. There will be modern and old-time dances and a free bus from Stratford. There will be a dance in the Eltham parish hall on August 28 to aid the funds of St. Joseph’s parish. KING’S THEATRE, STRATFORD. TECHNICOLOUR THRILLER. One of the strangest and most exciting thrillers, “The Mystery of the Wax Museum,” wiki open at the King’s Theatre to-day, with Lionel Atwill, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh and Fay Wray heading a large cast of sterling players. The story, taken from the play by Charles S, Belden, deals with a series of mysterious disappearances of both living persons and human bodies and the appearance of a terrifying monster. The plot centres about a wax museum which has on display exceptionally life-like figures of personages of history and notorious criminals. The picture is photographed entirely in technicolour with untisual lighting effects used to heighten the fascinating mysteiy that dominates the production. In addition to its excitement and suspense there is a romantic love angle with no end of humour supplied by smart witty dialogue between Glenda Farrell, the hard-boiled wise-cracking reporter who is on the trail of the mystery, and her managing editor, a part played by Frank McHugh. A varied supporting programme of particuar variety precedes the main attraction and includes episode 8 of the thrilling serial, “Jungle Mystery.”