AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19842, 17 May 1927, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

MUNICIPAL THEATRE With the appearance of "Beau Geste,” which comes to the Opera House to-night It becomes necessary to enlarge the roll of screen masterpieces. The magnificent broad sweep of this drama of the French Foreign I.egion has not been surpassed, nor lias there been a fine theme more masterfully executed, that of the devotion of three young English brothers, of their smiling, unflinching sacrifice for eachother and for duty. The of "Beau Geste” is brought to the audience with force in the opening scenes which show a. detachment of the Foreign Legion on its way across the African desert to relieve a fort which has been attacked by Arabs. Arriving at the fort, the commander of the relieving force finds no sign of the Arabs and his glass reveals that in every embrasure in the, walls a soldier is standing rifle in hand, ready to fire upon the enemy. The bugle call diets no response, however. Not a man stirs, and the gates remain closed. The com-

manding officer goes to the walls and discovers that the men in the embrasures arc all dead. This opens the mystery which deepens and quickens as the story progresses, reaching from the Sahara to England and involving there three of the main characters, the brothers, enacted by Ronald Colman. Neil Hamilton and Ralph Forbes. Colman, giving the finest and most romantic performance of his career, and Noah Beery as Sgt. Lejaune. "the cruellest beast and bravest soldier” in the Foreign Legion, dominate the production although Hamilton and Forbes, as Colman’s comrade legionaires, are close rivals for screen honours. None of the many artists in "Beau Geste” give anything hut a fine characterisation. William Powell. Alice Joyce, Mary Bran, Norman Trevor, Victor McLaglen and the ethers are certain to add to their popularity by their work in this picture. The picture will be proceeded by a stage prologue featuring Mr Albert Petri late of the Queen’s Hall. London, who will sing "Songs of the Legion.” WANGANUI EAST SCHOOL COMMITTEE A meeting of the newly elected committee of the Wanganui East School took place last week. There were present Captain Melville (chairman), Messrs «T. H. Scott, J. Phizaeklea, W. Wright, O. M. Limpus, A. J. Rusden, E. C. Riley, F. J, Earles and W. H. Riley (secretary).

It was resolved to raise funds for the establishment of a dental clinic, and also a new fence. Captain Melville said he had had an interview with the Assistant Director of Dental Services (Captain Elliott), who had given some reliable information re the establishing of dental clinics. At present there were 300.000 State school scholars of which 32,000 were under dental treatment at State clinics. The Department’s policy was to only treat children of primer age, but that treatment was continued up to the time they left school if required. The number of children dentally treated had to be restricted owing to the scarcity of cicntal nurses, it was considered by the Department that 1000 children was the maximum number that could be attended to by one dental nurse in a year. The dental staff were always working at high pressure even during the school vacation, and needless to add it was impossible for them to treat all the scLcol children in Wanganui at one cl’.ric. The remedy was for the Education Board to establish more clinics, and the Government would do their utmost to provide nurses as far as funds would allow. Captain Elliott, who was on a tour of inspection, was satisfied that the wcik of the dental staff 'n Wanganui could compare with any done l y private practitioner./ It was proposed by Mr Scott and seconded by M? Riley that th- members piricnt do all in their power to secure the electioa of Captain Melville to rhe Education Board. DURIE HILL RATEPAYERS. The annual general meeting of the Durie Hill Ratepayers’ Association will be held to-morrow evening at 7.30 o’clock in the Presbyterian Hall in Toro Street. General business will be discussed, and the election of officers will take place. All residents of the suburb are requested to attend. BAND OF HOPE. The Dublin Street Band of Hope assembled for the first time this year in the schoolroom on May 10, when an interesting address was given by the Rev. D. Hickman. The vocal programme was as follows:—Hymn,'"Stand Up for Jesus’’; chorus,, "Throw Out the Lifeline”; pianoforte solos, Maurice Lawson and Eunice O’Shaughnessy; violin solo, Richard Treeby; recitations, Vera Kendall, Norma Treeby, Edward Kendall and Beth Stokes.