MOTION PICTURE THEATRE COMPETITION

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 December 1949, Page 7

MOTION PICTURE THEATRE COMPETITION

In the theatre competition conducted by Kerridge Theatres Ltd. as a tritute to Mr. R. J. Kerridge, the sixth, prize went to the Majestic cinema, Taihape. Points were awarded for physical condition of the theatre, furnishings and equipment, staff efficiency and service to patrons, economic administration, excellence of presentation and consistency of exploitation. The judging committee consisted of four members of the head oflice management and Mr. Chas Smith, one of the best-known theatre managers in Auckland. The competition ran for 13 | weeks and at the end of the first week Taihape was 18th, but the local theatre moved up to third half-way through the competition, but dropped back to eighth as the “pace became a cracker,” finally finishing in sixth position. The placings were as follow:—Regent (Tauranga) 1, Plaza (Whanga- • rei) 2, Regent (Whakatane) 3, Regent (Thames) 4, St. James (Auckland) 5, I Majestic (Taihape) 6, Regent (Hellensville) 7. The manager of the Regent , Whakatane, was relieving manager at Taihape two years ago. ! A special prize was awarded to the I “Embassy,” Wellington for the most improved theatre. Mr. George Barrett, manager, was relieving at Taihape during the illness of Mr. R. W. Culpitt. The managers of the first seven theatres on the list of awards were entertained at a special dinner given by Mr. R. J. Kerridge at Auckland. The guests included the heads of the motion picture industry in New Zealand. Mr. L. W. Nicol, manager of the Majestic, Taihape was present. HOSPITAL REPRESENTATION. “If rating is on a population basis then we should have representation on the same basis and should press for a local representative on the Hospital Board,” declared Cr. N. Ashenden at Tuesday’s meeting o£ the Taihape Brough Council, when a letter was received from the Upper Hutt Borough Council on hospital rating. Cr. Ashenden moved that the matter be held over till the next meeting and that a copy of the letter be circularised amongst members of the council. The motion was carried. The Mayor, Mr. E. Loader, presided. Also present were: Crs. R. Emery, A. M. Gordon, N. Ashenden, A. Gregory and the town clerk (Mr. W. Hudson), electrical engineer (Mr. W. J. Dellow), borough foreman (Mr. R. Tataurangi), and superintendent of parks and reserves (Mr. E. Henham). TENNIS TEAM TO PLAY GONVILLE The following tennis team has been chosen to represent Taihape against Gonville, at Taihape, next Sunday, December 18: Men: B. James, H. Wham, R. Selby, H. Wehipeihana, P. Crawford, J. McIntyre, L. Cleaver, J. Little, E. Maley, B. Hodge, Kereama, I. George. Women: Mrs. George, Misses U. McCullough, V. Ward, N. Siddle, J. Dix, E. Welch, J. Welch, P. Temple( G. Wisker, E. Edwards, M. Maher, D. Gibb. Play will commence at 10 a.m. MOTOR TRUCK ON FIRE. A motor truck being used on a job at the Public Works depot near the Hautapu River bridge on Tuesday morning caught fire owing, it is believed, to a fault in the wiring, and the alarm was raised, but the flames were extinguished before the Fire Brigade arrived. In fact a message was sent to the fire station advising that the outbreak had been quelled, but the brigade had already left. Little damage was done to the truck. PERSONAL. Mr. and Mrs. A. F. McKenzie, of Paraparaumu, are visiting Taihape. The Mayor, Mr. E. Loader, a nd town clerk, Mr. W. Hudson, were appointed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Taihape Borough Council, to represent the council at the Municipal Conference to be held in March next. Reference to the death or Mrs. A. M. Ryan was made by the Mayor, Mr. E. Loader, at Tuesday’s Borough Council meeting. His Worship said that during the last week Mrs. Ryan had passed away. Mr. Ryan was a former councillor and deputy-mayor and his late wife was a public-spirited citizen whose death was a distinct loss to Taihape. Mr. Loader moved a motion of sympathy with Mr. Ryan and family in their loss. The motion was carried in silence. CRICKET NOTES. (By “Square-Leg”). Since our last notes appeared three rounds of competition games have been played in addition to which the trial game has been played in Taihape. Outstanding performances of these matches was the century by D. McCarthy in the trial match against /Rangitikei. His innings was characj terised by powerful but fluent stroke production, but not a chance was given in his making of 125 runs. This followed a half-century in the country trial match at Palmerston North, and judged on present form the selector might have done worse than have given McCarthy a game for Country against Wellington. Other Rangitikei trialists at Palmerston North were Noel Ashenden and Alan Marshall, both of whom performed creditably. The North v. South game evidenced the solidity of the North batting. By comparison, only the innings played by Alan Marshall and Stewart Finney showed up to advantage in the South te’am. V. Simcox again got runs in the South team but his innings are still played in a somewhat venturesome manner. In addition to McCarthy, Hamilton, Bowjck, Schroeder, and Crichton will, by their performances, no doubt gain selection in the Hawke Cup team, and although Ashenden did not get runs in this game his form this season should assure him of a place in the side. In the club games the best batting performances have been registered by 'Jock Hamilton, who last, Saturday against Colts registered the second century (100 not out) in club fixtures this season (the first century was scored by N. Ashenden, 120 not out), and by Arnold Bowick and “Spotty” Crichton, each of whom ran into the eighties. G. Burgess (Mangaweka) added to his list of consistent scores with a 63 against. Country. I Amongst the bowlers’ outstanding performances was the collapse of Tai- ! hape’s second innings brought about I by the Country bowlers, T. Whittle I (5 for 9) and S. McNicol 4 for 5). I Other good performances were by

N. Hood (Mangaweka) 5 for 19 against. Country, for whom Harry Schroeder took four Mangaweka wickets for eight runs. The end of the first round sees Mangaweka in the lead by one point from Taihape, with Country three points away in third position. The competition is still very open | and emphasis is given to this fact i when it is realised that in the first ’ round Taihape beat Mangaweka, . which in turn defeated Country, the 1 latter in turn accounting for Taihape. I The second clash between the two I leading teams, Mangaweka and Tai- I hape, should provide an interesting I game.