AN HISTORIC PICTURE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 227, 20 June 1921, Page 6

AN HISTORIC PICTURE

"50,000 MILES WITH THE PRINCE.”

In the splendid Havel (picture, “50,000 Miles with Die Prince" which was screened at the Town Hall on Saturday night, the people of New Zealand are given another opportunity ot basking in the smile of the Prince of Wales, whose visit to this and other British Dominions last year helped to bind closer than ever the threads of kinship with the Mothei Country. Never in history has there been chronicled a tour to compare with that of “the King that is to be -onlyin the rosy realms of fairy fancy was there ever such another Prince Channing—kind, sunny, considerate alert, sport-loving, and generous—and he conquered a whole world by sheer force of personality. His tour is one fraught with interest for the whole ot the Empire, and the kinema artist. Captain Barker, who travelled with the Prince s suite on H M.S. Renown, has been successful in selecting the best scenes and views of notable functions in the various placed visited. The picture is a fairly complete compendium of the tour. It shows the Prince's farewell in Lo« don his meeting the officers of the Renown, her departure, the voyage across the Atlantic, the entrance to the tropics, the reception and functions at Barbados and the Bermudas; the voyage through the Panama Canal, with closeup views -of the locks, and tho Renown squeezing her great bulk through tio gateway to the Pacific; reception at Panama by the spectacled President of that State. After a brief sojourn at San Diego, the arrival at Honolulu is shown There the Prince is laden with many-coloured laie, the carnival decoration of Hawaii. Fiji and Auckland come next in succession, and havle been splendidly treated by the photographer. The reception oh the Auckland harbour is prettily pictured, as is also .the attractive children's display on the Domain. There are also views of the Renown coming into Wellington barhour, and. being berthed at tho wharf» and there are views of the children s ."unction at Parliamentary grounds, Wellington, with the Prince in charge of Mr. T. Forsyth (chairman of the Education Board), threading his way. through the crowds of school children, and being introduced to Mr. Robert Parker. The reception given the Prince at Christchurch -and Dunedin is recorded, with a few- glimpses of the Southern Alps (taken on the West Coast trip). After leaving New Zealand, the Pnnc» visits Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Hobart. Later he visits Samoa, where the quaint native dances and customs of the island are illustrated with rare pomp and circumstance. After again passing through the Panama Canal, the Renown visits Trinidad (where the natural asphalt comes from). Then the prow of the battleship is once more turned north-eastward, back to the dear Homeland, whore enthusiastic crowds await their Prince. This picture, which wan taken for universal exhibition, is pleased in its sub-titles to call New- Zealand "this Princely link of Empire.” The Education Board has approved tho exhibition of this historic travel picture to the children of the State schools, and throughout this weak parties of the children will visit the Town Hall. Needless 'to say, both screenings on Saturday afternoon and evening attracted full houses. Tho Universal Corporation is responsible for the presentation of "Fifty Thousand Milas wl'K tho Prince,” and is giving a percentage of tho gross receipts to the Navy League nnd Boy Scout movements, which should mean substantial aid to those deserving organisations Mr. E. Gurney, general manager for Universal in New Zealand, is managing the display in Wellington, nnd Mr. J. F. Woodward controls an orchestra which renders appropriate music Throughout the picture. The big picture was preceded by , a most amusing comedy, entitled "A Jungle Gentleman,” the leading charaoter in which io that star chimpanzee actor, "Joe Martin,” who is all but human. The local season will extend until Saturday next, exhibitions being given every night, except Wednesday. Tho final public matinee wITI be given on Saturday.