FILMING THE DOMINION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1929, Page 5

FILMING THE DOMINION

PICTURES FOR AMERICAN MUSEUM.

AUCKLAND, April 8

A film library is one of the features of the Fiejd Museum of Natural History. Chicago, and in a short while New Zealand will he duly embalmed in celluloid on one of the shelves of the museum. Two American scientists, Messrs Philip Chancellor and Norton Stuart, accompanied hv two assistants, are busy filming New Zealand’s fauna and llora on behalf of this enterprising museum. Fully assisted by the Government. the visitors have been able to get some splendd pictures. In the south they went as far as Stewart Island. On the way north they did Rotorua. here they were much interested in the dances of the Maoris, especially the pois, and got some excellent pictures. Thermal activity also appealed strongly to them.

One of the most interesting pictures from a scientific point of view was one they took on the seldom-visited island of TCarewa, which lies some distance off shore in the Ray of Plenty, north-west of Tauranga. On that uninhabited spot the tualara lives in hundreds. The little island is a popular haunt of the mutton bird, whose nesting burrows are used by the tuatura. This strange partnership' does not result in the bickering one would expect, and in some way it must be mutually satisfac. torv.

The visitors have been delightful with the success of their visit. They have already taken some 2000 feet of film, which more than fills their expectations. They say it will be shown to millions of people, thus making known the Dominion to people who would, under ordinary circumstances, have never heard of the place. The party will be in the North Auckland district this week, taking pictures of the kauri gum industry.

Messrs Chancellor and Stuart go on to Australia, Java and Borneo in pursuance of their quest for the strange and wonderful.