ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 248, 10 March 1913, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■EMPIRE THEATRE. Saturday night ushered in the bi-week-ly change of programme at the Empire Theatre, which was packed to the doors. 1 An excellent series of films were released, combining instruction with pleasure, and interest with each successive picture. The programme comprised a diversified collection of pictures, dramatic, comic, industrial, and scenic .subjects being all represented. In SThe. Lord and the Peasant," the audience were treated to an Edison drama, powerfully cast and skilfully interpreted. It was ■ an old-world story and its setting and mounting were superb. Briefly the tale had to do with tlie tragic love affair of a peasant girl, whose lover left for foreign climes in search of his fortune. The girl's parents fell on hard times,, and, thinking that her lover had died in his search for his "El Dorado," she became the wife of the Lord of the Manor. Later on the wanderer returned and to his horror and dismay found his lover the wife of another. He sought her out in her new home, but suddenly the twain heard the approach of the Lord of the Manor. In order to save the woman's honor, he bound her to a pillar and mis- ■ led the Lord into thinking that he was a robber. The latter, deceived by the ruse, rail him through with his- sword, J whereat his young wife threw herself on her dead peasant lover and died by her own hand. "On the track of the Corkscrew Gang" was a sensational star fea- .) ture drama, in which interest.' was susItained throughout its whole length of 2000 feet. It contained many ex-citing and dramatic situations and its plot was at once eleverlv conceived and excellently portrayed. The scenic side was particularly strong, there being no fewer than three superb subjects, "A. Dreamland City" took those present In'ftincy throughout the length and breadth of tlie Turin exhibition and conveyed -an exeel- , lent idea of this huge exposition. The Ainbrosio Company was responsible for some magnificent views along tlie Simplon Road, showing some grand mountain scenery, while "The Land of Bonnie Prince Charlie" (a Clarendon scenic) saw Scotland at its best. It was a-',pic-, ture of great historical interest; reproducing as it did many of the haunts of the exiled Stewart. The comedies were all American, and therefore, distinctly good. Of a very happy trio particular mention must be made of "The Bishop's Bathe".and "The Belle of the Beach." The series will be screened again tonight and to-morrow evening.

WAITARA WATER CARNIVAL. The above fixture, which takes place ox the Wai'tara river on Thursday next, promises, from a spectator's point of | view, to be the best yet held. On prej vious occasions there had : been promises ! by the Maoris of taking part iV the ■ canoe races, but the public and coiumitf tee were disappointed when the crucial time came, but this year the difficulties previously existing in this respect 1 have disappeared, and there .will be no need to doubt a good programme of Maori events. By Friday morning's train there arrived two of the canoes which' are to be used in the races, and the others come with their crews early this week, being kept for final practice. . There will lie several contestants in the wliaka race, also in the hurdle race, whilst at least two crews will don the Avar paint and take part in the war canoe Taee, which ■ it is said will be something of the spectacular, all tlie rowers being dressed' in : the native fighting costumes, and the leader's calls to the members of the crews is somewhat of the nature of the old tribal days, and is seldom heard in , these days of peace and goodwill. There is sure to be a great deal of fun in the hurdle race, «s it is quite a common ' thing for the rowers to find themselves in the water wlien negotiating the liur- ; dies, and as several of the local and Bell Block Maoris intend to be competitors, nnd having liarf little practice iro' doubt they will find it a not too easy matter to negotiate the hurdles. However, the fun will be for the onlooker if not for the occupant, and it is a day's amusement that the committee are catering for. In the rowing events there will not be the long delays that have made this fixture somewhat "slow" for those who are not keenly interested in the competing cltrlis, and with a number of new side events a varied programme will be submitted that should suit all tastes. One event that should be particularly interesting is that promised bv the East End Bathing Committee, who have kindly consented to give an exhibition of life-saving with the new reel recently! imported' from Sydney. If tlie commit- j tee ave able to carry out tlie programme I in its entirety without any delays there [ is a spendui day's sport to- be had.