Shot late Dec 1909 to June 1910, released late 1910/early 1911, this is New Zealand’s earliest known surviving colour print.
Pathecolor was the best of early colour processes. Costly and elaborate it utilised a multitude of women workers cutting stencils for each colour in each frame of film.
A horse-drawn coach winds its way through the Buller Gorge and the town of Lyell, transporting passengers and mail.
'ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN PASSES OF NEW ZEALAND. Pathé Frères. Pathé Frères colour cinematography'
'The descent to the lakes'
W.S. Small town beneath hills 4 horse-drawn coach comes up hill & passes camera.
View of road, men walking up, horse & cart going down, man working at side of road.
E.L.S. Road cut from overhanging cliff, coach crosses bridge, comes past camera. People sitting on outside of coach.
W.S. Waterfall, man walks across bridge at top.
View of coach coming through high arch of rock.
'The postal service is conducted daily by diligence'.
W.S. of coachman picking up bag hanging on stick.
L.S. 2 horses & cart, man on bike, man walking on road, bush to edge, mountains in background.
W.S. Coach glimpsed through bush, camera follows as coach crosses bridge & passes by.
'On the glittering river'.
Pan across wide river, people on long jetty.
Horses & coach fording river - 5 horses.
L.S. People in motor boat going alongside river bank with bush, flax, towing boat with camera..
Shot of tall trees, bush at river's edge.
L.S. Boat coming up river, very tall trees, passes camera.
W.S. River, bush, bridge at rear. Boat appears, passes camera.
M.L.S. Men pulling boat up out of river in foreground, Large mountains at rear.
L.S. Women walking along bush track, man helps older woman over obstacle.
End.