CITY OF SERVICE. HAMILTON

Rights Information
Year
1949
Reference
F36861
Media type
Moving image
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Rights Information
Year
1949
Reference
F36861
Media type
Moving image
Place of production
New Zealand/Aotearoa
Duration
0:21:15
Production company
Neuline Film Studios
Credits
Photography In Colour: Alton K Francis
Writer: Ronald Trent Bowie
Director: Ronald Trent Bowie
Producer: Robert Steele

Kirikiriroa, once a Māori village on the banks of the Waikato river, was settled by military settlers called the Waikato Militia. The small colonial town which sprang up showed the foresight of a handful of early pioneers. It was a lusty vigorous town, not pretty, but with streets that were wide and well planned. As the Waikato developed, the town of Hamilton grew to serve it.

Today Hamilton services one of the richest districts in the Dominion and the Waikato River is used to transport goods. The Kāwhia and Raglan harbours are also becoming important as traffic increases. The airport, railway, and road junctions link the district to the rest of New Zealand and the district’s rich fertile dairy land is some of the best in the world. The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company with a world wide reputation, is owned and operated by nearly 12000 dairy farmers.

This documentary surveys many of Hamilton’s industries. The A&P Show and Winter Show from its beginnings in 1907 has today become the world’s greatest dairy produced exhibition. Foundry, forestry, dairy, housing, retail business, fashion and the coal industries are just a few to mention.

Schools, the hospital, fire-brigade, Waikato Times, radio, opera, horse racing and many recreational activities make this city a place to be proud of. Hamilton is New Zealand’s fifth largest city with a rapidly growing population and much potential for future development.