FIJI AND SOUTH SEA ISLANDS A COMPILATION OF FILM SCREENED AS PART OF THE MANUKAU FILM FESTIVAL 2009
Fiji and the South Sea Islands, Charles Urban Trading Co, [1907] 4mins, silent
Surviving sections from an early newsreel. This is a 1907 compilation of material shot in 1902. Originally released by the Urban Trading Co, this print was issued by Eclipse.
Scenes below are of firewalkers from the island of Beqa, Fiji. 000:12 A pit full of heated stones is constantly turned with long poles by men. When heated the stones are spread out to create a surface to walk on. 000:59 Fijian firewalkers in ceremonial dress walk across and around the pit of hot stones. They then throw their salu salus and ceremonial costumes of green leaves onto the stones as they step out of the pit. 001:08 ECLIPSE UN BAIN DE VAPEUR - 001:12 Foliage is thrown onto hot stones; firewalkers return and squat in the steam produced. As the firewalkers leave the pit, attendants place food baskets onto the hot stones to cook.Scenes of steam rising from Waimangu Geyser (1900-1904) in Rotorua and Wairoa Geyser? the largest at Whakarewarewa. Waimangu was the biggest geyser in the world, playing to heights of 460 m between 1900 - 1904. 003:01 Waka racing and canoe hurdling on the Waikato River. 004:30 End. F7430
Pacific Mission, [1913] 12mins 12secs, silent
[Activities on a mission station in New Hebrides]. Group of people on village green, children, buildings. People move towards building (school). Group of men and women at top of steps, set-up for church service. Service in session. 62ft Group outside house (school). Man writing on blackboard. Group - some standing, some sitting, taking lessons. RECREA TION 121ft Young women dancing. GYMNASTICS 139ft Group perform a dance in circle, holding hands. |MEAL TIME 165ft Children seated with food bowl. Group run towards a bank overlooking
the beach. 198 ft end.
His Excellency's Visit to the Cook Islands and Samoa, [1919] 7mins, silent A record of the Governor General Lord Liverpool visiting the Cook Islands and Samoa, accompanied by Dr Maui Pomare.
0 ft. Cook Islands . W.S. boys in uniform exercising in front of school. 41 ft. Pupils at desks in classroom. 52 ft. Teacher removing mangoes or apples from boy's shirt. 61 ft. Pupils exit from school main entrance. (some decomposition up till this point).
65 ft. Lord Liverpool and Vice-regal party on steps. 68 ft. Avarua-Capital of Raratonga-Taputaputea area. Tribal dance with long poles. Possibly part of formal welcome : costume from tea-plant leaves. Poles made from lemon hibiscus. Pointed hats made from palm leaves. Wigs made from lemon hibiscus. Women have gardenia in their hair. Audience joins in dance. Incl Pomare (with moustache). 87 ft. Speech from (?). Vice-regal party walking through crowd. 96 ft. Further ceremonial dances. 172 ft. Performing legend - showing the coming of Western ways/knowledge. Vice-regal party shaking hands with line of Cook Island officials. 178 ft. Palace at Ngatarua, Avarua. 'Apia, Samoa' View from moving vehicle. Crowd lined at side of road and seated on grass, canoe stored under roof. Cars parked under trees. 212 ft . Pan across crowd, houses. 232 ft. Guests at ceremonial feast. Vice-regal group at feast. 248 ft. Women in ceremonial dance. 260 ft. Further shot of crowd. 264 ft. End. F65552