Taking Movies To Dreketi
pp. 95-96 · Read in the full issue
THE ways of the film distributer in the Pacific Islands are many and varied.
Because a new programme had not arrived at Dreketi Plantations, Vanua Levu, Fiji, recently, Mr. T. F. French, of Suva, flew in a new programme in his Taylorcraft and landed on a previously untried strip.
Mr. French is of the opinion that it was his best effort “since New Guinea” — when he had successfully landed the plane he found that the landing strip was only 63 paces long and a great deal more of the sur rounding jungle had to be cleared before he could at tempt to get the small plane into the air again.
However, the enforced wait allowed him to see the pro gramme he had brought in, in a very unusual theatre which was reached by a five minute jeep ride, 20 minutes in a launch up-river and ten minutes walk along a jungle path. There was a full moon, a cool, clear night and the silent river flowing between coconut trees.
The Dreketi theatre consists of a pro jection box on top of a hill throwing to a screen at the bottom of the hill 70 feet away. Seats take the form of wooden benches set into steps cut into the slope of the hill. There is no need for air-conditioning—the whole thing is in the open air.
Dreketi plantations are owned by the brothers H. A. and P. J. Bull. The movie
equipment was installed by Miss N. An thony.
Mr. E. H. Bryan, Jr., Bishop Museum associate in geography, returned recently to Honolulu from Noumea, New Caledonia, after four months with the South Pacific Commission, for which he planned and organised the research library. He con tinues his association with SPC in Honolulu where he is locating and pro viding such bibliographical information and other items as the SPC desires.
Mr. French Refuelling at Dreketi.
For health reasons. Sir Maynard Hed strom is not seeking re-election to the Board of Directors of Emperor Mines Ltd., and Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines, NL. The other directors of the two companies are Messrs. E. G. Theodore, P. F. Cody, Wal lace H. Smith, John Wren, T. R. Victor, and E. G. Banks.