This silent colour amateur film is part of the home movie collection of James (”Jim”) H. Robertson (1902-1961). Robertson was a watchmaker and jeweller and avid filmmaker. He married Ivy Grooby in 1926 and they lived in Wellington for a time before settling in Motueka.
This film is notable for its footage of a parade in Motueka, Port Motueka, and scenes of Kaiteriteri beach.
TITLE:
“Delux Theatre Owned & Organized by James H. Robertson”
“Motueka and its Activities, Township 1951”
Exteriors of the Motueka Post Office building.
General scenes of High Street, Motueka with pedestrians and cars passing by.
Scenes of a parade on Motueka’s High Street featuring people in costumes riding on floats. Some floats are modelled to resemble ships and carry service personnel, others are decorated with flowers and vegetation.
Scenes of three young people dressed in costume walking near memorial and bowing towards the camera.
Footage of the Motueka clock tower and a National Tobacco Company LTD building and warehouse.
TITLE:
“James H. Robertson 1951”
Exterior of an art deco style cottage with a well-tended garden. Close up shots of various flowers in bloom including tulips and marigolds.
Chicken and a pair of chicks inside a small chicken coop.
TITLE:
“The Links”
Scenes of men walking on a golf course, teeing off and putting.
TITLE:
“On The Waterfront.”
Car driving along narrow road, possibly State Highway 60 near Motueka.
General scenes of beaches with Southern Alps visible in the background, possibly Moutere Inlet.
Scenes of children standing near trawlers moored at a jetty at Port Motueka, young woman stands displaying sprat for the camera.
General scenes of children walking on shoreline, skipping stones across the water and rowing boats in a lagoon.
TITLE:
“Kaiteriteri”
High shots overlooking Kaiteriteri beach and rocky headlands.
Scenes of men walking down slope and past a car parked besides the beach.
People seated on the sand looking at the shoreline of Kaiteriteri Beach.
Exterior of the Kaiteriteri store and tearooms.
Children wading in water towing toy boat.
TITLE:
“M.D.H.S”
General scenes of Motueka District High School & Parklands School, students gathered outside school buildings.
TITLE:
“A Private Garden”
Scenes of people walking in a well-tended public garden looking at swans in a lake and examining a fountain.
Footage of flowers in bloom and various trees in blossom.
TITLE:
“Into The Blue.”
Scenes of an Austen Autocrat light plane landing on airstrip – plane has Nelson Aero Club signage and registration ZK-AUB.
Footage of luggage being loaded into Austen Autocrat plane and plane taking off from airstrip.
TITLE:
“The End”