Page 1 Advertisements Column 6

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2221, 19 June 1908, Page 1

plain Is ivcro made in the district occasionally, but- wo dill not get tlio blamo from the officials, whateyer was said outside. On one occasion tho gaoler called the prisoners together and informed us that onu ol tho crowd had boon to Seddon. Ho said ho did not know who it was, and warned all and sundry lobe careful, ns any prisoner seen about, the place would be shot. Tilings got so bad that il used to throw tho tools in tho river, cut the roots-of tho trees before putting them in tho ground, and bury bundles of 25 ill the plantation. A select company of us got tho poll over tho others. AVo used to get drink into tho cam]). AVo gambled in out spare time; no card playing was U'owed under tho regulations. Wo wore not supposed to have any money. Two men deliberately refused to go to work lor two weeks once. It was no uncommon tiling for a man to protend to-be ill. lie would not have to go to work, but would .be well enough to go thieving during the. day. From wliat I’ve told you,’ concluded tho ex-prisoner, ‘you can get ajiretty fair idea of wliat ono Government prison camp was like for a considerable number of weeks while I was in it.’ ” ’'fy. . [Tho Hoii. iMr. -McGowan, Minister for Justice/on ' AVcdiu*stja-y.,,last, said he doubted"'the truth of the state-'’ meat that there had been, misconduct and persistent and systematic breaking of rules at the Dumgreo prison camp. He defended the tree-plant-ing sehomp, and said its advantages far outweighs its defects.] HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. ARE MORE EXITS NEEDED? STATEMEOT BY THEATRICAL AGENT. Discussing the decision of the Borough Council to insist upon additional escape-doors being -placed in .His Majesty's Theatre with a “Times” reporter yesterday, Air Alec Verne, who is visiting New Zealand as advance agent for -Messrs 'Aleynell and Gunn’s Dramatic. Company, said that in all his travels —and he .had a thorough knowledge of all the large theatres in Australia and New Zealand—he had never seen a building so well equipped with escape doors as the Gisborne Theatre. The Theatre, ho continued, has four double ■doors opening outwards on one side, I there are three doors at the rear, and two escapes from the dress circle, t which should be more than sufficient for a building that would only scat 1100 jieople. “I remembei one occasion when Air Charles Holloway was pitying “Two Little Vagabonds” here ami the place was packed,” added iMr A r erne. “Air Miller and I tinted the departure of the theatre after the play and the place was emptied under three minutes without the people having -any need for haste. That means they could get out in much less time in ease of a lire. To place exit doors -on the opposite side would he the worst tiling that could happen in a case of a fire on the .stage, for there would -be a double draught and ii]) would go the lire like a holocaust. Everyone knows that iu ease of a lire in -a theatre the less draught the better,, and . immediately an outbreak occurs the management usually orders all the stage doors to be closed. Then, again, with double .exit the people would rush both ways and a nice pell-mell would occur. The Gisborne Theatre is much better' off for exits than His Majesty’s theatre in Auckland, -which is the most up-to-dite in the colony, and has only two from the -gallery, one from the* dress circle, and three from the stalls.”

LONDON MEAT MARKET. "Writing under date London May S. Messrs Weddell and Co report on tho frozen meat market thus: MUTTON. Arrivals of Now Zealand mutton during the past fortnight amount to 50,806 carcases. ‘Tho trade for New Zealand mutton, at SmitMeld lias ruled slow, and as supplies, except of are in excess of present requirements, prices have again become easier. Jpven .at tile reduced quotations it is difficult to effect sales buyers during tluj recent spell of high prices having turned more attention to River Plate sheep, which arc coming to hand in good condition and of satisfactory quality. Sales of Canterbury sheep are restricted, but as the supply continues short, values have been' maintained. Canterbury, sheep we quote at 4|d. for 48/56 lbs.; 4jd. to 4 Id. for 56/64 lbs. ; and 33d. for heavies. Southland and North Island sheep of best quality realise 3sd. to 4d. for prime small carcases, and 81 to 33d. medium weights; Heavy carcases are a particularly slow sale at 3|d. to 3Jd. Secondary quality sheep; are selling at 3|jd to 33d., according to 6ize. LAMBS. .Arrivals during the fortnight amount to 46,324 carcases from Australia; 153,492 carcases from New Zealand, ’.and 2,979 carcases from River Plate, the total quantity being slightly under arrivals during tho | previous two weeks. The sudden change to warmer weather, although detrimental to trade generally at Smith field, has been 'beneficial to the lamb trade, and the quantities going into consumption continue to increase. Stocks in store, particularly of prime Cahterburys, must certainly be light, as evidenced by the manlier in which lambs are being drawn as soon as they are discharged from the ship. Prime, Canterbury lambs are meeting with good enquiry, and under 36 lb. grade, which touched o.Jd during the latter part of the previous fortnight, is again firmer at sjd; 36/4211) grade is also firm at j)*U; and 42/5011) grade is at 53d. North Island and secondary lambs are not selling so well, and prices down t 0 43d. have been taken for some ol tho more inferior carcases. The quality of some of the brands of North Island lambs shows a decided falling off as compared with arrivals at com "mencoment of season. AVo quote today prime North Island lambs, >"i to ogd., and secondary descriptions, 4-jjd to sd. The limited stocks of Australian lambs continue to experience a good demand, and at present rate of consumption will soon be exhausted. Price's have been wed maintained all round, to-day’s values being as follows: prime quality, 4jd to 5d.; secondary, 4 id. to 43d; and anything very inferior,, to ljkl. h'ROiZEN BEEF. During the fortnight 5.973 quarters have been received from New Zoaiuul and 71,065 quarters from the River Plate. The trade has. been o l ' an unsatisfactory nature, the variable weather we have experienced having contributed a great deal to the prosent unsettled state of the niarkd. Values have given w iy_ slightly, at ! only a limited business is being done.