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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 184, 4 July 1874, Page 2

Committal. —Patrick Maher, charged on Thursday last with being in a chronic state of drunkenness, was sent to gaol for throe months. Divine Service. The Rev. J. B. Simpson will conduct Divine Service in the schoolroom, Gisborne, to-morrow morning, at 11 o’clock. Wesleyan Hymns. —We are requested to state that owing to the scarcity of Wesleyan Hymn Books in Gisborne, printed copies of the hymns to be used for the various services will he provided for those attending the Music Hall on Sunday, until a stock of Hymn Books arrive. Police Report.— The report for the year ending 31st May 1874, recently furnished to the Government by the police authorities in Gisborne, show that a pretty brisk trade has been going on in the R.M.’s Court during that jieriod. There were 88 arrests, and 59 informations and summonses. The various offences are classified thus: — Drunkenness, 5 ; Vagrancy, 26 ; Larceny, 24; Malicious injuries 7; Offences against the person, 11; False pretences, 2 ; Embezzlement, 1; Breaches of the peace, 9 ; Resisting the police, 4; Breaches of Licensing Act, 5 ; Fraudulent debtors, 1 ; Minoroffences, 19; Receiving stolen goods, 1. Total, 166. Of which 2 were committed to the Supreme Court ; 3 to the District Court; 15 to gaol, and 146 were otherwise dealt with. Drunkenness, which generality tops the list in larger towns, is not amongst the chief offences in Poverty Bay, for the above figures shew that nearly two thirds of the cases disposed of are of a class held to be more serious in the category of crime, than drunkenness. From this, the report says, it is not to be inferred that crime is on the increase, but is partly the result of the law being more strictly enforced, and that charges, laid against natives, are successfully established. The report condemns the accommodation (?) in the Gisborne lock-up, as being “entirely inadequate;” several prisoners having been released from custody, there being no room for them.

Music Hall. —Capt. Porter, the present enterprising proprietor of the Music Hall, is sparing no expense to make the building a credit to this rising district, and to render it complete as regards the stage fittings and accessories. The Turanganui Library having removed from the room they occupied, the partition has been taken down, and some thirteen feet more thrown into the body of the Hall. There will now be a space of * fifteen feet by twenty-four available for sitting accommodation, or for dancing, in the case of balls ; while the stage will, on such occasions, form an excellent supper or refreshment room, with retiring rooms underneat h it.. The stage has been lengthened to eighteen feet, and the proscenium altered so as to give over fourteen feet in the clear from side to side, thus making it of sufficient dimensions for the production of many dramatic pieces which could not have been attempted within the narrow limits formerly available This will prove a great boon to our local amateur club, and to professional companies paying Gisborne a visit. But one of the greatest benefits contemplated in the alterations is the improved acoustic qualities of the stage. It was a matter of great difficulty, and required astrong effort on the part ot anyone speaking from the back of the stage, to make themselves heard by the auditory ; but this drawback will now be removed. Nw scenery will be added to make the theatre as perfect as possible, while dressing rooms—one thirteen feet long, intended exclusively for the use of ladies, and (toother eighteen feet, for gentlemen—will be constructed under opposite sides of the stage, with which they will communicate by means of stairs leading up to the wings. Mr. Berry has got the work in hand, and everything will be completed in the early part of the ensuing week; and we believe to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.