HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1982, 18 January 1907, Page 2

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

'•THE WALLS OF JERICHO." Tlio thoatro was crowded laßt night, whon tho Brough-Flemming Comedy Company gavo a second performance of their season of four nights. The picco chosen was “ Tho Wails of Jericho,” a piece that has an especially absorbing internet in theso days wlion wo hear so much of tlio'doings of tho smart sot” in tho old land. Tho picture no doubt is overdrawn, but nevertheless it is of enthralling interest throughout, and with MrHerbort Flemming as Jack Frobisher, and Miss Bay’s romarkahly fine impersonation of the part of Lady Alethea, tho pioco was presented in a most successful way, and overyone was delighted. A great deal has been writ ten of this play of .Alfred Suto, and tho author has undoubtedly achieved tho success of practicaly pleasing everyono. The dialogue is bright and witty, tho humor of a wholesome class, and the pathos of a kind that fascinates tho audience, tho-theme being skilfully worked out, and tho climax being an exceptionally fine one. As the wealthy unali'ected, simple “ man from Queensland,” surrounded by a set of miserable fops and frivolous women, a strong man whoso gospel was work, and who through marriage with an apparently heartless woman of tho butterfly kind, had been borne down by his snrroundings until ho became unnerved and helpless, afraid of ridicule, Mr Flemming was splendid, good aliko in the fiery scenes and in tho subdued, touching parts. Miss Beatrice Day capably sustained tho partof tho wife,Lady Alethea, bringing out all the posibilities of that character in a finished manner, with no misplaced tragic airs or anything to innr' a really fine piece of acting, in which the flippant gambling woman was shown to have a heart and to be possessed of filial affection of tho true mother when put to the test; and the final scene gave the actress an opportunity of which the best use was made. As Hankoy Bannister,. Mr Norman McKeown bad a pleasant part, which ho played to the best advantage. Miss Kate Gair made a vivacious Lady Lucy, and. brightly impersonated the character. As Lady Westerby, Miss Emma Temple represented tho character in an admirable manner. All the other characters wore ably sustained, Mr I’aync doing well as the Marquis, and Mr Carter Pickford as the unpopular Harry Dallas The staging of the piece was excellent, and tho orchestra also deserves praise.

To-night tho latest London success from Sir Charles Wyndham’s theatre, “ Mrs Gorringo’s Necklace,” will be presented for this night only, and on Saturday, tho last night of the season, a grand double bill will bo presented, viz., “ Passport,” preceded by “In Honor Bound.” Arrangements have been made for the train to bo delayed till after tho performance on Saturday night.

LOCAL STOCK SALES. At the Matawliero stock sales yesterday the first sale was commenced by Messrs Common, Shelton and Co., Ltd., and Dalgety and Co., Ltd. Sheep: 3000 .sheep were yarded, mostly young stock. There was a fair demand, and good sorts sold satisfactorily, Prices were:. 1000 tWotooth wethers 14s, It. Sherratt; 304 woolly lambs (medium), passed 9s 3d; 655 shorn wether lambs, passed 9s; 50 woolly lambs (small) 6s, D. Malone; 110 two-tooth ewes 11s, J. C. Field; pen two-tooth wethers 11s, J. C. Field ; 218 four and five-yoar-okl ewes passed 10s 9d. Cattle: Over 250 head of cattle came forward, comprising stores' and a sprinkling of fats. There was not the usual demand for fats, as buyers for that class of stock were conspicuously few. The store cows brought brisker competition, and were disposed of under the hammer. The following prices were realised: 10 beef cows £5, T. Goldsmith ; 157 store cows £3 Is. J. E. Foster; 1 two-year-old shorthorn bull (bred by Mr. Phanton) 22 guineas, H. White; 1 steer £4, G. Coop; 25 two-year-old heifers £2 7s 6d, 25 do. £3 ss, 20 old cows £2 10s. About 11.30 Messrs. Williams and Kettle, Ltd., and the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., commenced to sell. Sheep: About 600 sheep were yarded, comprising a large number of two-tootlis and lambs. The sale, though not spirited at the start, livened up towards tho end. Although bidding was slow, all tho passed lots were tlisjiosed as the sale proceeded. Tho prices were as follows: 294 ewes 8s 9d, D. Malone; 4G mixed ewes 12s 4d, A. Tuoliy; 41 ewes (low in condition) 2s 9d, Gisborne Freezing Works; 55 fat ewes 12s lOd, A. Tuoliy ; 97 ewes in forward condition Ss 9d, T. Hay; 405 two and four-tootli wethers 14s 6d. J. C. Field; 48 ewes and lambs (all counted) 9s 9d, D. Malone; 140 full-mouth ewes 7s, W. F. Stephenson; 4 ewes and 2 lambs 8s lOd, Scott; 4 fat lambs 11s. W. Hall; 1 Shropshire ram £l, W. Jobson: 5 English Leicester rams 16s. W. .Tobson ; 156 woolly lambs 9s 9d, B. Bcllerby; 5,4 fat ewes 13s, D. Gordon; S 3 lambs 9s 6d, F. Hall; 37 fat. owes 12s 3d ; 43 forward ewes 10s lOd, F. Beid; 99 ewes 11s. E. M. Hutchinson; 144 mixed mixed two-tooths 10s 9d, O. Riddell ; 69 lambs 7s 9d, J. Walker; 24 old owes Is 6d. 'G. McDonald ; 7 two-tooth ewes 13s 6d, R, Witters; 197 two-tooth wethers 14s Bd, Douglas; 291 woolly lambs 9s lid. F. Hall : 209 four and six-tootli wethers 12s. H. Dods: 33 fat wethers 14s 6d, J. Walker-; 60 lambs (choice lot) 11s 4d : 307 wether lambs 9s 4d, E. M. Hutchinson ; 327 six and eighttooth ewes 14s 6d ; 601 two and fourtooth wethers 14s 7d. C. J. Parker; 245 two-tooth ewos 14s Gd, Pone. Pigs: There was a small entry—2 woaners 14s, 2 porkers 325, 6 weaners 14k, 3 do. 12s.

Cattle: The yarding of cattle was a very heavy one, about 700 head, mostly stores.

THE COLOUR QUESTION IN UNITED STATES. To the Editor of the Gisborne Times. Sir, —Your loader on the above question which appeared in yesterday’s paper, has attracted my attention. As a resident in my youth >in New York. I took much interest in the anti-slavery struggle, 20 years -before the emancipation act of President Lincoln, and have watched with much interest the results of that act-. Such Jingoites as Senator -Tillmon are those least likely to improve matters between the two races. Many of the white men of the South, with their frequent exhibitions of revolver shooting and debauchery, have nothing to boast of as to their superior living and example to the negro race. Despite the tremendous opposition to any education being given to ( the colored people by many of the Southerners, the colored race have made marvellous progress in their efforts to obtain education and elevation in the social sphere during their 40 years of freedom. This is shown by the numbers of colleges they have erected by their own persevering industry and intelligence. Jn one of the Southern States" for most trifling offences, imprisonment is inflicted and work carried out by their enforced labor. Tlio progress of these despised people lias in many cases awoke tlio envy and joalousv of tlio poor whites in'the South, anil every indignity is heaped upon them by such, and too frequently thov are glad of. an excuse to shoot uneonvicted and innocent blacks. The disturbances in Natal were caused, as was the Indian Mutiny, by t-lie blindness of European officials. I have lived in Natal both in time of peace and war. In the Transvaal a German missionary to the natives, Mr. Doring, had to abandon bis brick church and dwelling and native houses, owing to the demoralising effect of being within a mile of a European township. He Had to migrate several miles distant. In Swaziland, adjoining Zululand. where polygamy is the rule, adultery is punishable by drowning tlio wife, no divorces from other causes. In the United States the numbers of legal divorces from trivial causes amongst tlio white population is legion. It is an old saying that residents in glass houses should bo careful to avoid throwing stones.—Yours etc., J. PECKOVER, Gisborne, Jan. 17, 1007.