The Express.
London, England, 1864-11-01 00:00:00

NEW THEATRE ROYAL, BIRKENHEAD.

The new theatre erected by a joint stock com-
pany at Birkenhead was opened last night, when Miss Lydia
Thompson and a powerful company appeared in fib. Bur.
nand's burlesque, Lei.n, and other entertainmenta. The
building is sutSciently large to accommodate about 1,600
persons, and the seats are large and comfortable. The
front of the theatre faces Conway-street, one of the prin-
cipal thoroughfares of the town, and the approach to
the pit and boxes is through • handsome corridor.
The stage, which is of amply convenient size, is
fitted with extensive mechanical apparatus. arid furnished
with a liberal stock of excellent winery. Mr. Dalby, who
is locally celebrated as a scenic artist, has painted • charm-
ing act-drop. The decorations of the proscenium, the dress
and gallery circles, and the ceiling are light, chaste, and
artistic, gold moulthogs on delicate tinting* forming
the prominent feature of ornamentation. The ante-
rooms for refreshments and promenade are numerous
and roomy, and every device which care for the convenience
of the public could suggest has been applied in the con-
struction of the building. Mr. Henderson, the lessee of the
Priors of Wales Theatre, Liverpool, hen taken the house
for the first six months, and announces • series of perfor-
mances of high-class character and interest. Lrion, Mr.
Burnand's.popular burlesque, has been produced, Miss Lydia
Thompson sustaining the principal character. Yr. E. A.
Sothern will perform during the week; Mr. J. L.
Warner, the Australian tragedian, is engaged for • series of
representations ; and other "stars" are in reserve. A local
pantomime, by Mr. Charles Milward, will be produced at
Christmas. The management of the Prince of Wales
Theatre gives grounds for high expectations so to that of
the Birkenhead Theatre ; and it is confidently believed that
the large population of the borough and adjoining townships
will prictically appreciate the first effort made on an ex-
tended scale to rive them entertainment. of a high order.

NUTS FOR NATURAL PHILOSOPHERS. Ac the
workmen employed at the steam saw mills of Meru.
Douglec and Co., Lhuiellv, Caimarthenshire, were engaged
in sawing a large balk of Ligliab oak, they found in the
centre of the tree 21 outs. Singular to state, not the least
tlaw could be discovered in the tree to amount for the nuts
getting inside. The nuts are of the colour of mahogany,
and the kernels are as sound as when they were first ripe.
Tile EASTERN FISHERIEs.—Very large quantities
of herrings have bees landed at Great Yarmouth during the
past fortnight—in fact, there has beau almost a glut of fish.
From 150 to 200 lasts have been lauded daily, each last com-
prising 13,200 fish. Prices range from kV. to 121. per hat.
At Lowestoft, also, considerable catches have been landed,
which have sold at la. 6.1. to la. 1041. per 100. The quality
has improved.

California has given over 700,000 dollars in cur-
rency to the Federal Sanitary Commiaaion ; Nevada, 92,000
dollars in gold, which would be, at currency rates, at least
250,000 dollars ; and both keep (ivies, and devising all
manner of mantis( and beautiful wave of doing it, and of
selling things of small values till they produce hundreds
and thousands of dollais. It is proposed to methodise the
contributions of the state hereafter; to organics them
everywhere through the interior, on the basis of monthly
dime euhn•riptions, which everybody will pay, and so keep
the beneficent stream of California'. gold pouring into the
treasury of the almoners of her patriotic bounty—the de-
voted, *insectaries Sanitary Commission, which asks not
what a mans religion ia, but if he is suffering and in need
of help.—Nno Yuri paper.