The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-07 00:00:00

CALAMITOUS FIRE AT BELFAST.

On Wednesday evening, about four o'clock. a fire was
discovered in the upper story of the flax store occupied by
Messrs. James Burns and Co., Queen-street, Belfast, while
the men were engaged delivering flax. When the alarm of
fire was given the utmost exertions were used by the men
on the premises, and a number of respectable citizens to
remove a portion of the property ; but so rapidly did the
flames extend that before more than a few tons could be
thrown into the open yard in front of the building, the
men were obliged to fly from the premises to save them-
selves. Even of the flax which had been so saved, a portion
caught fire at the door of the store. Speedily the whole
building was enveloped in flames, which burst out by every
window, burning the wood work, and destroying the floors and
roof. A bright flamo shot up in the air when the roof gave
way, and all hopes that had been previously entertained of
saving a porlion' of the property were then at an end. The
danger to the surrounding property was imminent. On each side
of the burning building were private houses, the outbuild-
ings of some &yen running into a portion of the store ;
while separated by a slight wall, were the other stores belong-
ing to the firm of James Burns & Co., also filled with flax.
One of the private houses in Queen street, occupied by a most
respectable lady, we have been told, was actually on fire ; but
owing to the exertions of the fire brigade, aided by the inhabi-
tants, all anxiety for the safety of this house was removed, and
the entire range was preserved. The houses in College-street
North, immediately adjoining the rear of the burning
premises, were also in great danger, as a house which is
rented by the Orangemen of Belfast for an Orange ball,
is connected with the store. When the water-engines
began to play upon the fire, the exertions of the brigade,
were solely directed to confining it within the building where
it originated, and thus to preserve adjacent property. At five
o'clock the wreck was awful, as seen from the rear of the
building. The walls alone were standing. We aro happy to
be able to state that Messrs. James Burns & Co., are fully
insured. The origin of the fire is unknown, and it is, there•
fore, idle to conjecture anything on the subject, Another
cause of congratulation is, that although so many persons were
present, and the spread of die devouring element was so
rapid, no accident occurred.

The Emperor of Russia has empowered the Minister of
Finance to grant passports to merchants desirous of forming
branch establishments abroad, without previously presenting
the application to a council of ministers.
The General in command at Alderahott has, in a divi-
sional order, thanked the militia regiments about to depart,
for their excellent conduct. The General says, that of the
27 regiments of militia—English and Irish—he had had
under his command, there hag not been one whose general
efficiency and capacity for all purposes of soldiers,
would not have done credit to any corps in Europe. Neither
of these regiments have left the camp.
THE REVENUES OF THE EAST INDIA PRESIDENCIES.—
It appears from a return just published that the gross
total receipts, as revenue, of all the presidencies of East
India in the year 1853-4, amounted to £26,375,191. The
total payments out of the income amounted to £6,670,117,
leaving a net amount of £19,705,080 in the several govern.
ment treasuries. The land revenues yield £16,680,146,
the customs £1,283,455, salt £2,917,524, opium X 4,478,653.
The gross receipts of the Bengal presidency amounted to
£10,519,774, and the payments to £2,389,694; the revenue
of the Burmese provinces was £303,741 ; and the revenue
of the North-west provinces was £7,002,184, and the
expenditure £1,311,010; the revenue of the Punjaub and
trans-Indus territory was £1,215,571, and the expenditure
£323,879 • the revenue of the Bombay presidency was
£4,313,254 and the payments £1,646,553. It has been
shown that £26,373,197 was the grand total revenue of
India in 1853-54, and against this must be set an
expenditure of £28,419 314.1eaving a deficit of £2,044,117.
The payments in the realisation of,the revenue amounted to
£6,670,117, the charges in India to £18,486,908, and the
charges in England to £3,202,289c