The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-22 00:00:00

Drury-lane Theatre.

A general meeting of the renters or debenture
holders in this theatre was held yesterday in the
saloon of the building—Dr. Beaman in the chair.
Mr. JAMES ROBINS, the secretary, read the report
of the sub-committee which was laid before the meet-
ing of proprietors in January last, and which stated
that the accounts for the year ending Dec. 31, 1866,
showed that the receipts, including a balance in hand
of £1,334 ss. 3d., amounted to £9,478 2s. Id., and
the payments to £8,356 13s. 7d, leaving a cash
balance of £1,121 Bs. 6d. The receipts comprised a
sum of £5,000 from the lessees on rent account, and
a further sum of £ll5 for extra performances during
the season 1864-5. The payments comprised a sun.).
of £1,330 17s. 3d. for four quarters' rent to the
Duke of Bedford, and £6ll 12s. for rates and taxes,
£2,100 to the trustees of the new renters, and all the
ordinary current expenses of the 12 months up to
Christmas last. The report of Mr. Marsh Nelson,
the architect, which was appended, assured the pro-
prietors and renters that the theatre was in good re-
pair, and that the fire cocks and apparatus for the
prevention and extinction of fire were in satisfactory
order. The two reports were adopted. The report
of the renters' committee was then presented. It
stated that the committee congratulated the renters
on the improved aspect of their affairs ; the amount
of the last dividend being the largest that had been
declared for many years. One of the committee
having suggested at the former proprietary meeting
that the balance in the names of the trustees should
not lie idle that wish had been acted upon, and 3
small addition to the income was the result. The
committee, in alluding to the misunderstanding with
the lessee, were happy to announce that an amicable
adjustment had been effected, and they were the
more pleased that such was the case, because a coo'
trary course would have been detrimental to their
interests. The theatre was like to be open during
a portion of the year, when, indeed, it should never
be closed, viz., the " London season"—for the Pre"
duction of opera and ballet on a grand scale--a 3
arrangement which, if carried into effect, would'
it was hoped, be remunerative and satisfactory to
all parties. This report was ordered to be received.
A desultory conversation then took place in regal'
to matters of practical detail, and amongst them a
question was mooted as to the condition and charae"
ter of a wooden spiral staircase leading to the thee'
an opinion being expressed that that staircase was
unsafe, and that, in the event of a fire occurring, the
consequences arising froin its insecurity would be
most disastrous. Ultimately a resolution was pr°-
posed by Mr. Tegg and seconded by Col. Challonerf_
to the effect that the attention of the architect be
called to the wooden spiral staircase leading to th,e
flies, and to report thereon to the proprietary ; 3
that the sub-committee be requested to take every
precaution against the possibility of fire in the
theatre. The motion was unanimously adopted, and
Mr. Reddish said he would speak to the architect
personally on this important subject.
It was stated that the receipts to the renters had
increased gradually every year during the last few
years. Four years ago they were £4 15s. per deben-
ture, and they afterwards rose to £6, to £6 Gs., and
now to £7, while formerly the amount was as 1011.
as £2, and for a considerable period there Was no
dividend at all.
her the
Col. CHALLONER put a question as to whet
doors of the theatre were made to open outwards
re
inwards—the former plan being doubtless the n?°,
safe and convenient ; and the answer was that t"
door in the building opened outwards. nd
Resolutions were then passed re-electing
thanking the sub-committee and the
ale°
renters. ee:er
mittee. Thanks were also voted to Messrs. F„r
and Chatterton, the managers of the theatre,
and Mr.
their uniform courtesy and attention ; a a
Chatterton having acknowledged the complimen",
and
the
similar tribute was paid to the chairman, an
business terminated.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Oriental C°ln-
menial Bank, held to-day, the report recommelldeci
an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. P
annum, free of income tax.