The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-29 00:00:00

FIRE Al 7HE SURREY THEATRE.

This (Tuesday) morning, at a few minutes past
twelve o'clock, considerable excitement was caused
amongst the officials and employes of the Surrey
Theatre owing to a report being raised that the
house had taken fire. All hands were therefore
summoned together, and as little noise as possible
was made, in order to prevent another panic in the
❑eighbourhood. It was soon ascertained that a
fire had taken place amongst some unfinished work
and scenery in the carpenter's workshop. This
part of the establishment was on the basement,
and immediately over it was the paint room,
so that at oue time it was feared that the fire
might assume something of a formidable character.
[he fireman of the house and other assistance for-
tunately succeeded in confining the flames to that
part of the premises in which they began, and all
danger of any extension of mischief, we are happy
to say, was over in about five minutes. The damage
done is thus officially returned by Captain Shaw to
the Board of Works, and also to the insurance
offices :—Royal Surrey Theatre, Blackfriars-road ;
Jecupiers, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick ; some
unfinished work and scenery burned, carpenters'
workshop in basement, and paint room over, with
the contents slightly damaged by fire and water.
Cause of fire unknown. The contents of the theatre
insured in the Phoenix. Building unknown if
insured.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S. —A portrait model of the
celebrated Madame Rachel (" Beau cif ul for Ever" notoriety),
taken during her memorable trial, is now added to Madame
Tussaud's world-wide Exhibition in Baker-street. Ta e
likeness of the lady is most etriking, and the costume an
exact lac-simile of the one worn by her.

NEw ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL, LONDON.
—We understand that land at a cost of some £40,000 has
been bought near Buckingham Palace for the erection of
the proposed new Roman Catholic cathedral, in memory of
Cardinal Wiseman; and that the archbishop's residence,
which will adjoin it, is to be commenced immediately.
This portion of the work has been entrusted to Mr. Henry
Clutton, nephew of Archbishop Manning, who recently
joined the Church of Rome. The church itself and the
other buildings attached to it will be from the designs of
Ar. E. Pugin. Mr. Clutton has, we believe, published
two or three works in connection with Mr. Burgess on
" The Domestic Architecture of the Middle Ages." He
was also engaged in the restoration of Salisbury Chapter
House, and has of late years erected several small Roman
Catholic churches.—Cork Reporter.
ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY.—The annual re-
turn of this constabulary force shows that on the Ist
of January, 1868, the strength amounted to 12,572 officers,
inspectors, and men, including the Belfast town force of
116 and 259 reserve force at the depot. The number of
horses was 380. The total expense of the force was
£871,782, the whole of which was borne by the public
purse, excepting £33,947 borne by counties and towns.
There were on the Ist January last 72 stipendiary magis-
trates in Ireland.

VACCINATION.—In the year ending at Michael-
mas, 1867, 490,598 persons were successfully vac-
cinated by the public vaccinators in England and Wales—
namely, 353,308 children under ono year old, and 137,290
persons above one year old. The total number is equal
to 61 per cent. of the 766,635 registered births in one year,
and is an increase of 35,713 upon the number successfully
vaccinated in 1869. A new and more efficient Vaccina-
tion Act came into force at the commencement of the pre-
sent year, requiring the Guardians of the Poor to ascertain
at stated intervals whether the Act has teen complied
with in the case of the children whose births have been
registered in the union, and if not, to enforce compliance,
and there aro powers for enforcing the vaccination of
children under 14 whose vaccination was neglected in
Infancy. ' '