The New York herald., 1869-03-27

Cunard and Inman TO shorten the time for which the
contract was made. it was entered into ior elgn,
them 70 shorten 1t by period OF two years. They
refused but In the course OF the negotiations Mr. In
day to Friday, which would be OF considerable I'm.
p0rtance to the whole community. The action OF
It most dinicuIt for the government to defend the
contract entered into. BY this contract they would
secure the continuance OF what they had enjoyed for
Q great number OF years-a well performed service
between this country and America They would escape
the disadvantages to which they would have been
subjected IL the alternative course had been adopted
II the government had refused to accept the oner
made by Cunard q Co. and Mr.: Inman there would
have been for tlme considerable inconvenience ex
depend upon the foreign service, involving longer
voyage from southampton to New York. and the
venient days for the mercantile community. On the
other hand this contract might be more costly than
the alternative ana probably would IL be more costly
years to one particular arrangement. The subject
should be inquired into by committee OF
the House. and after that inquiry tncy would
be in better position to form an opinion on the
matter. The committee might get through the in
was TO elapse before the contract should be binding
They did not consider as a government that they
were bound to recommend any definite course or
defenders OF their predecessorsn this matter, or to
induce them to dictate any particular course of
partially inquiring into the matter and forming
themselves an opinion upon it. (Hear. hear,
After number OF the other members present par
ticipated III the debate, and con- the motion was
put to the House and carried by vote Of ll5 to 86
The Durham Theatre Burned Down.
The Northern Express OF the 11th inst. has the
following report of the destruction OF the theatre
The Theatre Royal. in Saddler street, Durham, at
the time OF the hre was used by Mr.. w. Young as
music hail. and the performances on the previous
evening were concluded shortly after ten O'Clock.
the last person to leave the place being the property
man, who LETT all apparently safe. On the first ndt
cations OF the fire the policemen duty In different
parts OF the city at rushed TO the spot guided by
the iames, which had got strong hold. good deal
Of time was lost IN bringing the engines into
peteiy enveoped the doomed building, sending
large sheets OF flame through the roof. The theatre
contained d. large @ quantity M o. dry nmbering
bustible furnishings, and this IN o great measure
accounts for the rapidlty with which the fire
spread. About hali-past three the roof fell
smoke, ana carrying everything along with 1t
in its descent leaving nothing but the bare
adjoining property as It was observed that the fire.
after the fail OF the roof still had strong hold OF
the beams rafters, staircases and other woodwork
OF the place. Mr.. Bales, innkeeper provided for
this emergency by removing his family to place OF
safety, as also did Mr. T. RushW0rth the Occupier OF
adjoining property, by removing the valuable portion
OF his property to q neighbours house. Happily,
however, the devouring element was confined to the
theatre itself The back premises OF Mr. Rushw0rth,
however, suffered considerable damage the roof OF
q back workshop having been forced in by portion
OF the debris falling upon 1t. The workshops and
their contents. belonging to Mr.. J. T. Meggson and
Mr. J. Askew, have also sustained slight injuries.
The fire entirely got under about half past four
O'Clock. Nearly the whole of the scenery connected
with the theatre has been destroyed. The members
OF the orchestra have also lost their instruments.
The cause OF the fire Is not known, but, as smoking
was allowed in many parts Of the house. it Is pro-
bable that 1t had Its origin from lighted tobacco
having been left on some Of the dry woodwork.