LOCAL AND GENERAL.

o I. O. Or. T., Ohbistohubgh Exoei,siob Lodge.— The usual weekly session of the above lodge was held in Gee's schoolroom last^ evening, when six new members were initiated, and several person j proposed for membership. At the conclusion of business, the G.W.O.T. Bro. Andrews initiated the officers elect for the ensuing three months, after which the lodge closed in due form. It is contemplated to form a Life Industrial Insurance Company i> connection with this lodge. Pbesentation.— At the monthly meeting of No.- 3 L.0.L., a presentation was made to Bro. W.Ballantyne. It consis.B of a silver fivepointed star attached to a 6u->pender of blue and orange ribbon. The sUr itself is of frosted metal, rising from its centre is a semiglobe of polished Bilver, bearing the following inscription : — " Presented to Bro. W. Ballantyne, P.M., No. 3 L.0.L., in recognition of aervioes as W.M., Oot., 1873." The jewel was made by Mr D. Brunette, Cathedral square, at whose shop it is now on view. Lyttbiton Wbbleyan Home Missions. — A tea meeting in aid of the funds will take place in the Wesleyan schoolroom, Lyttelton, this evening. A public meeting will be held afterwards, when several ministers mid friends will address thoße present. The annual services in aid of these missions were held on Sunday last, and were largely attended. FpE EWOINB AT THE RaIWAI STATION. —A' few months ago, the Provincial Government, with a view to the protection of : the railway buildings from fire, imported a steam fire engine. It was purchased from the firm of Shand, Mason, & Co., and the engine is one which has been made on the latest improved principle. It possesses great power, and has been found to give the moat entire satisfaction. A. practiced—more for the- purpose of keeping the engine in gooJ working order than anything else— was made yestorday, on the railway premises. Contiguous to the goods' shed there is a tank measuring 15ft by 12ft with a depth of 6ft. This tank, when full of water, contains about 16,000 gallons, and the engine, when tested, was found to be capable of emptying it in eight minutes. The water is supplied by means of four artesian wells, the pipes of which are two inches in diameter. With such a flow as this, the tank, when emptied, is refilled in a very Bhort time; Eybeton. — A correspondent writing from this place on Nov. 3 says.— A violent hailstorm occurred here at 1 o'clock p.m. yesterday. A thunder-storm had been rising from the south-east for an hour previously, and when overhead, an extraordinary rushing sound was suddenly heard in the air ; it was like a cataract, and lasted about ten minutes. At one o'clock, hail fell, at first lightly, but in two minutes it came down as hard as it could fall. I have never in my thirty-two years' experience of New Zealand seen anything like it j some of the lumps of ice were as large as pullets' eggs, while the rest were of the size of walnuts ; for about twenty" minutes it was fearful— one could not hear another speak — and it was so painful to the ears, that it was necessary to put one's hands over them to deaden the sound on the roof. When the hail began, the thunder and lightning ceased immediately. Muoh damage is done to fruit. Pbesentation of Pbizes.— The prizeß competed for by the Duke of Edinburgh immigrants during the voyage out, and desoribed in Tuesday's shipping report, were presented to the winners by Dr Jennings, surgeonsuperintendent of the vessel, at the Addington barracks yesterday. The various articles had been purchased from Mr Bonnington, High street, who, in consideration of the purpose for which they were required, made a liberal reduction on the ordinary price. After the distribution had taken place, Dr Jennings was presented by the immigrants with a handsome gold pencil case, in token of their esteem, and of the manner in which he had discharged his onerous duties on the voyage. The coat of the pencil-case was defrayed by a subscription among the whole of the immigrants, each individual cum being limited, by Dr Jennings' request, to one penny. The testimonial referred to in Tuesday's issue, was also presented at the same time. Some of the immigrants who won prizeß on the voyage were not in attendance to receive them, and they have been left in charge of the matron of the barracks, from whom they can be obtained. WBBLEYAN Chubch.— The annual meeting of ministers of the Canterbury district commenced yesterday morning in the Durham street church. All the ministers had not arrived. There were present the Revs James Buller (chairman of the district), W. J. Watkin, A. R. Fitchett, R. Bavin, H. Bull, G. Bond, W. S. Harper, P. Fairclough. Prayer was offered by the Revs A. R. Fitchett and R. Bavin. The chairman then delivered a brief and encouraging address, in the course of which he reminded those present that he had nearly completed his fortieth year in New Zealand, and that he had been privileged to attend one of the district meetings each year without intermission. Great progress had been made during those forty years, yet very much remained to be done. Infidelity, sacerdotalism, and worldlineas were the special forms of evil, to abate which their labours should be directed. As he had reviewed their position as a Church, he was constrained to repeat the words of the venerable Wesley — " l'he best of all is, God is with us." The meeting then proceeded to elect a secretary, for which office the Rev W. J. Watkin was unanimously chosen. The remaining time of the session was devoted to preliminary arrangements for the formal work of the meeting, which will commence on Thursday morning. From 10 a.m. till 1 o'clock was fixed as the period for each session. The •lamination of candidates for the ministry was fixed for Thursday and Friday mornings ; that of the probationers for the ministry was arranged for Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Thfi Sunday pulpit servioeg were then determined, and at the financial meeting, to be held on Tuesday, the lay representatives are expected to be present.

Philosophical Institute. — The annual meeting will be held this evening at the Public Library, at 8 p.m. Lyttelto>- Time Bali,. — The apparatus, for which a grant was made by the Provincial Council, has arrived, and will shortly be fixed in position. Ikmigration.— The immigrants by the Duke of Edinburgh will be open for engagement at the Addington Barracks on Thursday, at 10.30 a.m. Hobtiouitubai; Sooiety. — The committee will meet at the Clarendon Hotel, this evening, to make arrangements for the show on Not. 12, and the rose show on Nor. 26. IiYTTBWOir Taittatiost. — Fresh tendere are again invited for the valuation of the town. The block system is to be carried out, and a map oE the system is to be provided by the valuator. Annivebsaby Day. — A meeting of the Popular Amusement and Entertainment Association will be held at the City Council Chambers, on Not. 6, at 4 p.m., to arrange for the customary sporta on Latimer square. Ths Tunnel Whabf.— This work can now be pushed forward rapidly, as the necessary piles for its construction have arrived by the barque Atlantic. It is thought that the wharf will be ready for vessels to moor alongside by Christmas. Impobtbd Sheep. — Yesterday, the b.b Taranaki brought some sheep, the property of Mr Sutton of Southland. They comprise Lincoln, and cross-bred Lincoln, and Leicester. They are all two-tooth, with the exception of one, which is an imported animal. Cbioket.— The eleven t. 15 colts, with Mr A.M.Ollivier as captain. — This annual match will be played an Not. 12, commencing at 10.30 a.m. A match was played yesterday between the O.C.C. and College Clubs. The C.C.C won in one innings and 38 rune to spare. The scores were : — C.G.G., 90 ; College, Ist innings, 28 j 2nd innings, 23. The Racks. — The sites for booths, amusements, and horse yards, together with the right of Tending 'krect cards, at the Metropolitan meeting, were sold by public auction at Warner's Hotel, yesterday afternoon, Mr J. H. Bennett officiating as auctioneer. There was, a good attendance, and a brisk competition. The prices obtained were as follows : — No. 1, publicans' booth, W. Priston, Borough Hotel, £11 per day j No. 2, do, J. Carl, Empire Hotel, £11 per day ; No. 3, do, — Garland, White Horse Hotel, £10 per day ; No. 4, do, E, Dudley, £8 per day ; No. 5, do, W. B. Smith, Grown Hotel, £5 per day ; No. 6, do, W. Simmonds, Warwick Hotel, £3 per day. , Confectioners' booths, No. 1, Brett, £l per day ; No. 2, Selle, £2 per day ; No. 3, Genet, £5 per day ; No. 4, Berg, £4 per day. Cards, Hobbs and Goodwin, £95 for the three days. Sports, Burmeister, £22 for the three days, and horse yarda, Drummond, £2 5s per day; total £3o3 15s. The amount for the cardß .is £20 more than last year, but the total amount realised at the sale is £33 10s less than 1873, but considera .ly more than obtained in 1872 or 1871. Fibe. — The following is a further account of the fire which occurred at Papanui yesterday morning, by whioh the whole of the Sawyers' Arms Hotel and stables, together with a quantity of building materials for additions to the hotel, were destroyed. It would appea** that Mr and Mrs Wild retired shortly after 11 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday, the house being closed and locked up for the night ; but shortly after midnight Mrs Wild was awoke by a suffocating sensation, and roused her husband. The latter detected a strong smell of fire, and at once got up. He opened the door, but found the passage so full of smoke that he was compelled to retreat, and, with his wife and children, had to escape by the window. He took his cash-box with him, and attempted to secure some of his account-books, but the fire spread so rapidly that he was unnble to do so, or even to save his watch or any of the articles of jewelry lying on the dressing-table. There were some six or eight other persons sleeping in the hotel at the time, but these were all aroused in time to make good their escape, though without saving any of their property. When Mr Wild had descended from his bedroom, the seat of the fire appeared to be in the vicinity of the kitchen fireplace. The whole of the hotel was enveloped in flames within a few moments of the fire being discovered, and it was impossible to save anything ; indeed, the fire soon spread to the stable — a two-storey building 75ft by 16ft — and a large quantity of building materials intended for carrying out certain additions to the hotel also caught fire. As there were no means at hand for extinguishing the fire, nothing could be done but watoh it burn itself out, which was done in a comparatively Bhort space of time. Mr Wild estimates his loss, including the building materials, at £1600, and his insurances are — £250 on the hotel, £50 on the stable, and £300 on stock and furniture in the National Office ; £300 on the hotel, and £100 on the stable, in the Liver* pool, London, and Globe Office. The Tbansit of Venus. — Major Palmer paid Lyttelton a Tisit yesterday morning to ascertain the chronometer time as given by the instruments on board the French ship Vire. He held direct communication by telegraph with the observation party at Burnham, and comparisons were instituted. The Otago Guardian, Oct. 31, has been furnished with the following additional information relative to the American expedition : — The site selected at the Chatham Islands is on the left aide of Whangaroa Bay, just inside of Point Gordon. Their tents — 10 in number — have each double flies, and comprise the observatory and shed for in* struments ; the cook-house, mess-room, and other quarters. They are as snug and comfortable as possible, so much so, indeed, that Captain Chandler, had he had his choice, would have preferred staying with them to returning in charge of hiß vessel. Thus in little more than four months and a half five American parties for observation of the coming transit of Venus have been established, sheltered, and provisioned by a single ship, and more than 15,000 miles have been sailed, only a small portion of which has been done under steam. This is the only ship which has had so large a task in connection with the various national expeditions for the same object, she having to attend and run longitudinal lines for three parties, while other ships hare only one each. Having had such a time of close application, the captain and officers consider themselves entitled to a few day's rest ; and expect to obtain it on reaching Hobart Town, where the ship will undergo a thorough overhaul, it being the intention of the captain to have her caulked, repainted, and put in order for further service. The object of her present visit to Port Chalmers is to give the Queenstown party an opportunity of oomparing their chronometers with the 25 now on board the ship, and to take in a supply of of coal. The comparisons will be made by telegraph j and Major Palmer, of the Royal Engineers, in charge of the English parties,

will also compare chronometers with the Queenstown party, thus establishing longitude points, which will be correct beyond a doubt. As before remarked by us, the Swatara is a new ship, this being her first voyage. She i 3 built of that almost imperishable material, live oak with copper fastenings.

EIECTBICITY AS A CUBE FOB TOOTHACHE. — Dr Bouchard, of Paris, says that toothache may be almost instantly arrested by a constant battery current from ten cells. The positive pole is placed against the jaw, on a level with the painful tooth, and the negative pole to the antero-lateral region, on the same aide of the neck. Law Reform. — A Calif ornian paper says : —The dear eat thing in this country is what ought to be tb.e cheapest — justice. The theory of our law is that any citizen who has been wronged can appeal to the Courts and be righted, but in practice justice has becoaie so costly and uncertain that no prudent man appeals to the law if he can help it. Thiß is the result of putting the making and the administration of our laws in the hands of a set of men who get a living out of the costs of justice. The San Fbanoisco Mail Sebvice. — We learn from the Sydney Morning Herald that during Mr Vogel's visit he expressly stipulated that in any trans-Pacific service to which New Zealand would be a party, a loop line, auohas was provided for by the Hall and Forbes contract, should be carried out, thus giving Sydney only an alternative direct service, and a branch boat for each intervening month, the same as for Auckland. This, it is said, has since been agreed to. On one point both colonies are unanimous, namely, that the Calif ornian route shall be maintained. For some months it will necessarily be by temporary steamers calling at Auckland en route, until a permanent contract and suitable boats are completed. The Macgregor has been chartered by the A.B.N. Co. to convey the mail of this month to San Francisco, and to return here with the mails from England and America, under contract with the New South Wales Government. We understand the ship has been arrested in the Vice- Admiralty Court for repairs executed or supplies furnished when she was here in June last, sailing under the orders of the A. and A. Mail Company. Bail has been given by the present agents, and before the ship returns to port probably the knotty question of liability of charterer or owner will have been settled in the suit now pending. The same journal says : — As the matter stands at present, default of the permanent Bervice cannot be made for three months after the date fixed by the contract, Mr Hall having, when it was made in England, obtained a promise that, if necessary, three months' grace would be allowed the contractors.