LOCAL AND GENERAL.

LO.G.T. — Tho next session of the Rainbow Lodge will hold on Saturday. All the mombers aro requested to attond. Wesleyan Sabbath Sohooi Lyttelton. — A tea meeting in connection with fche abovo, will bo hold in tho Presbyterian Sohoolroom, on Thursday, Sept. 16. For full particulars, see advertisement in another oolumn. Death op Councillor Raphael. —It is our unfortunate duty to have to unnounoo the death of this gentleman early this morning. Ho was suffering from congestion of the lungs, and his illness has only lasted a fow days. Tho announcement of his somewhat sudden doath took his frionds by surpriso, and groat sympathy is expressed for his family. Mr Raphael will doubtless bo missed from ofchor places fchan bis family, for ho was gradually gaining fcho confidenco of the citizens as an enorgetio and trustworthy Councillor. • Blondin.— Tho Oity Counoil, lasfc nighfc, granted to the Chevalier Blondin the use of a portion of Latimer Squaro for one month, Ifc is oxpeoted that Blondin will arrivo in Christohuroh early in January nexfc. „.....■"■""•'**""s New THBATBK.r-Ifciß understood that the' negotiations for erooting a now theatre over the present ono aro to romain in aboyanoe , until Sir Craoroft Wilson, who is known to be / \a strong advocate for a new thoatro, returns' irom Wellington. „ .,- k^"*"--*" VSxY>i/A»KB.-~Thoßo feathored songsters havo auoceodod in making themselves homes near Akaroa. Mr Adams, tho clerk to the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, reports that of lato ho has repeatedly heard and soon theso birds about; Gorman Bay Hill, no great clistanoo from fche Christchurch road. Leotube. — A locturo on " Futuro Punishment " was givon by Mr B. Cass in tho Oddfollows' Hall last nighfc, Thoro was a moderato attendance, and Mr A, Saunders oocupiod tho chair. Tho objcot of tho leoture was to refute tho doctrines 'of the inalienable immortality of man and eternal torment. The Telegbaph. —-The systom of Telography introduced by Mr Lomon, Genoral manager of Telegraphs, and known as the Duplex, enabling fcwo mossagos (ono from eaoh ond) on a singlo wiro to bo transmitted simultaneously, is now working successfully bofcweon Christohuroh and Blenheim. By tho introduction of this system tho working oapaoity of a singlo wiro is practically doublod. Citx Improvements.— Mr Collier, tho new lesson of the Whito Swan Hotol, Tuam streofc, purposes carrying out oxtensivo improvements by whioh ho will secure muoh tnoro eomploto accommodation. Mr. Jacobseh has boon insfcruofcod to prepare plans whioh are to provido for a new front to tho hotel, the erootion of another floor above tho present one, and of several, other additions. By this means fcho number of rooms in fche hotol will be increased to about thirty-five. Timabu-Temuka Railway.— The Timaru Herald states thafc tho railway Irom Timaru to Temuka will in all probability be oponed in a fow weeks. Tho rails avo now laid noarly ovor tho Temuka bridge, and a fow fastenings to the sleopers will rondor the lino thon complete. In conncotion with the lino, a most substantial station master's houso has boon erootod, and tho goods shed is of a dosoription that will meet tho requirements of the Distriot, tho dimensions boing ono hundred feet by fortytwo. Thoro aro a 1 so fcwo offlcos for tho olorks in tho different departments. Tho buildings reflect greafc orodit on Messrs Ogilvio and Jones, fcho confcraofcors. OHBISTOHUBOn Dbainagb Bill.—"Xosterday, a meeting of gontlomon interested iv tho drainage of Cbristohuroh and its Suburbs, was hold at Mr W, Wilson's ofllco for fcho purposo of considering whafc amendments woro desirablo in the Bill now boforo fcho Genoral Asßombly. Thore woro present— Mossrs W. Wilson, W. Montgomery, H. Sawtoll, E. B. Bishop, M. B. Harfc, and W. Calverfc. Affcor some discussion, sovoral amendments woro agrood upon, fcho prinoipal one being for an increase of fcho representatives of Ohriatohuroh on tho Drainugo Board, from four to five. Mr Montgomory took ohargo of tho amendments, and will loavo for Wollington to-morrow. Lyttelton Gas, Coal, and Cojch Company (Limited),— A. meeting of tho Direotors was hold at tho Gas Works yesterday afternoon, affcor which a meeting of shareholders took place. Mr Harvey Hawkins oooupiod tho chair. Tho annual report and balance shoot was read by the Ohairman, Mr Hawkins moved, Mr Cunningham sooonded, and it was rosolvod—" That tho balance sheet, as road, bo adopted." It was rosolvod fchafc Captain Wood and Dr Rouse bo ro-elooted Dirootors. Messrs J. S. Wilcox and A. J. Rogers wero ro-eleotod Auditors, their remuneration to bo two guinoas. On tho motion of Mr Wiloox, seoonded by Mr Rogers, ifc was resolved that tho sum of £110 be plaoed to the credit of tho Direotors as fees. A voto of thanks to tho Directors of tho past yoar was unanimously passed. At a mooting of fcho Dirootors hold after tho mooting, Mr H. Hawkins was unanimously olootod Chairman,

Salb op Raohhobsbs.— -The well-known raoehorses Tadmor, Tambourini, and Lough Neagh, will be offered at Tattersall's, on Saturday next. Gallant Rhsoub at Sba. — Amongst Lytteltonians and the oaptains of coasting orafts tho name of Captain George Simmonds, lato of tho sohooner volunteer, is well remembered, and to his friends and those who for many years knew him, the following dipping, takon from the London Morning Advertiser of July 16, will no doubt provo most interesting : —•Captain G. J. Simmonds, brother-in-law of Mr John Cairn, Fast Chairman of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum, and Past Governor of tho Incorporated Society, was, on Wednesday (July 14) lasfc, presented with a valuable gold ohronomotor by the passengers and crew of the ship Waimate, whioh has just arrived from Lyttelton, New Zoaland, in recognition of his humanity and bravery in saving the life of a boy who had fallen overboard. Captain Simmonds, who was a passenger, seeing the lad fall overboard, instantly plunged into tho sea, swam to and laid hold ot the sinking boy, and suoceedod in bringing him safely on board tho ship. Tho presentation took place at the officios of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Bishopsgato stroet, in tho presence of the passengers of the Waimate and of the resoucd boy, Edmund Treherne, and the chronometer bore tho following inscription s— Presented to Captain G. J. Simmonds by the orew and passengers of the Waimate for his gallant resouo of Edmund Treherne in lat. 37deg N. j long. 45deg W., June 24, 1875.