Safety Gates For The Level Crossings Of Railways.

his leaving the gate , all close of themselves , thereby preventing them being left across the lines through carelessness or otherwise , and leaving the way clear for any train that may be approaching ; this being done ivithout the aid of springs . At a distance of three or four hundred yards from the gates a treddle is fixed to the side of one of the metals , and is connected by means of a wire to the locking action beneath the gates . "U pon a train approachingthe wheel of the train pressing down

, the treddle locks all the gates and stiles , thereby preventing admission on to the line , but at the same time leaving the stiles free to turn outwards so that any person who may be crossing at the time , can pass off . One of the principal features in this invention is , that the works are so supported and connected that it would be almost impossible for them to get out of order , either through

the action of the atmosphere or constant working . It is an awful fact that no less than eight lives have been already sacrificed in this year , three of which took place in the present month , by not having any better protection than the common swing gate . This invention is certainly deserving of the utmost possible attention on the part of railway companiesindeed it is onl

, y second to the use of the most complete system of station , distance , and train signals , in connection ivith the points and crossings of which , by the by , the only ones worthy of entire reliance are those of Messrs . Saxby and Farmer , of Kilburn , ivhieh we are glad to see are now being so extensively introduced .

Fire Insurance Duty.

FIRE INSURANCE DUTY .

The Parliamentary return of the Insurance duty paid in 1865 has just been published , and is the last return which will embody the differential rates on Stock ( Is . 6 d . per cent . ) and on Buildings and Furniture ( 3 s . per cent . ) For the purpose of comparing the business of each Company in 1865 with that of 1864 , our contemporary , the Daily Neios , makes up the following account for the two years as though the duty had remained at 3 s . per cent . We thus get a measure of the progress of each Company , and the result is as follows : —

INOBEASE IN 1865 OVEK 1864 . Eoyal £ 17 , 708 Scottish Provincial £ 693 AIliance & Birminghara Caledonian 684 District ( Amalgtd . ) . 5 , 690 Hercules 579 Phcenix 4 , 983 Kent 530 Sun 4 , 882 Royal Farmers , 473 North British & Mer- Patriotic 435 eantile 3 , 376 Northern 373

Queen 3 , 146 Church of England 350 Western 2 , 960 Salop 268 Norwich Union 2 , 814 Norwich Equitable 245 Law 2 , 753 British Nation 245 London & Lancashire . 2 , 575 Nottinghamshire and County 2 , 475 Derbyshire 241 Commercial Union ... 2 , 185 Yorkshire 183 London 1804 Prince 155

, London & Southwark 1 , 710 Emperor 153 Scottish 1 , 714 Lancashire , . 124 Manchester 1 , 007 Midland Counties ' 112 Birmingham Alliance . 1 . 583 Essex and Suffolk 94 Albert 1 , 431 City and County 87 Home and Colonial ... 1 , 319 Friend-in-Need 70 General 1310 Royal Exchange G 3

, West of England 1 , 224 Shropshire and N . Wales 60 Guardian 1 , 174 Birmingham 33 Atlas 1 , 168 Netherlands 28 Law Union ? .... 990 Preserver 4 Scottish Union 824 Stewarton , Dunlop , and Provincial 7 G 0 Eenwick 3 s .

DECREASE . Oldham £ _ Union £ 190 National of Ireland ... 12 Imperial 767 Volunteer Service and Westminst er 942 General 109 Liverpool and London Scottish National 157 and Globe 14 , 471 Hand-in-Hand 221 The above statementdeduced from a return made to

Parlia-, ment , and ordered by the House of Commons to be printed , 19 th June , 1866 , proves once more on the authority of public documents , that the "ROYAL" is increasing its Fire business far more rapidly than any other Insurance Office in Great Britain and Ireland .

The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

* V All communications to he addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street Strand , Loudon , W . C .

Masonic Mem .

MASONIC MEM .

We are pleased to learn that the American Oriental Society has elected Bro . Hyde Clarke , of Smyrna , a Corresponding Member , for his talent in the archaiology of Asia Minor , and particularly the Lydo-Assyrian monuments .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

THE Bmiiis-GToif LODGE ( No . 96 ) . —BANQUET ATTHE MANSION - HOUSE . —The Right Hon . the Lord Mayor , who is a member of the Burlington Lodge , invited the brethren to a banquet at the Mansion House , on the evening of the 11 th inst . The Lord Mayor was supported by the Lady Mayoress , and the Rev . Dr . Bowles , on his right and left . The party , in addition to the brethren of the Burlington , included a few private friends of the Lord Mayor . Those who accepted invitations

were Bros . A . H . Moses , W . M ., E . Phillips , C . W . C . Hntton , W . T . Millar , W . AVilson , W . H . Sidgwick , P . H . Leaf , G . H . Barber , C . Millington , P . Cox , G . E . Phillips , H . Lloyd , C . B . Slee , J . Sebag , C . W . Price , J . Nightingale , M . S . Oppenheim , J . Stiebel , P . Margotson , J . A . Wild , T . Thurgood , W . V . Morgan , G . Cox , jun ., E . Whistler , H . M . Moses , R . H . Humphreys , W . Girdham , W . Wilson , M . W . Kramer , H . Alsagar ,

and J . Swindall . Mr . J . Gibbs ( Lord Mayor's Private Secretary ) was likewise present . At the conclusion of the banquet the toasts of "The Queen and the Craft , " and "The Prince and the Princess of Wales , and the remainder of the Royal Family , " were duly honoured , and were followed by " The Health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England ( the Earl of Zetland ) , and the Rev . Dr . Bowles ( Grand Master of the Province of Hereford ) , " to which Dr . Bowles very appropriately

responded , and then gave "The Health of the Lord Mayor " in flattering terms . The other toasts were " The Worshipful Master of the Burlington Lodge , Bro . A . H . Moses ; " "The Father of the Lodge , Bvo . E . Phillips ; " "The Health of the Lady Mayoress and Family ; " " Bro . Whitmore ( Medical Officer of Health of Marylebone ) , Bro . John Jones ( Wandsworth ) , and Bros . Masons , everywhere , " which toasts concluded the list . The banquet was served in splendid style , and the evening was spent in a verv gratifying and harmonious manner .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CUMBERLAND . LOXGIOWS . —Holy Temple Lodge ( No . 4-12 ) . —On Thursday , the 12 th inst ., a lodgo of emergency was held at the Wheat Sheaf , for the purpose of raising Bro . R . M . Hill , of Carlisle . The lodge was opened by Bro . J . Irving , W . M ., in clue form , supported by Bros . J . Carruthers , S . W . ; J . Robinson , J . AV . ; W . Murray , S . D ., who is in his eighty-sixth year ; R . Foster , J . D . and Treas . ; D . Murray , Sec . ; and after the minutes of

the lust meeting were read and confirmed , Bro . Irving , W . M ., requested the visiting brethren from Carlisle , consisting of Bros . P . AV . Hayward , P . M ., P . Prov . J . G . D ., as AV . M . ; G . Somerville , Steward , as S . W . ; J . B . Paisley , as S . D . ; J . Dee , as J . D ., all of No . 310 ; R . Foster , W . Nixon , I . G . and Tyler of No . 412 ; to officiate during the ceremony of raising Bro . R . M . Hill . The lodge opened in the F . C . degree , the candidate advanced to the pedestal , to answer the necessary questions ,

after which he retired aud being properly prepared , the lodge was opened in tho third degree . The candidate was readmitted , and raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . hy Bro . P . AV . Hayward , in a pleasing and graceful manner , which won him tho applause of all present . The lodge was closed down to the E . A . degree , when the W . M . put round the test questions of this degree . The question being asked in the first , second , and third time , if any hiother had anything for the Order in general , or this lodge in particular ; a proposition was received and