PROVINCIAL ITEMS. Tapanui, March 11th. Mooney and Quin's private offices, and Fer guson and Co's premises, were totally destroyed by fire this morning. It is supposed to be the work of an incendiary. The property was par tially insured. The night was calm, and the people worked well, or the greater part of the town would have been destroyed. The insurances are as follows :— Ferguson and Co., L 2400 on stock, and L6OO on build ings ; Mooney and Quin, LSO in the Union, and LIOO in the Victoria. Their loss is con siderable. Ferguson and Co. estimate their loss at LIOOO above the amount covered by insurance. Very little has been saved. LSOO or L6OO of Ferguson's loss is insured in the Victoria Company, the remainder in the Na tional.
Lawrence, March 7th. A man reported to the police here chat while proceeding along the batik of the Molyneux. about eight miles belowtheßeaumont,henoticed two feet sticking out of the earth, the rest of the body being completely covered. It is sup posed to be the body of a Chinaman, who was mining as a " hatter," and that while he was bringing down a fall in bis claim it must have fallen down suddenly and smothered him. An inquest will be held at the Beaumont to morrow.
