„„, Fißß.ATXiijqYiKm Bush.— A hut belong ing to Carl "Peterson and Writ McLellan, Croydon Bush, was burned on the 7th inst.; while its owners were absent at wofkr They have no idea of how the fire originated.- .-Peterson -estimates bis loss at £30, and McLellan'sat £15 .~ r Presbyterian Ckuuch at East Gobe. — Mr Latham, the contractor, has commenced the erection^>f the East Gore Presbyterian Church, and from his well-known taste and skiil in the building line it is expected be will make a good job of it. The building when completed will be a great ornament to the place. ' - Special Service*. — The special services of holy week will be continued to;day and to-moirow in St. John's and All Saints' Episcopal Churches, his Lordship the Bishop taking part in the services of both churches. The nature of the services and the hours. at which they will be held will, be seen in our , advertising columns. ~ '' lifOHNious Smugglers. — Italian smugglei s are very; .ingenious in their, methods of iutro ducing contraband goods into Borne. They recently constructed a tunnel running fiom some distance outside the Angelica Gate to ■ the interior of the city, and /through this thfr smuggled articles were introduced, a line oft .rails and some small cars being used for their conveyance; The Otautau Baces.— The weights for these races are published elsewhere. In con nection with them a. correspondent writes from Limestone Plains complaining of the inequalityof the handicaps, which be states unduly favor the Otautau horses. He hopes ." the handicapper will reconsider his haadi capping) and that horses that have never won a copper will not hare to carry more than horses that have won any amount of public money." A New Dibectobt.— Mr F. B. Man ing has just published' a business and trade directory for Invercargiil und the Southern district which must prove of great use to business men as an advertising medium. It takes the form of a large broadside of effec tive appearance, and bciug got up in colors and bronze will at once attract notice in. places-of public resort. The design also in cludes a calendar for the current year, and will compare favorably with similar handi work produced in the colony. Effects of Dissipation. 