A fire broke out early this morning at Rangiora by which two shops occupied by Mr Miles, fruiterer, and Mr Jones, watch maker, were destroyed. The goods m Mr Jones' shop were saved, but nothing from the other, iN'o one was sleeping on. the premises- The insurances were :— Buildings, £300 m the Alliance; Mr Jones' stock £250 and fixtures £50 m the Victoria. A. terribk scene, saya the Odessa corres pondent of the Lonbon Daily Chroniekw&s witnessed the other day m the village of Polyani, m the province of Kazin. There had been service m the church, and the villagers were lounging about outside. A woman, aged 35, was seen to ascend the bell-tower with her two childern, one a girj of seven, the other a year-old boy. Sfae want high up to where some scaffold 'ng had been greeted. The villagers below "-"d that sfee begaj? undressing the notic •><! hersßif. Ac soon as tjiiis was childern au *««i seized her daughter and accomplished su. *-h e gcaffolding upon flung her out over c -H far below, the iron roof of the churc. r Tfien The girl rolled off the roof deaa. XliQ taking the baby the woman threw it a.. over the parapet. It fell on its head on the stones at the people's feet. It was evidently the woman's intention to precipitate herself as well, but before she could esoiuteher purpose she was secured. She is believed to be a member of one of the numerous half-mad sects to be fpuud everywhere along the Middle Volga.
