CHRISTCHURCH. 8th May.

On Thursday morning the house of Ferris, a settlor at Swannoa, was burnt down, tupposed to be caused by PoMs inadvertently leaving a candid alight when he went to b§dr Insured in the NewZsaland office for £150. Loss ia excess of insurance, about £80. , Although the fourth of the month, which in business circles was looked forward, to with much anxiety, passed oVer without anything, actually unpleasant transpiring, the amount' of assistance and timo that baa to be given is only too indicative of the pressure at pre- 1 sent fait*. For the Coleridge seat, vacant by Mr. Wason's resignation, Mr. George Hart was to-day returned unoppasod. Ia h's. address to the electors last week he declared himself opposed to Sir Gaorge £rey, as setting cla's. agafffst class, and using the working man" al?'a 1 ? ' the workman does bis tools.