Miscellaneous.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 436, 7 January 1857, Page 8

Miscellaneous.

Division" made East.—ln a case of motion affecting the fate of a Ministry, the Speaker shall " toss up" a penny, and while the said penny is still in the air, the Hon. the Chief Secretary for the time being shall sing out " Heads or Tails," or some words synonymous with one or another of those two words?; and if the said penny shall fall on the floor of the House with the side designated as aforesaid by the Hon. the chief Secretary upwards, then the Hon. the Chief Secretary and his colleagues shall remain in office; but if the side so designated as aforesaid shall be the under one, then the said Hon. Chief Secretary and his said colleagues shall at once forthwith well and truly resign. Provided always, that at any time prior to the fall of the said penny upon the floor, the Hon. the Chief Secretary, or the mover or seconder of such motion as may be before the House affecting the stability of the Ministry, or the mover or seconder of any amendment so affecting the same, shall be privileged and entitled to sing out the words " Best two oat of three," or words to that effect. And in that case and not otherwise, the Speaker shall repeat the process of tossing the said penny three times, according to the manner and with the full intent and meaning of the like practice as understood out of doors ; Provided, nevertheless, that if before the speaker has begun to toss, the Hon. the Chief Secretary or any mover or seconder of any resolution or amendment as aforesaid, shall sing out "Sudden Death," or equivalent words generally understood, then, and not otherwise, the said Hon. Chief Secretary, or mover and seconder as aforesaid, shall be barred from demanding, "Best two out of three,' 1 and the fisrt toss shall be final.— Melbourne Punch. THE PETTICOAT PROBLEM SOLVED. BY A FELLOW OF DUBLIN UNIVERSITY. The Woman what's thin or lean Gets into Crinoline; But her what's a figure ■■ Don't need be no bigger ; So them blow'd out Bags Identifies Scraggs.— Punch. Pensions of the Judges.—The --judges have pensions granted by letters patent after 15 years service, or sooner if disabled by disease or accident: the Master of the Rolls, the Judges of the Court of Appeal, the Vice-Chancel-lors, and Chief Baron of the Exchequer, £"3,750; the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, £3,800; the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and the Puisne Judges, £3,800. POP.THAIT or llaiipden-.—The United States Senate has passed a resolution accepting a portrait of John Hampden, presented by Mr.

M'Gregor, of the English Board of Trade. It is to be suitably framed and placed in the executive mansion.