NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2519, 18 April 1881, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mr W. 11. Murray the valliant member for Bruce who has been retiring from the House of Representatives for some years past, asks his constituents to suggest, anything he can do for them before he retires from political life. About the best thing Mr Murray can do is to '* retire ” and not say so much about it,

The vice of gambling has assumed terrible proportions in Melbourne (says a contemporary.) The night after the Australian Cup was run, one prominent Victorian landowner rose from the table at daylight, having lost something like £40,000 between that and midnight. The sum was punctually paid without questions or demur. The games played were Loo and Napoleon.

Eather an amusing “ conjunction of the planets” took place on Saturday after the sitting of the District Court. The vanquisher and the vanquished in an assault case, that has occasioned some little talk, were apparently fraternising on the footpath, when the tall figure of his Honor like a rose in full bloom, emerged suddenly from a narrow alley. A look of sudden surpraise and friendly recognition suffused the features of judge and litigants as the successful one raised his hat and His Honor raising his stick, smiled blandly, but heartily, and went on his way rejoicing.

'• Sharp curve ” yarns are going the rounds of the Pi ess in Victoria in relation to the railway system of Tasmania. One comes from New Zealand, however, (says the “ Sydney Bulletin ”) that tops them all :—“ On one line a new hand went on as a driver, and in the darkness of the night he pulls up suddenly, sounding his whistle like mad about a red danger signal that he has discovered looming up right in his track. The guard, an old employee on the line, gets out to examine,and this is what the passengers hears him address to the engine-driver—‘Well, you arc an adjective fool. Why, don’t you see that’s the tail of your own train.’ ” Fully 100 schools have sent in returns to the Bible-in-Schools Association’s circular. These replies are from 8822 parents, having at school 12,350 children ; of these, 3282 parents and guardians desire the Bible to be read in the day school, and they speak for 10,893 children at school; whilst 540 parents, with 1463 children, are opposed to it. The hon. secretary (Mr D. Wright) has received notice from four teachers that they decline to issue the circulars to their pupils. The line from dray’s Elegy—“ The curfew tolls the knell of parting day ” —was was thus explained to his class by a Victorian State school teacher ; —“ A curfew is a bird with a long bill and tail, and many’s the one I’ve shot in the bogs or Ireland.”