BLACK BALL V. WHITE BALL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 507, 25 August 1871, Page 2

BLACK BALL V. WHITE BALL.

An amusing incident occurred yesterday at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Several uev members had. been proposed and as usual a ballot was taken, the form of voting being by black balls and. white ones,,; two black balls representing one-fifth of tliorso present, being sufficient to exclude a candidate. Of course the utmost secrecy was observed. As the ballot proceeded, one gentleman proceeded with covered hand to drop a ball into the hole. But as ill-luck would have it the ball faucibus liaexitl —• in other words it would not go ; and there it stuck in all its blackness. Again he tried, and again and yet again, till the fun, suppressed at first, swelled into a chorus of laughter, At length the gentleman, seeing that the fates willed it otherwise, quietly lifted out the black ball and dropped a n'hite one in, which, as it appeared from investigation of the contents of the box, secured the admission of the new member. That member should hare a kindly feeling towards that ballot-box ; and in his capacity of member of the Chamber of Commerce he should reverence it as the author of his being.