NARROW ESCAPE.

Colonist, Volume XXXV, Issue 7270, 15 March 1892, Page 4

NARROW ESCAPE.

(From ' Otago Daily Times.') The Governor and Mr Seddon were at one of the Lake towns at-the time of the Wellington election, and the Minister had a shrewd idea that the Governor's sympathies were inclined Bell-wards— as, indeed, was only natural. Both were anxiously looking for news of the poll, and in the evening Mr S.eddon got a wire announcing McLean's victory. Whereupon, with the telegram in his hand, and a face as long as a fiddle, he sauntered into the room where sat the Governor. : . "Any news?"- said he quickly, with a glance at the telegram. • "Yes," cried Mr Seddon, with a portentous sigh. " I'm completely knocked into a cocked hat." "Eh ! I beg your pardon," exclaimed Lord Onslow, much perplexed, but with a dim perception that in the rich imagery of the' Minister's rhetoric, a cocked hat connoted calamity, " Nothing wrong, I hope ?' J "I've got news about the election," said Mr Seddon faintly. I'd— like -a — glass of whisky, or something." - " Send that telegram to Mr Bell," said the Governor promptly, turning to an attendant. Then to the dejected Minister, " What's Mr Bell's majority?" . ■ •'The majority?" drawled Mr Seddon slowly. - " The majority— is— one— hundred— and— seventy— two— for — M'Lean." •« M'Lean I " shouted the Governor. "Why I thought" — then ringing the bell sharpy he gave orders to the attendant; " Tear up that telegram to Mr Bell, and send the one to Mr Ballanoe Good night Mr Seddon, I shall retire." And he did. From this veracious cbroniole it appears that he had congratulatory telegrams prepared for both Mr Ballanoe and Mr Bell, and was perilously near despatching the wrong one.