FIRST OF APRIL " WHALE. "

Kumara Times, Issue 2064, 11 April 1883, Page 2

FIRST OF APRIL " WHALE. "

A most interesting drama was enacted yesterday, assisted by hundreds of people, of all ages, sexes, and conditions, resident in Dunedin and the neighbourhood. The prologue was furnished by the following apparently innocent paragraph which appeared in the Saturday's issue of our evening contemporary : " A large sperm whale, about 70ft. long, was stranded on the Ocean Beach, near Lawyers Head, by the last high tide." This narrative, by reason of its very conciseness and simplicity, carries with it a certain amount of conviction, and during the greater part of yesterday, despite the inclemency of the weather, the confiding public trooped down to the beach in almost unprecedented numbers. In the afternoon an unbroken line of curious pilgrims might be traced going and returning, and there were about the procession singular features which could not have escaped the eye of a philosopher. There was, for one thing, observable about the returning gx-oups a uniform solemnity of expression which contrasted strangely with the eager hilarity of those they passed. It was evident that the aspect of this particular fish was a peculiarly melancholy one, or that whales in general did not agree with the visitors. Still, no word was said on any side, and it was not until each pilgrim reached the supposed localaty of the "find" that the ghastly truth broke upon him. The whale was was a whale of the mind—a fraud; and his reported finder, owner, purchaser, and boiler-down were frauds also. The pathos of this fact needs no embellishment. Ifc may be remarked, en passant, that yesterday waß a day celebrated in the calendar, but it would require a jester not only of genius but of daring to plan and execute such a gigantic hoax, especially on a wet day.—Otago Daily Times, April 2.