MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 242, 6 October 1908, Page 4

MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

NEW ZEALANDEII IX MKLBUI'UNK. EXTRAORDINARY UKKNUSS TO Sill TIIOMAS BENT. Ohristchurch, October 2. To be mistaken for a Premier is an experience that does not beiall many men, but Mr Edmund Wickes. who iu» resided lor many year* in O'rcymoiUit (of which town he was the th'rd Mayor), and who has ju*l returned from revisiting Melbourne after an absence of forty-four years, hud some amusing adventures consequent 0:1 having been mistaken for Sir Thonuis Bent, the Premier of Victoria. Mr Wickes told a 'Press reporter that the first intimation of what was in *tore-for him came from a fellow passenger on the steamer from the Blu'V, who asked him if his name was Bent, and on being informed that it was nor. he said that the Wost Coaster was a true double of the Victorian Premier.

On landing at Melbourne lie was astoninlied to .see two .policemen riahue him un boarding the Waiuui, 01 which steamer his son is .engineer. His son was greeted with the remark, "Hallo, .vou're in good company. You've got Sir Thomas with you.'' For live weeks Mr Wickes underwent similar expe'iences. At that time Sir Thomas Bent was ill, and Mr Wickes was being continually stopped by Melbourne, citizens, who shook hands with him, and congratulated him 011 his recovery. At his hotel there, were numerous people who wanted to be introduced to "Sir Thomas,'' and even a closo personal friend of Sir Thomas's was deceived by tl.e resemblance. M.AK>: WAY FOK Sit! THOMAS. With his son (Mr E. A. Wickes) Mr Wickes had an invitation to .see tile men of the American lleet at i-'leming-ton racecourse. They went nut in a cab and on arrival found that vehicles were being prevented from driving up to the entrance, but as soon as those in charge of thi' arrangements saw "Sir Thomas" in the cab they allowed it to proceed. After witnessing the torchlight procession of the lire brigades, Mr Wickes decided to stay the night at his sons hotel. Rising at his usual time, II a.m.. Mr Wickes found that break I would not be ready for .some time, and lie decided to breakfast out. "OH. FIK!"

Entering a restaurant lie «at down I at a table, but was invited by a waitress to go to the private room. Nothing loth, lie complied with the request. Hearing some feminine giggling outside the door he invited the waitresses in. To his astonishment, one of 1 hem remarked: "We know you. Sir Thomas. Yoii have been out all night. Oil. lie!'' On another occasion a gentleman came up to I?un, and, after congratulating him on his restoration to health. >aid: "I beg to state that J have foirui: all the papers except one." "Well.'' said .Mr Wickes. "Von had better go and look after that other paper.for I am not »S:r Thomas Rent.'' lie then boarded the tram leaving the gentleman cogitating on the -apparently scurvy manner :n which he had been treated.

Although some of Mr Wiekcs's friends endeavoured to arrange a m?etin« between the two Sir Thomases tins was found impossible, but Mr Wickes saw the real Sir Thomas in all the glory id' his Windsoj- uniform at the I'le.'t function at Klemington. Mr Wiekes's got him to have his photograph taken. and a copy was to be sent to tlie j Victorian Premier. I