MISTAKEN FOR A PREMIER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 317, 2 October 1908, Page 7

MISTAKEN FOR A PREMIER.

A "DOUBLE" OF SIR THOMAS BENT. A NEW ZEALANDER'S AMUSING EXPERIENCES. (BT TELEOBApn.—SrECIAI. COItRESPONDKNT.I , ■ . Christchurch, October 1. . To bo mistaken for a Premier .is an; experience, that. does not befall many men, but' Mr. Edmund Wickes, who has resided for many years in Greymouth; of which town ho was tho third mayor, and wlid has; just returned from revisiting Melbourne after an absence of .44 years, had some amusing adventures consequent on having been mistaken for Sir Tlios. Bent, the Premier of Victoria. Mr. Wickes's first intimation of what was in "store'for him "came "from'"a fellow passenger on the steamer from tho Bluff, who asked him if his name was Bent, and on being informed'that it was not, he said that tho-West Coaster was .a true.double of the Victorian Premier: On landing at Melbourne he was astonished to see two policemen salute him on boarding the Wainui, of which steamer his son is engineer. .His son was greeted with tho remark: "Hullol You're in good company. You've got Sir Thomas • with you." • 'For five: weeks Mr. Wickes. underwent similar experiences. At that timo Sir Thomas was ill, and Mr. Wickes was _ being continually stopped by Melbourne citizens who shook hands with t him and congratulated him on his recovery. At his hotol there were numerous people who wanted to be introduced to " Sir Thomas." and even a close personal friend of Sir Thomas's was deceived by tho resemblanco with his son (Sir. E. A. Wickes). Mr. Wickes had an invitation to see the men off tho American Fleet at Flemiiigton Racecourse. They went out in a cab, and on arrival found that vehicles wero being prevented from driving up to the entrance, but as soon as tlioso in charge of the arrangements saw "Sir Thomas" in the cab they allowed it to proceed. After witnessing the torchlight _ procession of .fire brigades, Mr. Wickes decided to stay the night at his son's hotel. Rising at his usual time, 6 a.m., Mr. Wickes found that breakfast would not-bo ready for some time, and lie decided to dino out. Entering a restaurant ho sat down at a table, but was invited by a waitress to go the private room. Nothing loth ho complied with tho request. Hearing some feminine giggling outside the door he invited tho waitress in. To his astonishment one of them remarked: "Wo know you, Sir Thomas, yqu havo been out all night ; oh, fie." On another occasion a gentleman' came up to him, and after congratulating hi".' m his restoration to health, said: "I bop; to state that I havo found all . the papers, except one." "Well," replied Mr. Wirkos. "rem li.-.rl better go and look after th"t other pnner. fnj I am not Sir Thomas Rent." ' He then boarded .1 tram, leaving the r .~ Kitntinir on the npparenHv ww' - in which-he had been treated. Rome of AT,Wickes's friends ender.voii'vd to nrr?i"" mooting between the two Sir n« was found impossible, but Mr. ■ real Sir Thomas in all thp glnn- nf. v. Windsor uniform at, the Flnnt W.etiVti Flomington. ' Mr. WicW« Wpwlr rot 11 ' to havo his photograph, t'-'-nn. «.««! ... 0 , was to be sent to tho Victorian Premier.