OBITUARIES EXTRAORDINARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 930, 21 October 1879, Page 2

OBITUARIES EXTRAORDINARY.

Saya the Evening Post: — It has not unfrequently happened that persons m a state of exceptional vitality hare been startled and amused by reports of their death. As many people are aware the London Times published no fewer than three obituary notices of Lord St. Leonards, and two of them the eminent Lord Chancellor had the pleasure of reading himself. It will be also remembered how his Lordship availed himself of the opportunity to correct one or two little inaccuracies m the notices, the principal one being perhaps that he had actually departed this life. A day or two ago a report was spread about Palmerston that the body of Mr. G. S. Lockie, sergeant-major of the local volunteer corps, had been discovered on Mount Stewart Road, and taken to Sanson for the inquest. Affer wiping away a few unaffected tears for the memory of the " deceased," the editor of the local journal proceeded to business and took steps to <( work up the item." He first despatched the following telegram to a gentleman at Sanson : — " Is it fact that Lockie found dead on, the roadi. Reported so Palmerston. If so, when inquest held ? Reply paid." After a delay of about two. hours the following laconic answer was received from the "deceased " himself: — "Not dead, but sleepeth. — G. S. Lockie." It is needless to say that the characteristic reply was heartily welcomed by those who had been fully convinced that Mr. Lockie had " shuffled off his mortal coil." Later on m i the evening Mr. Batchelor received an official communication by telegram from the lost one — ', My corpse will be down by ambulance to-night. — G. S. Lookik."