"To-day's Timaru Herald has the following : —It is with regret we have to record that Mr W. Coker, of York Street, Timaru, yesterday received the following telegram from his Excellency the Governor, Lord Ranfurly : —"Dunedin, December 4th.—l -regret to inform you that I have received a telegram from South Africa informing me that your son, Reilly George Coker died of enteric fever at Heilbron on the 1st December."  The deceased young man - left New Zealand in charge of remounts for South Africa in, The SS. Cornwall, which vessel finally left the colony (Auckland) in June, 1901. After arrival at Durban and handing over the remounts, Reilly Coker enlisted in the 2nd Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. He saw a good deal of service with them, and news of his death came as a great surprise and shock to his parents, for when they got his last letter it showed, that he was enjoying good health. As an impression prevails in some quarters that the services of the deceased trooper were declined for the various contingents that went from Timaru, we have his parents' authority for stating that this is quite wrong. He preferred going over as one of those in charge of remounts, and taking advantage of any opening that suited him  at Durban. As Reilly Coker was an old Timaru Main School boy, the flags at the school were at half-mast yesterday out of respect to a brave comrades memory. It is pleasing to learn that Major Crawshaw has sent a feeling letter of condolence to the parents and family, and we are sure that they will also have the deepest sympathy of a large circle of friends in Timaru. "

OAMARU MAIL, VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 8296, 5 DECEMBER 1901, PAGE 2