IN BORROWED PLUMES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 238, 16 October 1901, Page 2

IN BORROWED PLUMES.

IMPERSONATING A V.C. HERO.

(.Special to Timksa Auckland, last night. (hi Friday last a young mail visited a heal hotel and asked for a drink. In the course of a conversation he told the licensee that lie was Sergeant llardhani, the \ ietoria Cross hero, of Wellington, and the first New Zealand reeipient of the \ ietoria Cross. The licensee expressed I great pleasure at his visitor's gallantry, 1 and b\e-aud-bve the Victoria Cross hero left and returned a little later with a wellknown Aucklander, who introduced him i to the landlord as Sergeant llardhani. i Later the stranger presented the lieeuseo with an explosive bullet as used by the liners. That gentleman, however, still had his doubts, and asked his visitor ! i where he got the Victoria Cross. "At ; 1 Modder Liter with Methuen,” was the reply. The licensee said he did not know | that New Zealanders were ever at Modder : Liter with Methuen. ** Oh. it was at Nauuwpoort." teas the "reply. The

questioner then said that these places were some distance apart, and on tho alleged Htirdhuia being brought before tho map it is said ho was unable to find either place, a fact which strengthened his host’s suspicions stronger, lie then said that he was a despatch rider, but his host remembered that Sergt. llardhani was a farrier. It is alleged that a local tradesman advanced a sum of money to the supposed llardhani, V.C., on tho strength of a cheque, and that this hero

borrowed a suit of clothes from an Auek- j laud tailor. So completely did this young man “take in*’ Auckland people that a well known resident brought him to the Orphan's Club social on Saturday night and introduced him as Sergt. Hardham, I Y.O. There lie was received with great j enthusiasm. The Chairman toasted him I in a glowing speech, and the assembly sang “ Uule Britannia” and “God Save the King ”in his honor. The hero of the evening responded with modesty which seemed to be fully in keeping with his decoration. So thoroughly did he impress his hosts that a member of the Club, a traveller for a local brewery, and who is well known in Gisborne, went to tho trouble to entertain him yesterday by showing him round his firm's establishment. In course of conversation, lie is said to ha\e announced that his Cross would be presented to him at Aueklu d.

and to have expressed his sympathy with Wellington people in their disappointment they would would certainly show when they learnt that presentation was not to take place in their city, It is needless to say that the discovery that this niau is not the real Hardham, V.C., has caused some excitement. One gentlemen had made an appointment with him at half-past nine this morning, whe" the alleged Jlardeiuu 'aid promised to give him some mementos of the war, hut at half-past nine the alleged Hardham was in another place, and did not keep Ins appointment. We learn Sergt.-Major Hardham is at present in Woodville, and has not been in Auckland since his return from South Africa.