V.C. HONOURED

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21584, 21 November 1941, Page 4

V.C. HONOURED

WELCOME IN MATAMATA (Special to Times) MATAMATA, Thursday Sergeant A. C. Hulme, V.C., was given a tumultuous welcome at receptions arranged in his honour by the Matamata Returned Services’ Association. Sergeant Hulme on leaving school in Auckland took up farming, and the first year of his working life was spent on the farm of Mr Dynes Barker, of Wardville, until he was injured by a fall from a horse. Sergeant Hulme later worked in the Motueka district for the father of Mr L. L. Cook, of Hinuera. The original intention was for an informal reception, but so many calls were made for Sergeant Hulme’s presence that he had a full day, a visit to the primary school, a civic luncheon, a civic reception in the Regent Theatre, formal proceedings concluding with a visit to the high school. Returned soldiers, Home Guard, E.P.S., Women’s Auxiliary, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides paraded at short notice in good numbers and marched in to swell the large audience in the theatre.

After addresses by the Mayor, Mr J. Buchanan, Messrs F. W. Doidge, M.P., G. G. Griffiths (Matamata Returned Services’ Association), and E. D. White (Matamata County) presentations of a wristlet watch by the Mayoress and a cigarette case from the returned servicemen were made to Sergeant Hulme. Visit to Hamilton Sergeant Hulme was to have visited Hamilton this week-end but advice has now been received that his visit has been postponed on the advice of his doctor