OBITUARY.

MR HENRY DENT GARDINER

Mr Henry Dent Gardiner, who died at hie residence, .^Woodchester, Richmond, on January 28, was a colonist of many years'" standing, having come to Australia fifty-eight years ago, during the last nfty-four of which he resided in New Zealand. The son of Mr Edward Gardiner, of Belcham Hall, near Colchester, on the boarders' of Essex •and Suffolk, the late Mr Gardiner was born in January, 1827, and after the completion of his education he decided to emigrate to the colonies. Leaving Plymouth in 1851, he first landed in South Australia, but after a short soi journ in the southern State ; decided to try his fortunes in Victoria, where the gold boom was then at its height. Going to Bendigo, he commenced business as a storekeeper, and for some time carried on a lucrative trade on the great goldfielcL "While resident there he married, his bride being Miss Mary Ann Hart, of Crawley Hall, London. In 1855 he decided to try his fortunes in New Zealand, which was then beginning to acquire a reputation for its great wealth as a pastoral and goldmining country. Becoming part owner of the brigantine Colchester, he brought that vessel to New Zealand, carrying a number of gold-6eekers. Afterwards he made several trips to Australia with cargoes of produce. "While on his first trip to New Zealand he purchased land at what became known as Gardiner's Road, Styx, and here in the following year he commenced farming. He remained at the Styx for eight years, when he sold his property to the late Mr Grosvenor Miles, and shortly afterwards acquired a property at Irwell, where he resided till 1865. About 1874 he purchased the well-known Purau property from the late Messrs Rhodes Bros., and four years later 'took up hie residence there. In 1886 he took a trip to Great Britain, and on his return to New Zealand acquired the^ WoodChester property, where he resided till the time of his death. The late Mr i Gardiner leaves a w jdow, four sons, six daughters and . thirty-seven grandchildren. His sons are Mr Herbert Gardiner, of Irwell, Mr L. C. Gardiner, of Lower Riccarton, and Messrs Haloid and Frank Gardiner, of Purau. Gardiner was one of the best class of early settlers, hard-working, earnest, upright, and highly respected, and coming to the colonies with But slender means he was, able, by hie own unaided efforts, to acquire a competence, all his efforts having been attended with the greatest success. The funeral took place at the Limvood Cemetery on Saturday,^ when there was a large aitendance, and the service at the grave was conducted by the Rev F. R, Inwood and the Rev W. A. Pascoe.

In the Bank of England are several silver ingots which have lain there for avw 200 years.