OBITUARY.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WAIPAWA, February 6. .Michael Joseph iStauiuon, postmaster, died y«?tor<lay. He was an old officer, end joined the service in Dunedin forty years ngo. Deceased was married, but had no famil.r. MR H. D. GARDINER. The deatih cf Mr Henry Dent Gardiner, of Woodcli ester, Avonside, a few days ago, removed another of the very early settlers in New Zealand. Tho late Mr Gardiner (who claimed to be the first colonist of that name to land at Lyttolron) iras tho son of the Iα te Edward and Elizabeth Gardiner, of Boiobam Hall, near Colchester, on the bordore of rJssex and guffoik. He- was born an January, 1827, and had consequently just pasted hi 3 oighty-tirst birthday at the time of luia death. 'Hie family showed a very decided tendency to longevity, oiw or the late Mr Gardiner's brothers (Mr J. S. Gardiner of Borky Lodge, Suffolk) being still alive «fc tihe age of eighty-nine, and a sister (Mre Sarah Vadllo, of SiibbteheddLngton) ■being eighty-four years old. There wer« also three other brothers who all live<l to a ripe age, while, in addition to this unusual record, the lato Mr Gardiner's father died at the age of eiglrt-v-four years, While, an uncle outlived tne a\Jottod three score years and ten by twenty years. Tho deceased geMteman left Plymouth for Adelaide in 1851, and found Jrimself in Melbourne the following year, reaching Bendigo some twelve months later, at the- timo of the great gold-raining boom. It -was at the latter place he married uVliss Jlary Ann Hart, of Crawley, near London. Hβ left for New Zealand ■with his bride tho following year in the brigantine Colchester, of -which, he was part owner, and which was used for ponveying gold d-iggers from Aue- i traliii and carrying produce back there, i On arrival in.Canterbury he purchased a property at the Styx, and commenced j farming a year later, remaining in the locality for eight years, and then selling liia property to the late Mr Grovesvenor Miles. In 1863 ho acquired the ■Woodlands property, Irwell, and went to live there in 1865, gradually increasing his holding to a large area. About 1874 he purchased the Purau property from Messrs Rhodes Bros., and took np hia residenoe there in 1878. After a trip to Great Britain in 1886 he bought the Woodehester property, where he remained until the time of hie death The late Mr Gardiner leaves a. -widow, four eons, 6 daughters, and 37 grand-children. He was a very well-known identity, and greatly respected by all with "whom he came into contact.' -His death will be especially felt 'by the early eettVere who knew him so well, and' I>y whom he tras. looked upon as a very dear and near friend.