OBITUARY.

MR A. P. LEONARDO. r A. F. Leonardo, Lo Boil's Bay, wlio died on Wednesday, was ono of the band of pioneers who beheld the Peninsula clothed in virgin forest from the hill-tops to the Bea, and who lived to see tho forest cleared away and the hills, converted into . grass-covered slopes. Born in 1840, in the historic island of Floret, in the Azores Group, ho naturally acquired a tasto for tho sea, and at an. early ago began a seafaring life. Later no joined tho American whaler Olive Crocker, but in 1862, when she touched at Akaroa, he left her. Reaching Lo Bon's Bay, ho worked for a while bushfelling with tho late Mr J. T. Knight, of Lavonck's Bay. However, ho soon returned'to a seafaring life, and for some time worked round tho coast with Captain Stevens. Ho then returned 'to Lo Bon's Bay and took up forty acres of land. He possessed immense strength, and after working all day for his employer, would return to his section at night and fall timber by candle-light. In this way was his first start made, and only men of his stamp could have stood tlie test. Gradually more land was acquired, cleared, and grassed with cocksfoot, until the farm reached nearly •100 acres. Between dairying and cocks-foot-growing ho amassed a comfortable compctcnce, and leased, his farm to his sons, two of whom are still in Le Bon's Bay. In tho earlier days ho was a member of tho local Road Board and School Committee, and tho Post Office was, and still is, conducted by his family. Mr Leonardo was married to Mies Bnrnott, daughter of the late MiHenry Barnett, one of Lo Bon's Bay's first residents. Until lately his health and wonderful constitution stood him in good stead, but about six months ago. confmrnced an affection of tho heart, which, accompanied by dropsy, accelerated bis death. Ho loaves a widow and family of three sons and throe daughters. MR' R. GUTHRIE. Belfast has suffered a loss in the death of Mr Robert Guthrie, a resident of thirty-eight years' standing —a brother of tho lato Mr J. S. Guthrie, at one time editor of "The Press"—which occurred on Saturday last. He took a great interest in tho welfare of the district, wan chairman of the Sheldon Park Trustees. Belfast. Cemetery Trustees. Belfast Town Hall Committee, and was for a .considerable time chairman of the Belfast School Committee. Ho was superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday School for abont twenty-fire years and up to tho time of his death.