OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 12

OBITUARY

CAPTAIN W. GARDINER One of the best-known figures on the Auckland waterfront and on the New Zealand coast, Captain William Gardiner, died on Wednesday. For 28 years Captain Gardiner was the Auckland Harbour Board’s tugmaster and successively commanded the tugs Te Awhina and William C. Daldy, illhealth compelling him to retire two years ago. . Captain Gardiner, who was bom at Ardrossan, Scotland, 61 years ago, went to sea at the age of 14 on the barque Hindustan, and served for several years on deep-sea sailing vessels. He arrived in New Zealand 40 years ago by the full-rigged ship Canterbury, and after trading on the coast, spent several years towing rafts. Before joining the Auckland Harbour Board m 1909 he had been master of the steamer Awaroa in the coastal trade. He was regarded as one of the most valuable Officers in the service of the board. Captain Gardiner is survived by his wife, seven sons, and one daughter.

CAPTAIN P. E. HARNE % (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAII.) TAURANGA, July 19. A well-known and highly-respected townsman, Captain Percival E. Harne, R.N.R., died yesterday afternoon after an illness of some months. He was born at Bracestead Manor, Kent, England, and was the second son of Mr Heatie Henry Harne. Educated at Clifton College, he later trained for the sea, serving with the P, and O. Company and with the Egyptian Government naval service. Captain Harne was associated with Captain Scott on his first Antarctic jexpedition, on which occasion he was navigating officer of the relief ship Morning. When the Great War commenced, Captain Harne transferred to the British Navy and served on various destroyers on special duty in the North Sea and in the East. While in command of the monitor Sawfly on the river Tigris, he was wounded by Turkish shrapnel during an attack on an Arab village in April, 1917, and for the fine part he played in the engagement he was mentioned in dispatches. On his recovery from the wound he was appointed naval transport officer at Basra, and later at Aden. After the war Captain Harne returned to cable work, serving with All-American Cables, and until 1934 commanded, their maintenance ships in South American waters. On his retirement from the sea in 1934, Captain and Mrs Harne settled at TaUranga. He is survived by his wife.

HAROLD WAGSTAFFE (united press- association—copyright.) LONDON, July 19. The death has occurred of Harold Wagstaffe, captain of the 1914 and 1920 Rugby League teams which toured New Zealand and Australia. Wag*stafte, after captaining Huddersfield for many years, retired from football in 1924, and subsequently became a sports writer for several English dailies. As a player he did much to foster the growing code in New Zealand, spending much tiine on both tours coaching young players.