OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25935, 15 October 1949, Page 2

OBITUARY

MRS H. GARDINER Many friends on Banks Peninsula and in Christchurch will learn with regret of the death this week of Mrs Christina Margaret Gardiner, widow of Mr Harold Gardiner, of Kike station, Purau. Born in the Shetland Islands 76 years ago. Mrs Gardiner came to New Zealand with her parents, Mr and Mrs Gideon Henderson, in the sailing ship Sukar. and made their first permanent home in Gordons Gully, Diamond Harbour. The family later moved to a larger holding known as “Pleasant View.” For a time Mr and Mrs Henderson, sen., and their family lived in a cottage that still stands in Diamond Harbour, then the only house there, except Godley House. It was while they were there that Miss Henderson was married to Mr Gardiner. Mr and Mrs Gardiner made their first temporary home at the pa house in Purau. which, with one acre of land, was later bought from its Maori owners by Mrs Gardiner, who supervised the running of the establishment as a dairy farm. They made their permanent home on Mr Gardiner’s Purau property. where they built the fine old home and gardens of Kike station, as thev mav be seen to-day. An active worker in many social and community interests. Mrs Gardiner was also the first president of the Diamond Harbour-Pu r au branch of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmer. After the death nf her husband. she remained at Kike station until illness necessitated her residing in Christchurch. Her familv of five. Mesdames K G. Chambers (Ashburton!. E. A. Bates (Opawa). W. J. "Leslie Messrs H. H. H. and W. A. Gardiner, both of Purau, survive her.