MR. E. HARDCASTLE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 9, 10 July 1935, Page 18

MR. E. HARDCASTLE

Mr. E. Hardcastle, a veteran journalist and an authority on agricultural science, died at his home at Cashmere, Christchurch, yesterday morning, in his 75th year.

Born' at Longbeach, he was the fifth son of Mr. Thomas Hardcastle, of Castlewood, Pleasant Valley, one of the pioneer farmers of South Canterbury. Early in his career he showed a literary bent, leading to an appointment to the reporting staff of the .Christchurch "Press" about 1882. His -agricultural upbringing gave him a flair for sheep husbandry and pastoral science, and he was made agricultural editor of the "Weekly Press," and established arid carried on its farming features. His judgment on all questions affecting stock was sound and much valued, and it was he who Established the system of recording transactions at the Addington market which has been a notable feature of the Christchurch daily papers. He was a frequent contributor to agricultural journals overseas, and was at one time New Zealand correspondent of the "Pastoral Review," the wellknown Australian authority on stock.

On his retirement from the "Weekly Press" in 1919, Mr. Hardcastle took up a small farm at Geraldine and entered the public life of the district, serving terms as Mayor of the borough and as a member of the South Canterbury Hospital Board. With advancing years he decided to dispose of his property, and returned to journalism in Christchurch as agricultural editor of the "Lyttelton Times," a position which he relinquished three years ago. Mr. Hardcastle was at one time a keen deerstalker, making frequent expeditions to the Dingle country of Otago, and was i ecognised as an authority on New Zealand's sporting resources in that respect. .

He is survived by his widow, who was formerly Miss Barbara Boswell, of Geraldine. . '