DEATH OF MR H.F. HARDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12897, 15 February 1904, Page 5

DEATH OF MR H.F. HARDY.

Wβ regrot to toe to announce the death this morning, at the age of 73 yearn, of Mr Henry Frederick Hardy, an old and esteemed oituen of Dunodin. The deceased gentleman has been suffering from a weak heart for eome considerable time past, and by tho advice o{ hjs medical adviser has lived a quiet and somewhat retired life for some time past. Desiring to see the Lakes district again, he left on Saturday morning for Quocnstown with his daughter, being apparently in the beat of health. Yestorday owing the family were shocked and grieved at receiving a telegram announcing his death, but giving no details. The nous will bo received with general re-. fret, and the sorrowing widow and family may be assured of tho sympathy of. all who knew the deceased gentleman. Mr Hardy was a native of Derbyshire, being born there, on Febraarj 11, 1831, and was educated at Matlpok. On September 25, 1853, he was nearly wrecked in the ship Rajah in a hurricane, but after a voyage of 117 days he arrived in Port OhalnioK on October 5 of that year. Mr Hardy had been fond of carpenteringwork from boyhood, and found the know-' Jcdgo ho had gained invaluable to him in Iho now la-nd to which he had come. He, however, opprentioed himself to the cabinetmaking budiucffi soon after his arrival, and afterwards helped to construct tho first ship built in Dunalin, ivhich was named tho Star of Dunodin. In 1855 he commenced Housebuilding, and about two years Inter was joined by Mr Winchester under the stylo of Messrs Hardy and Winchester. His partner left the firm eomo years later, end from that timo Mr Hardy conducted business on his own account. In 1861—at tho time of the gold rush-he found him«:ll tho only master builder left in Dunedin, and was at that timo employing 60 men. Mr Hardy ie-iirnt Ins profession ns an architect from a Mr Augustus Peopell in the osrly day.;. Buildings erected from his plans and designs are very numcroiH, and foremost amongst them are the mills of the Jlosgiol \\oolien Manufacturing Company (Limited"', also ilosgid House. Messrs Reid and Gray's large warehouse and workshops, bhacklock s range factory, Messrs Bates, Sjse, and CoV warehouse-" the offices of the Now Zealand Shipping Company,- and the I Ohm' Daily Times mid Witness Company's largo building Mr Hardy was well known as an ecclesiastical architect, having deiHgned mid erected St. John's Cliuioh and parsonage, Koslyn; Primitive Mothodiet Church, York placo: St. Martin's, NorthEast Valley; St. Fetor's, Oaversham; St. Paul's Schoolroom, Sluart etreet; and the Dunedin Catholic- Anostolio Church, Maolaggan street. In the days of provincial government Mr Hardy was noerotary and architect to the Public Schools Committee, and in tho latter capacity planned and supervised the building o'f many schools in tho Otago district, including enwng others largo portions of tho North-East Valley and North Dunedin Schools, and part of Tort Chalmcie High School. Some of the first dairy factories .wore from Mr Hardy's plans—notably that at Incliclutha. The Ashlmrton Woollen Factory was remodolkd and partly rebuilt by him, and also part of the Benevolent Institution at CavereJiam. For private houses, doctors' residences, and shops too numerous to mention Mr Hardy was responsible, a's architect. In looal politics lie was for mnny years a member of tlio Dunedin Oity Council, was at one timo chairman of the Works and Ita serves Committees, and was a candidate for the mayoral chair in 1597. He took a keen interest in local industries, having beon for about 15 years a director of'the Mosgiol Woollen Company, of which he was one of the original shareholders. He was afeo a member of Ihe Committee of ,the N.Z. and South Sens Exhibition- of 1590, and ivae engaged us an expert in judging the woodware department. He was for many years a. member of the Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards, and for over 10 yeara acted on the Benevolent- Institution Trustees Board. In tho days of provincial governmant Mr Hardy unsuccessfully contested tho Duuodin x-v n the House of Representatives again-,: ■■ late Hon. J. Pattoreon, who was by a majority of fivo votto. An ardent churchman, Mr Hardy was the first lay canon of St. Paul's Cathedral. Since settling in Dunedin he had been a churchwarden, and acted as vestryman, commissary, secretary and treasurer to the Rural De-aconate Board, member of tho Diocesan Synod and of the Diocesan Trust Board. For many years past lie had been a justice of tho peace. In lS5t Mr Hardy was married' to kabetla, daughter of tho late Mr David Gaidar, of Thursow, in Gaithnce?, and in 1871, after 17 yonrs together, he suffered o sad bereavement in her death. By the marriage there were four sons and ii daughter. In 1872 Mr Hardy married Miss M'Callum, sister-in-law of tho late Captain John Robertson, of Port Chalmers, having by tlu's marriage a con and a daughter. Mr Hardy thus leaves a widow and a family of fivo sons and two daughters to mourn their las. Of Mr Hardy's sons, tho eldost is an accountant in Dunedin; the- second is in business on, lus'own account as a mining engineer ami surveyor, and is owner of the Wairongomai. mines and battery, Auckland; the third is an ironmonger in Melbourne.; ti»e fourth ie an M.B. and M.C., of Edinburgh, and at present in Uβ Old Country; end the youngest is deputy-harbourmaster at Peri Cha-lmere. Mr Hardy's eldest daughter ia married to Mr R. D. Smith, the manager of tho Bank of New South Wales at the Tliamos, the youngest daughter residing »t home. Tho two sons at present in Dunedin loave for Queenstoivn this morning to bring back_ with thorn their father's mqrtaj remains.