OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12082, 10 August 1917, Page 6

OBITUARY.

ABIEL GiFFORD HOWLAND. The death of Mr Abie] Gifford Howland, which occurred nt Brooksidc yesterday, removes another old colonist and a once fa mil'a r figure in the city life of Christehun-li. Mr Howland was born at Cape Cod. Massachusetts, in IB.lL'. and was approaching his eightysixth vear. Tie was a descendant of Jphn Howland, one of the " Pilgrims" who landed fn.'.n (he ship Mayflower at Plymoutii in lii-O, and a native o\ Essex. F.ngland. Though his early experience was of (lie s'ea, the late Mr Howland "turned his j attention to cottonspinning, which cave him a good insight into machinery, and laid the foundation of his-mechanical ideas. He

served an apprenticeship to the coachbuilding trade at Central Falls. Rhode Island. During 18"i9 ho em i era ted to Australia, and spent several months in Baliarat. hut he returned to America via England, and was shipwrecked oft" the coast of Xovc Scotia. In 1802 he again sailed for Australia, and in 1863 hp came to New Zealand, arriving at Dune.djn in the. Hoozah. It was in the following year that Mr Howland settled in Christchurch. taking over the management of Mr L. G. Cole's carriage, building establishment. He invented machinery and started flax dressing at Spring Creek. Marlborough, in company with Mr Henry Redwood. fn 1870 Mr rlowland became a partner with Mr Cole, under the style of A. G. Rowland and Co., and he conducted that well-known business for very many years. .Mr Howland was one (." the promoters of the Canterbury Industrial Association, and Mas always keenly interested in promoting, colonial industries. Me was vice-president of the Industrial Association for the years 18cd--1882. and president for the next two years, during which the Exhibition of 1.881 was held. Mr Hnwland used his influence wirli the Government- to increase the diity on goods that could be made successfully in the colony, and the effect was to brighten languishing industries. He took a prominent part in promotion the construction of the Midland railway, and was vice-presid-ent of tliOj Railway League. He was one of the guarantor* to send delegates to England to anange with a company to take up the railway contract. Mr Howland was married in 1807 to a daughter of Mr John Roskruge. of Cornwall, and there were two daughters bv the marriages. The funeral will take place at the Anglican Cemetery, Brookside, to-morrow morning.