PERSONAL

Mr. Robert Gardner, of Terrace End, Palmerston North, who died last week at the advanced age of 77 years, was born at Greenock, Scotland, in 1842, and as a young man went out to Queensland, where he landed in 1862, going into business in Rockhampton.  He was associated with some of the earliest mining ventures in Australia, and was one of the pioneers of the sugar-planting industry in Queensland.  In 1876 he came to New Zealand, and was in the ironmongery business in Lambton quay, near the site of the Gresham Hotel.  For many years Mr. Gardner was on the directorate of the Petone Woollen Mills.  In 1887 he embarked in the flaxmilling industry, operating first at Foxton and later at Piaka (near Koputaroa).  He was appointed a member of the Flax Commission, and went through the Dominion twice in connection with improvements for the preparation of the fibre for market.  Mr. Gardner was also interested in farming pursuits, in which he embarked in 1888, first at Piaka and afterwards at Tokomaru, and more recently near Stratford.  He went to reside in Palmerston North first in 1885, and lived in College-street, and acted as Government Land Valuer from 1897 until he was superannuated in 1908.  After being away for a time, he returned to Palmerston North in 1902, and took up his residence at Terrace End, where he lived for the remainder of his life.  He took a very keen interest in anything that affected the welfare of the district, and until his health failed was an active member of the Philosophical Society.  He is survived by his widow and a family of five sons and seven daughters.