Mr. Charles Leonard Dearsley, Senior Partner of the firm of Messrs Dearsley and Lane, was born in Christchurch in 1870. After leaving Nelson, where he completed his education, he went to Sydney, where he remained for some time. On returning to New Zealand he engaged in commercial pursuits until he established the house and estate agency business. Mr. Dearsley, who is a son of one of the earliest colonists, joined the American Constitution of Oddfellows several years ago, and has passed through the various offices in connection with the Order. He was a member of the Canterbury Volunteer Engineers' Corps, and was also a member of the St. Albans Borough Council.