Purau Estate, Rhodes Bay, Lyttelton, the property of Mr. H. D. Gardiner, of Richmond, consists of 6600 acres. It was originally taken up by the Messrs Greenwood, who sold their interest to the late Mr. Rhodes, in 1847. Mr. Rhodes began immediately to improve the property by building a substantial stone house, roofed with slates. This residence, which is most picturesque, is surrounded by plantations of large trees, comprising various species of the gum and wattle, which afford much shelter to the homestead. The grounds are tastefully laid out and planted page 626 with choice trees and flowers. An orange tree, which was planted by Mr. A. E. G. Rhodes, when he was quite a boy, is now about seventeen feet in height, and is an object of interest to all who visit the station. To see an orange tree growing in the open and laden with golden fruit is, indeed, phenomenal for this island. About twenty-eight years ago Mr. Gardiner bought the property; and the station, which is divided into three blocks, is now leased from him, by three of his sons. Mr. L. C. Gardiner, who resides at Riccarton, has the part known as Fern Glen; Mr. Harold Gardiner, who has built on the other side of the Bay, has the Kaike station; and Mr. F. R. H. Gardiner has the homestead block, Purau station.

Mr. Frank Gardiner was born at Kaiapoi in 1867, and was educated at Brookside, and afterwards at a private school. Mr. Gardiner recently established a small stud flock of English Leicesters, by the purchase of a number of ewes from Mr. W. B. Andrews, of Greenpark, and rams from the well-known flock of Mr. Donald Grant. He also purchased some of the renowned Starborough Merino sheep, intending to breed up a halfbred flock. He is a member of the local road board, and, with others, energetically petitioned for a telephone round the Bays. In 1895, Mr. Gardiner was married to Miss Dean, and has one son and one daughter.