The Hon. Hugh Gourley , J.P., M.L.C., Chairman of the Otago Harbour Board, was born in the parish of Ballin-ahinch, County Down, Ireland, in 1825. Mr. Gourley was attracted to the Australian gold diggings in 1852, and spent ten years in Victoria. He had some experience of gold mining, and was for several years working at his trade as a saddler, before crossing over to New Zealand. After twelve months on the goldfields of Otago, he settled in Dunedin and commenced business as a saddler. Subsequently Mr. Gourley went into the coaching business, and ran a line of coaches to and from Port Chalmers, and was one of the first to run cabs in Dunedin. In 1874 he added undertaking to his livery business. Mr. Gourley has been connected with local politics for many years; in 1881 he became a councillor of the borough of St. Kilda, of which he was mayor for thirteen years in succession. He entered the city council in 1885, and was elected mayor for page 119 the year 1888–9, and again for 1896–7. He has been for many years a member of the Otago Harbour Board, and now occupies the position of chairman. Since the inception the Charitable Aid Board, Mr. Gourley has been a member of that body, and has for over twenty years been one of the Benevolent Trustees. He is also a member of the Dunedin Drainage Board. Mr. Gourley was called to the Legislative Council on the 22nd of June, 1889. In 1850 he married a daughter of Mr. J. Johnston, of County Down, Ireland, and has four sons and four daughters.