Avery, Thomas, Farmer, Mahakaki, about six miles from Pahiatua. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. The subject of this notice is the fourth son of Mr. George Avery, senior, one of the early Wellington settlers, and was born at the Hutt in 1858. The early part of his life was passed on his father's farm, and when twenty-three years of age he came to Pahiatua, taking up some land, page 1010 which he cleared and then sold advantageously. He went back to the Hutt, but came to Pahiatua again in a few years and bought the present farm. He has a fine lot of sheep and cattle, and has done a large daying business, but owing to illness has had to sell most of the cows. As an athlete, he carried off many prizes—among others the Caledonian Society's medal in 1882—both in Wellington and the Wairarapa, being for some time without an equal in high jumping and throwing the hammer. He married a daughter of Mr. John Hall. one of the earliest of the Pahiatua settlers, and has a family of three sons. In educational matters he has always taken an interest, and is a member of the Makakaki School Committee.