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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Mr. Henry Thomas Garratt

Mr. Henry Thomas Garratt, East Street, Auckland, was born in Leicester, England, in 1844. He is a son of Mr. John Garratt, of Elmsdown House, Humberstone, was educated in Sheffield, and came to the Colony in 1866, by the ship “Electric.” After settling at Auckland Mr. Garratt took a very active part in all questions affecting the Karangahape district in which he resided, and when the proposal to form it into a separate borough was taken in hand, he with a few others strongly opposed it, and was called upon by the Government to appear before a Commission consisting of Mr. Barstow, R.M., and Mr. D. Tole, to prove the statements he had made in reference to some fictitious signatures. The result of this was that the proclamation for the borough was refused, and the ratepayers decided to become incorporated with the city. At the next ensuing election in September, 1882, Mr. Garratt was elected to a seat in the Auckland City Council, as representative for Karangahape Ward, and he then headed a poll of seven candidates, amongst whom were Dr. Wallace and the chairman of the old Highway Board, Major Burns. He sat continuously for six years, when he was defeated. In 1890 he was again returned for the same ward, and again sat for six years, or two terms. At the election of 1896, however, he lost his seat by the casting vote of the Returning Officer. While in the council Mr. Garratt was a warm advocate of drainage, the extension of the water supply, and the maintenance of the C.D. Act, and also advocated the allocation of loans to the wards on a legitimate and sensible basis. As a member of the Hospital Board, of the inquiry committee of which he was chairman, Mr. Garratt did useful work, in connection with which the special study that he had given to hospital management stood him in good stead. He was also chairman of the Karangahape Licensing Bench, and was a member of the Amalgamated Licensing Bench. He holds the Commission of Peace. In 1887 Mr. Garratt stood unsuccessfully for election to the House of Representatives. He is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of Foresters, and for the past twenty years has held the position of district secretary of the Auckland District A.O.F. In 1895 he was sent as a delegate to the High Court at Brighton, England, with a view to settling grievances that existed, and he successfully accomplished his object. Mr. Garratt has always taken great interest in Friendly Society work, and was the means of originating and promoting the Friendly Societies' Conference, which is now a very useful and well-recognised body in Auckland. He is also a member of the Scottish Constitution of the Masonic Order.