Mr. Thomas Henry Anderson was born in London in 1846 and brought to Auckland by his parents during the same year. He was educated at public schools and at the Wesleyan College in the northern city. After serving a seven years' apprenticeship as a shipwright, Mr. Anderson went to sea for some years, then followed his trade till 1873, when he removed to Christchurch. He worked at the building of the Cathedral for some time and was afterwards made caretaker of the tower and steeple, and in 1883 was appointed verger. Mr. Anderson is an old volunteer and saw service during the Maori war, for which he received the New Zealand medal. He was one of the promoters and a member of the Christchurch Engineer Corps in 1885, and rose to the rank of lieutenant four years later. For many years he was secretary of the Garrison library. Mr. Anderson was married in 1873 to a daughter of Mr. W. Pierce, of Christchurch; but she died, leaving one son and one daughter. He afterwards married a daughter of Mr. W. Foster, of Tasmania, and has seven sons and one daughter by this union.