Gom Of New Caledonia

NOW approaching his 90th birthday (he was born on March 30, 1861, in Noumea then called Port de France), Mr, Charles Antoine Gaertner, now of Willoughby, Sydney, might be called “the grand old man of New Cale donia.”

Despite his great age, he has complete mental clarity, and recalls, with zest, details grave and gay of long past days, and takes a keen interest in current events.

Mr. Gaertner received his early edu cation at Port de France, but in 1872 he was sent to Sydney for tuition at a private school. He remembers playing games with his contemporaries on the site of the present Sydney Town Hall;

an old cemetery was hard by. He re cals paying Id. toll when crossing Pyr mont Bridge, Back at Port de France he pursued further study under Mons.

Martell, erstwhile French Consul at Cork, Ireland. He eventually embarked upon the serious affairs of life as a jackaroo on a cattle station, but he became in terested in chrome with some degree of financial success. He was the first to export chrome in any quantity from New Caledonia. He entered into successful partnership with Mr. W. G. St. George in a general merchandise business, and he was agent for the Nickel Co. for over 35 years.

In July, 1891, he married Mdlle.

Marie Kresser, now deceased, and there were three children of the union, two sons and a daughter, Catherine Marie, the latter his deeply devoted and con stant attendant.