Henry 'Harry' Alexander GASKILL (1864-1891)
- born 25 Oct 1863 in Islington, London to Henry John GASKILL & Sarah Eliza BADDELEY. Not known when he arrived in New Zealand but Harry first lived in Wellington before moving to Marlborough

NOTE
- Harry doesn't appear to have married. He had a good sense of humour and enjoyed acting and singing on stage in the Wellington Amateur Dramatic Club and the Caledonian Club in Marlborough


Marlborough Express, 6 January 1890 HAVELOCK ATHLETICS SPORTS
... The Havelock land Sports were held in Reader's Paddock, Kaituna, on New Year's Day and were well patronised. The handicappers were John BROWNLEE, H. A. GASKILL and A. ADAMS. Judge J. A. LAMBERT


Marlborough Express, 25 January 1890 CALEDONIAN CONCERT
... The Concert last evening was very unsuccessful. The partial success of the programme was more than outweighed by the discouraging meagreness of the audience.
- Mr GASKILL, however, was the success of the evening and saved the concert from failure. His inimitable powers as a comedian quite enraptured the audience, who rewarded him with storms of applause


Marlborough Express, 24 April 1890 HAVELOCK TOWN BOARD
... An account was received from H. A. Gaskill, re the erecting of a stage in the Town Hall


Evening Post, 16 February 1891 TO DRAPERS and GENERAL STORE KEEPERS
... The undersigned is open for Engagement as Assistant; thirteen years' business experience, six years in New Zealand, wholesale and retail; excellent local references. H. A. GASKILL c/o Evening Post


Marlborough Express, 23 April 1891 PERSONAL
... Mr H. A. Gaskill, of Pelorus Guardian, is laid up in Blenheim with what is believed to be typhoid fever


Marlborough Express, 11 June 1891 DEATH of Henry Alexander GASKILL
... We regret to hear that there are some unsatisfactory rumors current with reference to Mr Gaskill's death, and believing that the best thing to do was to sift the matter to the bottom, we this morning walked out to Springlands Hotel to hear what Mr Bax had to say. His story, which, by the way, is corroborated by Dr Glaghorn, is as follows:-
Mr Gaskill was staying at Mrs Minnington's when it was discovered that he had contracted typhoid fever (presumably in Wellington) and the doctor ordered his removal to the Hospital. Mr Gaskill, however, refused to go there and said he would like to go to a private house. The doctor pointed out that few people would take in a case of the sort, in fact he only knew one individual in this district and that was Mr Bax. Deceased agreed to go there, and he remained there for over seven weeks. Our attention was directed to the matter by hearing a resident declaiming against the licensee for allowing a typhoid patient near the place. He evidently did not know that typhoid, under ordinaruly cardful conditions, is not infectious, providing always that the excreta of the patient is buried or burnt, and this we are assured was done. Mr Bax has considerable experience in matters of this sort, and knows well how to deal with fever cases. But when we read in the Pelorus Guardian that the deceased was placed in "a comfortless room" we decided to see for ourselves what accommodation he had had. Hence the visit.

The room is matchlined, has plenty of light, was carpeted, and contained the usual toilet necessaries. True, there were no curtains, or hangings, or pictures, but no one, who knows anything of the furnishing of a fever ward, would think of expecting these. A special nurse was imported from Wellington and Mr Bax himself and another assistant were constant in their attendance. The deceased never complained of his treatment, but on the contrary was well pleased with the manner in which he was attended, and we think it unjust and uncalled for to blame Mr Bax as some unthinking people have done. We hear that Mr Mills has written the Hospital Board on the matter, asking why the patient was removed and the answer we have no doubt will be the same as stated above, namely that it was done in accordance with Mr Gaskill's wishes
... We hear that it is very likely that the Pelorus Guardian will be sued for libel by Mr Bax for its remarks upon the death of Mr Gaskill


Marlborough Express, 4 August 1891 PUBLIC AUCTION
... Saturday next, at 2p.m. GREEN & NOSWORTHY having received instructions from the Public Trustee (H. A. Gaskill's Estate) will sell by Public Auction at their Sale Rooms, High Street -
* 2 Portmanteaus
* 2 Chests Drawers
* 1 Fender
* 1 Sofa
* 1 Piece Linoleum
* Spring Mattrass
* Iron Bedstead
* Chairs
* Lot of Clothes
* Dinner Service
and other goods too numerous to particularise


Marlborough Express, 18 August 1891 GASKILL'S ESTATE
... We copied from the Pelorus Guardian a short time back, a paragraph stating that the effects of the late Mr Gaskill had been brought into Blenheim unnecessarily. We were shown to-day the account sales, which prove that the goods netted ?52 19s (Aug 2012 equivalent of $9,870), whereas the best offer in Havelock was only ?30, so that really the Public Trust Office acted in the best interests of the estate in bringing them into Blenheim for sale


Nelson Evening Mail, 5 November 1891 WRIT IS SERVED
... The Havelock correspondent of the Wellington Evening Post says that a writ has been served on the manager of the Pelorus Guardian, at the instance of Mr Bax, of Blenheim, claiming ?1000 damages for an article that appeared some time back in connection with the death of the late Mr Gaskill. The case will be heard at the end of this month at the Supreme Court sittings in Blenheim. Mr W. Sinclair appears for the plaintiff and Mr A. Pitt for the paper


Marlborough Express, 2 December 1891 LIBEL ACTION
... Mr Thomas Butler BAX, hotelkeeper, Blenheim, has issued a writ against the Pelorus Guardian, claiming ?1000 damages for libel. The case is of much interest. Mr Gaskell, a young man who had just been appointed secretary to the Guardian Company, went to Blenheim in April last on business, and was there taken ill with typhoid. He was conveyed to plaintiff's hotel, and lay for some six weeks in a cold and comfortless room, where he died. The Guardian published a pretty strong article on the subject, in which it was remarked that a little more humanity might have been shown to the sick man. The plaintiff took umbrage, and instituted proceedings. He offered to take ?50 in satisfaction, but defendants preferred to let the case go to a hearing, and refused the offer
... Bax v Pelorus Guardain, Claim for ?1000 damages for alleged libel
The following special jury was empanelled to try the case: Messrs Healy, Thompson, Dobson, Monro, Douglas, Kilpatrick, Mead, Gregory, Bush, Smith, A. McKenzie and Howard
- Mr T. B. Bax, plaintiff, said he had been licensee of the Springland Hotel till it was burnt down. He had 18 months experience in the Wellington Hospital and 4 years 7 months in the Blenheim Hospital ... more


Marlborough Express, 3 December 1891 The VERDICT