MR. CHARLES DEBENHAM BENNETT, Ex-Mayor of Gisborne (and partner in the firm of Messrs Bennett and Sherratt), was born in the historic town of Worcester, England, in 1835, and is a son of Mr. Joseph Bennett, draper, of that place. Mr. Bennett was educated at the celebrated Blue Coat School, London, where he remained until he was fifteen years of age, and then was apprenticed to the well-known firm of Messrs Copestake and Co., warehousemen, of Bow Church Yard, London, in whose employment he remained until 1857. In 1858 Mr. Bennett joined a cavalry corps, attached to the East India Company's service, and arrived in India just on the termination of the Indian Mutiny in August of the same year. In 1859 the corps was transferred to the British Crown, and merged into the regiment known as the 21st Hussars, and Mr. Bennett remained in the service until 1863, when he purchased his discharge. In 1864 he emigrated to Canterbury, New Zealand, per ship “Ivanhoe,” but on arrival at Lyttelton went to Taranaki, where he joined the Military Settlers, and was engaged in active service against the Maoris in that province. In 1868 he joined the Armed Constabulary as a private, but shortly obtained his commission as sub-inspector, and took part in nearly every engagement throughout the East and West Coast campaigns, being twice mentioned in Colonel McDonnell's despatches for services rendered. Mr. Bennett finally retired from the service in 1878, and on the formation of the borough of Gisborne, received the appointment of town clerk, which he retained until joining Messrs Ferris and Pitt, auctioneers. In 1879 Mr. Bennett was elected councillor, and became mayor of Gisborne in 1882. In 1865 he married Jessie Dunlop in 1875, a daughter of Mr. James Dunlop, of Gisborne, and has six children

MR. CHARLES DEBENHAM BENNETT, Ex-Mayor of Gisborne (and partner in the firm of Messrs Bennett and Sherratt), was born in the historic town of Worcester, England, in 1835, and is a son of Mr. Joseph Bennett, draper, of that place. Mr. Bennett was educated at the celebrated Blue Coat School, London, where he remained until he was fifteen years of age, and then was apprenticed to the well-known firm of Messrs Copestake and Co., warehousemen, of Bow Church Yard, London, in whose employment he remained until 1857. In 1858 Mr. Bennett joined a cavalry corps, attached to the East India Company's service, and arrived in India just on the termination of the Indian Mutiny in August of the same year. In 1859 the corps was transferred to the British Crown, and merged into the regiment known as the 21st Hussars, and Mr. Bennett remained in the service until 1863, when he purchased his discharge. In 1864 he emigrated to Canterbury, New Zealand, per ship “Ivanhoe,” but on arrival at Lyttelton went to Taranaki, where he joined the Military Settlers, and was engaged in active service against the Maoris in that province. In 1868 he joined the Armed Constabulary as a private, but shortly obtained his commission as sub-inspector, and took part in nearly every engagement throughout the East and West Coast campaigns, being twice mentioned in Colonel McDonnell's despatches for services rendered. Mr. Bennett finally retired from the service in 1878, and on the formation of the borough of Gisborne, received the appointment of town clerk, which he retained until joining Messrs Ferris and Pitt, auctioneers. In 1879 Mr. Bennett was elected councillor, and became mayor of Gisborne in 1882. In 1865 he married Jessie Dunlop in 1875, a daughter of Mr. James Dunlop, of Gisborne, and has six children