COUNCILLOR JOHN ALFRED HARDING, of the Gisborne Borough Council, was born in Tipperary, Ireland, on the 11th of January, 1853. He is the second son of Mr. William Holmes Harding, and arrived at Auckland with his parents when he was about fourteen years of age. Mr. Harding was educated at Dr. Kidd's school, and at St. Matthew's Church of England school, Hobson Street, Auckland, and decided to follow the surveying profession. In this calling he was engaged for fourteen years in Auckland and on the East Coast of the North Island, but owing to ill-health he relinquished the work, and carried on storekeeping at Waipiro Bay for about nine years. Mr. Harding then engaged in the timber and shipping trade for some time. He has been a member of the Gisborne Corporation since 1888, is vice-president of the Gisborne Racing Club, and treasurer of the local hospital and trustee of the Druids Lodge. In sporting matters he takes a keen interest and occupies the position of Master of the Poverty Bay Hunt Club. Mr. Harding is a past master of Lodge Turanganui, E.C., has passed through all the chairs, and now holds the office of treasurer of that lodge.

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Father: William Holmes Harding (1805–1889)
Mother: Catherine Mulrooney (1824–1900)
Spouse: Horiana (Georgina) Ryland (1865–1938)
Children:
Irene Harding (1886–1967)
Alfred Holmes Harding (1888–1924)
Albert Ryland Harding (1889–1918)
Ruby Hazel Harding (1891–1958)
Maureen Ryland Harding (1892–1969)
Francis Smith Harding (1895–1918)
Te Rei Grevus Harding (1896–1898)
Nancy Olive Harding (1900–1983)
Hine Sibyl Maura Harding (1902–1974)
Patrick Gilbert Holmes Harding (1902–1958)
Kathleen Phyllis Harding (1907–1973)