The Grove is a small farming district surrounding the shore of the western arm of the extreme head of Queen Charlotte Sound, and possesses some of the finest scenery in the province. The district was first settled by sawmillers; namely, Messrs John Duncan, and W. Brownlee, who conducted sawmilling for many years, but it has since been devoted almost entirely to sheep and cattle farming. There is a post office, a public school, a church, a general store, and a publichcuse in the neighbourhood; and there is a regular and frequent mail service by launch with Picton, about ten miles distant.

Mr. Henry Thomas Palmer was born on the 4th of November, 1856, at Brightwater, Nelson, and is the eldest son of the late Mr. J. Palmer, of Nelson. He was educated at the Hope public school, brought up to farming by his father, and afterwards farmed for many years on his own account in the Nelson province. In March, 1887, Mr. T. Palmer took up a small farm on the Picton road, near Tua Marina, and in June, 1902, sold it to take up his present farm at The Grove. He is a member of the Pelorus Road Board, the local school committee, and was formerly a member of the Waimea Rifle Club, the Blenheim Rifle Volunteers, and the Tua Marina Rifle Club, of which he was president for three years. Mr. Palmer is married, and has one son and seven daughters.

Macey, photo. Mr. H. T. Palmer.

Mr. Alexander Scott Duncan , J.P., was one of the pioneer sawmillers of Marlborough, and was the first to introduce steam sawmilling into the province. He took up his residence at The Grove, in Queen Charlotte Sound as early as 1861, and for many years conducted a large sawmill in the white and red pine forest which then covered that part of the country, and during that time he also acquired a large sheep run. Mr. Duncan was a reliable and popular public man, gave much time and attention to local public affairs, and was for some time a member of the Marlborough Provincial Council. He lived for some years in retirement at Picton, where he died at a good old age, leaving a widow—who still survives him—three sons, and four daughters.

Mr. John Duncan , J. P., of the Grove, is the eldest son of the late Mr. A. S. Duncan. He was educated partly in Melbourne, and partly at Nelson College, and was brought up with his father. In early manhood he established, and for a few years conducted, a sash and door factory at Wanganui. A few years later, he returned to the sawmill at the Grove, and carried it on for some time after his father's retirement; but when the bush was exhausted he turned his attention to sheepfarming. Mr. Duncan has devoted much time to public affairs. He has been a member of the Pelorus Road Board, the Marlborough Land Board, the Picton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Marlborough Land and Railway League, and for about twelve years has served on the Marlborough Education Board, of which he is chairman. Mr. Duncan stood as the Opposition candidate for Wairau at the general election of 1905, and at the poll on the 6th of December he received 2030, as against 2938 votes polled by the Hon C. H. Mills, and twenty-ty-three by Mr. G. Turner.

Mr. Adam Thompson , sometime of The Grove, was born at Peterhead, Scotland, in the year 1825, and spent his early manhood on the sea as a ship's carpenter. He came to New Zealand about 1856, and for some years was captain of a small coastal trading vessel trading between Wellington and the Sounds. Later on, Mr. Thompson settled down to farming in the Sounds. He resided at the Grove and Kenepuru, and died at Picton on the 21st of October, 1893, leaving six sons and three daughters, who are now scattered all over the colony.