GARIN, ANTOINE MARIE (1810-89) was born at St Rambert, department of Loire, France, in the diocese of Belley. Showing early in life a strong disposition for a missionary career, he was ordained in 1834. In 1840 he joined the Marist Brothers and in June 1841 arrived at Bay of Islands and remained there for a few months. In 1843 he was at Kaipara and in 1845 returned to Kororareka, where he showed great bravery and devotion in attending to the wounded under fire in Heke's war. Altogether he spent 10 years as a missionary to the Maori, at the stations mentioned. In 1848 he was appointed to Otahuhu, Panmure and Howick, where he came into contact also with many Irish soldiers amongst the New Zealand Fencibles.

In 1850 Garin was sent as first parish priest to Nelson. There he established a private school, at which many Catholic boys were educated, including Archbishop Redwood. Diaries which he kept of his work and travels give an illuminating insight into the difficulties and the long foot journeys involved in the work of his parish, his steadfast industry and the simplicity of his character. Garin found the parish without any buildings of consequence and left it fully equipped with a fine church and presbytery, a convent and high school and boys' and girls' industrial schools. He was for some time on the central board of education, and on the committee of the Nelson Aid Society and he took part in all charitable movements. In 1884 Bishop Redwood conferred on Garin the rank of archpriest of Nelson. He died on 14 Apr 1889.

Pompallier, Fishers of Men (p); Marist Messenger, 1 Mar 1938; Nelson Evening Mail, 15 Aug 1889, 11 Dec 1926 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 160

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