GAUSTAD, CHRISTOPHER (1838-1927) was born at Trondhjem, Norway, his father being a sea captain. His early education he received at Molde. At the age of 22, while working in a printing office in Bergen, he became a devout Christian. He attended the mission school at Stavanger and, to prepare for the mission field, proceeded to Berlin, where he was studying languages at the time of the war with Denmark. Incidentally he visited the Danish prisoners of war at Spandau. In Berlin Gaustad became acquainted with a Norwegian student, Anne Gorina, of Ouli Nees. They sailed for India in the Hotspur from London and were married at Muzafferpur, Bengal (Dec 1865).

In 1870 Gaustad's health broke down in the Indian climate and they moved to Queensland, where he became pastor to the Scandinavian congregations, most of whom were making a difficult livelihood on their small farms. There he toiled for 10 years on a very low salary. In 1877 he became a naturalised British subject. In Aug 1880 they came to Palmerston North. Gaustad ministered for about 10 years to the Lutheran congregations in that town, visiting also the communities in Rangitikei and the Forty Mile Bush and making many arduous journeys to Woodville, Dannevirke, Norsewood, Makaretu, and Mauriceville. In 1889-90 he travelled in Europe, giving many lectures upon New Zealand in Norway, and preaching in the cathedral at Trondhjem on the 25th anniversary of the seamen's mission. While in Halcombe Gaustad printed, on a handpress which he acquired from an Anglican clergyman, several pamphlets on religious and social subjects. The most noteworthy of these (printed in 1889) was an interesting speculation into the future which he delivered as a public lecture in Linton's hall in 1888. He was well versed in British and European history and frequently, even in advanced age, held services in remote backblocks for the benefit of all denominations. Gaustad died at Urenui on 5 Feb 1927.

Manawatu Evening Standard, 20 Nov 1937; Miss A. J. Gaustad (information). Portrait: General Assembly Library.

Reference: Volume 1, page 161

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