OBITUARY

MR. EDWARD PEARCE

A cable message has been received announcing the death yesterday at Cheltenham, England, of Mr. Edward Pearce, in his 90th year.

The late Sir. Edward Pearce, who has resided in England for. some time past, was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of Wellington, being especially well known in commercial circles. He also took a leading part in local bodies' affairs and in volunteering. Mr. Edward Pearce came to New Zealand in 1861, under conditions which at once found for him a place in the van of commerce. For over a quarter of a century ha was in business as a merchant on his own account, conducting a very large import and export trade in conjunction with one of the principa). shipping agencies of the port. In 1889, Mr. Pearce and Messrs. Levin and Co., seeing the many advantages to be gained by amalgamation, joined their firms, and made one large business. ' The partners were Mr. W. H. Levin, Mr. Edward Pearce, and Mr. John Duncan. By the death of Mr. W. H. Levin in 1893, Jlr. 'Pearce became senior partner. The late Mr. Pearce at all times gave ready and able assistance to enterprises and movements which had been inaugurated with the object of advancing the colony generally, and Wellington particularly. In the old provincial days, he was a member of the Provincial Executive during Dr. Fea-therston's Administration, and in 1870 he was elected to represent the city in Parliament, which position he retained for about eight years. When the Wellington Harbour Board was constituted, Mr. Pearce was one of its first members. As a member, and sometimes as chairman, of the Harbour Board, Mr. Pearce exerted an important influence upon the mercantile growth of Wellington; the benfits of which it would be difficult to overestimate. In the Chamber of Commerce, too, he did conspicuous work, both as a member and as chairman. For many years he was the local director of the National Bank, and he was for. a time chairman of the New Zealand directors of the National MuFaal Life Assurance Association. Among the large number of other directorships which he held may be mentioned. the Wellington Patent Slip Company, the Wellington Gas Company, and the Wellington Trust, Loan and Investment Co. of the whole of which company he was chairman for many years. .. . ;

He joined the board of directors of the Wellington Trust, Loan, and Investment Company, Limited, Lambton quay, in 1876; was elected chairman in 1880, and occupied that office until 1899. In volunteering, Colonel Pearce took a very active interest. For many years he commanded the New Zealand Regiment of Artillery, whose twelve batteries were distributed throughout the Dominion. In that connection, 1 as in all others, he was highly esteemed. , ,

The late Mr. Edward Pearce leaves three sons and two daughters to mourn their loss, namely, Messrs. George F. Pearce (managing director Levin and Co., Ltd.), Charles Pearce, and W. S. Pearce, also connected with the firm of Levin and Co., Mr. Campbell Pearce, of Featherston; and two daughters,, viz., Mrs. E. R. Dowell, now residing in England, and Mrs. H. D. Crawford, of Wellington. . .