OBITUARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 6, 18 October 1941, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR T. A. C. PEARCE. The death of Mr Thomas Alexander Coulsin Pearce occurred at his residence in Gore on Thursday. Mr Pearce who for many years was a prominent figure in many activities centred in Tinwald, was 87. A native of Bristol, Mr Pearce came to New Zealand with his parents in the ship Cameo, landing at Lyttelton in. 1859. His father set up a business there and for some years owned several coastal trading vessels, after taking up a grocery business at Akaroa for two years. It was there that Mr T, A. C. Pearce started on his own account, taking up agricultural contract work. He took a lease of property in the upper Ashburton district, cropping on general lines. He later took up several other large areas and put them into cultivation. In 1889 he sold his holdings and continued cropping on lease for 10 years, when he acquired a property of 272 acres at Winslow, between the railway station and Willowby. He took a keen interest in the affairs of the district and was a members of the Winslow School Committee for a period.

Mr Pearce gave up the farm and started as caterer at the Tinwald saleyards, living on a property on the Maronan Road. He became a member of the Tinwald School Committee, of which he was chairman for many years. He catered at clearing sales all over the district and later was engaged in the same business at race meetings, and at shows throughout Canterbury. Mr Pearce associated himself very closely with activities in Tinwald and during the war of 1914-18 ho was an ardent supporter and promoter of functions to raise funds for patriotic purposes. While he lived at Tinwald, Mr Pearce acted as buyer of pigs for firijis in Christchurch, having a very extensive business in this way. * Many years ago he went to reside at Gore, but he always retained an interest in the affairs of Ashburton and Tinwald. - Mr Pearce was initiated into Lodge Somerset, E.C., Ashburton in 1888. He was interred at Ashburton this afternoon, following a service at St. Stephen's Church.

MR SAMUEL MOORE. After an illness that had confined him to liis bed for several months, Mr Samuel Moore died early this morning at the residence of- his daughter, Mrs lr, S. Hopkins, Ashburton. Mr Moore was a well-known figure in Ashburton for many years, and his genial manner won him many friends. Mr Moore was born at Killinchy, Northern Ireland, on October 24, 1850, and he would have been 91 years of age next Friday. He had an adventurous life before settling down at Ashburton. When he was only 16 years of age he travelled to England, where he served his apprenticeship as a draper at Manchester. About 1872 he visited America for a short time, but "returned to England. However, his roving spirit sent him journeying to Australia and later to New Zealand. In the Ellesmere district he spent 10. years and then worked for six years at Auckland. He came to Ashburton 38 years ago and has lived here ever since. Mr Moore was a member of the staff of Grant and Moore, was in partnership with Mrs Jones in the Triangle, and later was employed by Mr W. J. Moore. He also was employed at one time by Mr Andrew Orr, in East Street. Mr Moore retired about 11 years ago. Mr Moore did not enter into the public life of Ashburton. He was an ardent member of the Methodist Church, of which he was a steward and a trustee for many years. Mr Moore was probably one of the oldest,' if npt the oldest, Freemason in New Zealand, and he was one of 30 foundation members of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand who received the Jubilee Medal in April of last year. He was at one time a member of Thistle Lodge (Ashburton), and was a member of Progress Lodge, Southbridge. He was predeceased by his wife eight years ago. He is survived by four sons (Messrs G. W. Moore, S. A. Moore, D. H. Moore, all of Ashburton, and Mr R. G. Moore, of Christchurch), and two daughters (Mrs L. S. Hopkins and Miss Vera Moore, of Ashburton). There are 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grana-children.