OBITUARY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXII, Issue 1668, 8 July 1892, Page 2

OBITUARY.

On Tuesday night one of the oldest and most respected of the residents in this Borough breathed his last in his residence, Bruce's Terrace. Mr Wm. P. Bruce, to whom we allude, has long been ailing from a bad abscess, but it was hoped a few days ago he had taken a turn for the better. A relapse, however, took place, aud in the evening of the day spoken of ho painlessly passed away : deeply regretted by his many relatives and friends. Mr Bruce was an old settler. He nrrived in Lyttelton on August 20th, 1855, by the ship Caroline Agnes. He was an engineer by trade, having worked at Messrs Ward & Co.'s foundry, Dundee, but when he came to the Colony be had to commence with other work. He first assisted on the Purau track, and then went with Mr Cyrus Davie, the surveyor, and with him, amongst other work, helped to survey the Akaroa township. After this he worked at Motanau, North Canterbury, but afterwards came to the Peninsula and took charge of Messrs Piper and Hodgson's mill. Here he stopped no less thau twelve years, after which he took charge of Mr Shadbolt's mill in Duvauchelle's for some little time, and then went to Akaroa as engineer of the steam launch Pioneer, then the property of Messrs Latter, Garwood & Co. Subsequently he and Mr M. Wight purchased the launch, and ran her themselves. As our readers know, Mr Wight had to retire through ill-health, and M. Dominique went into partnership with him, and they remained in that relation to each other till Mr Bruce's death. Mr Bruce was a quiet unostentntious man. Ho married one of the Misses Donnett, whose sisters became the wives of Messrs Piper, Barwick, Fife, and Hodgson, Ho leaves a wife and three sons and four daughters to mourn his loss. He was of a rather retiring temperament, but took some interest in public matters, notably the Borough Council affairs. Of this body he was a member from the time of its establishment in 1876 to his death, except during one short interval. He was much respected and esteemed, and all residents sympathise with his family in their loss. The funeral will take place to day, leaving the residence of the deceased at 2 p.m. for the Presbyterian Cemetery.