OBITUARY.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 6019, 31 December 1884, Page 6

OBITUARY.

DB. BOUSE. Seldom, if indeed ever, in the history of the port has that community as a whole sustained a more severe shock of surprise and sorrow than the news of the sudden death of Dr. John Thomas Bouse created on Thursday, Deo. 18. Just previous to the acsident the doctor was in a more robust state of health than he had been for a very long time. At _6 time was he a very strong man physically, but was rather kept up by an untiring devotion to his profession. His friends had remarked that since his return from a trip to England, a few months back, he had very much improved in his general health, and it waa with real pleasure he was met by the a great many families in Lyttelton, whose trusted medical adviser he had been from the day they settled in the province. When, therefore, the first report of his having been thrown while mounting his horse on the afternoon of the 12th, was published, the public anxiety was only allayed by the welcome opinion of his attending physicians that in all probability he would regain consciousness, and, ultimately, health. And only on Tuesday last it was thought that there were symptoms in his condition which gave promise that such good news would turn ont right. He is said to have then for the first time since ■ his accident recognised those around him. The change for the better wa3, however, but momentarily, bo to speak. Hopeful, rather hoping against hope, his family and his friends watched him, believing that at any moment he might evince some sign that his once active brain was recovering its strength. This so continued up to Thursday morning, when there were unmistakeable indications that his life was peaceably, tranquilly, but rapidly passing away. At 11 a.m. the report was about that this more than respected townsman was no more. This was, however premature. But at twenty minutes before noon the too true report came that Dr. Bouse had breathed his last. The deceased gentleman was a member of the Boyal College of Surgeons, England, and arrived in Lyttelton by the ship Boman Emperor, of which he was surgeon. He settled in Port in 1860, and took over the practice of the late Dr. W. Donald. From the date of his arrival he took an interest in every movement for the welfare of the community amongst : whom he spent the best and latest years of his life. He was a man of broad sympathy, and no one will be more missed by the poorer classes than Dr. Bouse. Of the public positions he held' may be enumerated those of Justice of the Peace, Health ' Officer, and Immigration- Co__.i__onesurgeon to the gaol and Mayor of Lyttelton for three xjonsecutive years—lß7s,lß76 and 1877. . For some twenty years he was surgeon to the various friendly societies, the Oddfellows, Foresters, and later the Druids. In religious matters he occupied the position of Churchwarden and Synods-' man. He was also hon. surgeon to the Lyttelton Naval Artillery. Without question Lyttelton in the demise of Dr. Bouse has lost a citizen whose place it will be difficult indeed to fill.

On Sunday, Dec. 21st, the funeral of the late Dr. J. T. Bouse, of Lyttelton, took place. It was a very representative one. The cortege went to Holy Trinity Church. Following the chief mourners were the old friends of the family, members of the medical profession, Volunteer officers from Christchurch and Lyttelton, the Orders of Oddfellows and Druids, the warders and gaol governor, police,—ad sever—l hundred private citizens, including many of the leading citizens from here. At the church the Bey. J. Townsend officiated, and the choir gave Psalm xxxix, and hymn "Days and moments," &c. At the grave the service was most impressively performed by the rev. clergyman, and the choir sang "My God, my Father, while I stray," _c.