OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9835, 18 September 1897, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR JAMES BROWN JOYCE. Last week there passed away at his residence, Sumner, another old colonist, Mr James Brown Joyce. The deceased gentle man was born at Wimborne, Dorsetshire, in 1826. With the exception oE a short time iv Ireland, his youth was spent in his native town. On the discovery of gold in Australia he determined to try his luck there, and after a long and dreary voyage reached the goldfields. After a lengthy stay, with no unusually good luck, he visited Van Diemen's Land and spent some time in that island. He then sqjjied for New Zealand, landing at Lyttelton, where he commenced his trade as a watchmaker, being the only one in Canterbury. He soon became well-known by the difficult work he performed. After spending several years in Lyttelton he returned to Australia, where he iuveuted and made a large clook, which showed the time of day, day of the week, day of the month, the month, the number of days in the year, the year, and its relation to leap year. Later on he returned to New Zealand, landing at Nelson, where he stayed some eight or ten months. He then went again to Lyttelton, and from there to Pigeon Bay, where he commenced a clearing in the bush. Tiring of forest solitude, he in August, 1861, married, at Lyttelton, Miss E. May, and went to * Christchurch, where for about three years, he worked at his trade. In 1864 he went to New Brighton, where he had purchased a large piece of swampland, at that time considered by the Government Surveyor to beundrainable. But in a few years he had the satisfaction of seeing good results from his arduous labour. In 1874 he decided to try his fortune at Kowai Bush, and proceeded thither in October of that year. Ho lived twenty-one years there, at the end of which, time, owing to failing health, he disposed of his farm, and removed where his last days were spent. He was a member of various Road Boards. At Sumner he was a member of the Council, and his resignation through ill-health was received with great regret. The deceased gentleman was greatly respected by all with whom he came in contact. Having an unusually benevolent disposition, no deserving case was ever brought under his notice without receiving liberal help, although as far as possible he preferred the outer world to know nothing of his many charitable acts. He will be deeply missed by many. He leaves a widow and two daughters to mourn their lose.