DEATH OF MR DAVID PROUDFOOT.

Evening Star, Issue 8470, 21 March 1891, Page 2

DEATH OF MR DAVID PROUDFOOT.

Our Sydney cables to day announce the death of Mr David Prondfoot, which occurred in that city yesterday while he was undergoing an operation. Mr Prondfoot was born at Mosselbargh, near Edinburgb, in 1839. When quite a young man he came out to Victoria, where he took in hand several contracts, but on the news of the gold discovery in Otago reaching him he saw a wider scope for his energies, and arrived here early in 1862 fie snocessfully contracted for the formation of several roads to the goldfields, and subsequently took ap more extensive works, chief among which might be mentioned the construction of the Dunedin waterworks, the erection of a large bridge at Cromwell, and the deepening of the harbor. In company with partners, he had a number of important railway contracts aboot Invercargill, and carried out the laying of the ClintonTapanui line, in addition to which be constructed large sections of the DunedinGhristohnroh line. He also completed the Port Chalmers Railway, of which he was the original promoter. A work with which hia name is inseparably connected is the Dunedin and suburban tramway system, which was considered a gigantic undertaking at the time he took it In hand. After completing this task, he secured an extensive railway contract in New South Wales, but it was not a successful venture, the result being that he was thrown into serious financial difficulties. With his indomitable spirit to aid him, however, be retrieved bis fallen fortune, and when once more on his feat he obtained another railway contract in New Sonth Wales. This he commenced only a few months ago, and it was a long way from being completed when his life was cut short Mr Prondfoot will long be remembered in Dunedin as a gentleman of untiring energy and great ability. His enterprising spirit carried him into many schemes of which others would have been chary, bat which have since proved of invaluable benefit to the citizens.