OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10201, 8 November 1894, Page 4

OBITUARY.

Another of the. old identities has passed away in the person of Mr John Borrie, collector of customs at Inveroargill, who died at his residence there early yesterday morning, at the comparatively early age of 58 years. Mr Borrie was bom on September 3, 1836, in the parish of Cluny, Perthshire, Scotland, where he received the most; part of his education. He passed his apprenticeship as a draper in Perth, and emigrated with the fauulv in December 1853, arriving in Otago in the Maori (Captain Petherbridge) in April 1857. Ha was for a time in the employment of Mr Sidey, of; ' Caversham, and also of the late Mr Macandrew..' He then entered-the custom house, where he had remained ever since, rising to be collector at Invercargill. which post he had occupied for 14 or 15 jears. Mr Borrie was of a retiring disposition and took little part in public matters, but from an early age he took a deep interest inchurch affairs He was one of the band who started tha Knox Church congregation, and became a deacon and then an elder. He acted as session clerk for mauy. years, and in that capacity was regarded by the late Dr Stuart as his right-hand man. So deep was the bond of friend»hip between the two, and so constant the interest of Mr Borrie in the welfare of Knox Church, that they corresponded reeularly, and the good doctor prized the friendship and correspondence of his younger friend. Mr Borrie was known as a man of sterliag, upright character, beloved by all who knew him) : and his death will be felt as a loss by many in '■ Dunedin "and especially in JEirst Church, Invercargill, where he acted for many years as elder, ' and as superintendent of; one of the sabbath schools. His name was the first on the call to tha Rev. J. Gibson Smith, though he was not permitted to enjoy the public ministrations of tha new pastor.'Mr Borrie leaves a widow, threa sons,' and two daughters. The eldest son is ia business in Melbourne, the second has passed hia ; M.D. degree at Edinburgh, and the' third (who is at home) is studying to fit himself as a medical missionary. The two daughters are also at home with their mother. Mr Borrie also leaves an aged mother at North-East. Valley to mourn the loss of her eldest son. -, ■ ■•'•../ Wellington, November 7. The death is announced of Mr James Spence, ol the late firm of Spence Bros, and Co., merchants, of Melbourne and the West Coast of the South Island. He was one of the pioneers of the'Coast. Mr D. J. Breinner, secretary of the Wellington Woollen Company, died last night of pneumonia after a brief illness. He leaves a wife (who was a daughter of the late Dr Featherstone) and sis young children. Christchitrch, November 7. The death is announced of Mr M. J. Woodward, for many years on the staff of the Lyttelton Times, and father of the Rev. W. C. Woodward, of the Bluff. - ■'~■'■. : . London, November 6. The death is announced of Philip Gilbert Hamerton, author'and artist. He publishfd in 1868 " Eti-hing and Etchers," which was followed by essays on French art. His first novel was. entitled 'yWenderholme." In recognition of hia art writings the French Government conferred o& him the decoration of an OJicier (CAcadimie,