The Late Mr John Borrie.

Southland Times, Issue 13061, 8 November 1894, Page 2

The Late Mr John Borrie.

Our notice yesterday of the death of this prominent and worthy citizen was necessarily brief, and we are constrained to add to it a few words to mark more fully our sense of the loss sustained by the community through his removal. Mr Borrie belonged to a stock closely associated with the early days of the Otago settlement, his father and uncle having been farmers in the Taieri district for many years, and the latter still having representatives there. The two families emigrated from Perthshire, and on a farm near Dunkeld the early days of the subject of our notice were spent. Like many others whose lives began with agri, culture, John Borrie found his sphere at the desk, and many years ago he joined the Civil Service of the colony aa a Customs employe. After a time spent in Dunedin, he relieved the late Captain Elies, Collector of Customs here, during that gentleman’s absence on a visit to Britain, and on the Captain’s retirement, became his successor in office. During all the years of his collectorship Mr Borrie lived in the esteem of the mercantile community, maintaining the highest character for integrity and strict faithfulness to duty. Both from his official position and his naturally retiring habit of mind, he refrained from taking any active interest in public affairs, and his private life was quiet and unostentatious. In the church, however, his energy, wherever he found himself situated, had ample scope. He was for many years an elder and clerk of the session in Knox Church, Dunedin, and when he left that city for Invercargill received a gift from the congregation in recognition of his services. Mr Borrie was, during his residence here, an elder of the First Church, and frequently occupied the pulpit in the absence of the pastor. He superintended with great zeal and faithfulness a Sabbath school, in connection with the First Church, in the southern portion of the town. Bub above all, his visits to the sick of his neighbourhood and his unwearied sympathy and tenderness for them in their suffering are what most entitle his memory to affectionate regard. There are many who will miss the footstep for which they will listen no more. For a year past Mr Borrie’s failing health had given his family and friends great concern, but it was not until lately that his complaint became pronounced and that a fatal result was anticipated. After but a short period of acute suffering, he expired on the 6th inst., having reached the age of 58 years. Mr Borrie’s mother is still living, of course at an advanced age. He has left also, to mourn his loss, a widow, two daughters and three sons. His brother is the Rev. David Borrie, minister of the Presbyterian Church in North East Valley, Dunedin, and Moderator designate of the next Synod.