OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 23908, 29 August 1939, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR WILLIAM WILLIS The death of Mr William Willis, a former resident of Gore, has occurred at Christchurch. Mr Willis was born near Portsmouth, England, in 1848 and when he was a young man he took up residence in New Zealand. In 1878 he arrived in Eastern Southland and built his first residence in Rock street, East Gore.

Mr Willis began business on his own account as a builder and erected many of the earliest buildings in Gore,, among them being the original Methodist Church, the Congregational Church and the East Gore school. He also built the school and head master’s residence at Arthurton. the Waikaka hall, and churches at Knapdale, Otama, Waikaka Valley and North Chatton. After 18 years as a builder Mr Willis began business as a timber and hardware merchant and also as an architect. His office and timber yard were in Medway street, this property now being owned by Mr P. R. Mallon. Mr Willis did not take a prominent part in public affairs, although he served a term as a member of the Gore Borough Council. In 1917 he retired from active business and soon afterwards he removed with his family to Merivale, Christchurch, where he lived until his death.

During their residence at Gore the Willis family lived at the corner of George and Ardwick streets, the property extending up to the borough reservoir. This piece of land was later sub-divided into building allotments, having frontage to Willis street and High street, Willis street being named after Mr Willis. He is survived by one son, Mi - John Willis (an engineer in the Awatea) and four daughters, Miss Willis (Christchurch), Sister Willis (Shannon, Manawatu), Mrs Sadler (Waimate) and Nurse Willis (Christchurch).