THE LATE SIR WILLIAM PEARCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2020, 22 December 1888, Page 3

THE LATE SIR WILLIAM PEARCE

By oable la announced the death of Sic William Pearcp, itf.P. for Govan, the great ahlpbuildlDg contra on the Clyde. Sir William went to Glasgow about twenty yeara ago aa manager of a department of the (fatnoua shipbuilding yard of John Elder and 00. He was then a very bumble Individual ao far aa circumstances went ; a fact which the workmen, who did not love him, did not forget when he began to rise. Events favoured him ; Mr Elder died ahortly after and the manager, who was «a}d to have laoked a ohange of garments when ho entered tip establishment, speedily became solo head of one of the largest oonoorna of Its kind m existence— indeed was said to be John Elder and 00. He then became moze popular, was knighted, and aeoured the suffrages of the " black squad " who pat blm Into Parliament. It cannot be nald that tbp oign'a life was lovely. A year or two baok an enraged father whipped him on the steps of a public building Id London for seduolog his daughter. The honorable kDfght tried to I pat the affair down to the Insanity of his assailant, bat the tale waa generally known to be only too true and no action was taken for the assault, whloh waa, well — a thorough good thrashing. Fearoe wai a long-headed, shrewd and daring constructor of ships. He built that wonderful yacht for the late Czu, which is now said to be need as a coal hulk elae where. He also constructed the New Z aland Shipping Company's steamers and several of the largest and fleetest vessels that have yet sailed salt waters, and was Indirectly eonneoted with New Zealand shipping, being owner of the a.a. Zealandia and Australia In the 'Frlaoo mail aervloe. He was largely interested In the New Zealand Shipping Company, and was, if we do not err, a director. Sir William baa closed a stirring life at the age of 63 yeara.— " Southland Times, 1 '