OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2964, 30 December 1916, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR,; WILLIAM PRINCE. Flags were flown.at half-mast at the Harbour Board and shipping offices' yesterday on account of the death of Mr. William, Prince, formerly in the service of the Harbour Board, at the. age of seventy. The death occurred at the Bowen Street private hospital at an early hour yesterday morning. For a considerable time Mr. Prince has been in ill-health, and his death was not unexpected. He underwent an operation two weeks ago. • The deceased was.born in London in 1846. Coming to_ Wellington with his parents'in the ship"'Alma,' in 1856, he spent his first six months'in the colony as a- shepherd hoy. Entering business life in Wellington he had three years at the baking trade, and then joined the late Mr. W. Tonks, who was then conducting a brick and lime works. In three years Mr. Prince again changed his occupation, continuing with tho •same employer in ■ the auctioneering business, and afterwards in 1868, when Mr. Tonks became lessee of the Queen's Wharf, he was' appointed assistant manager. It was a day of small things, all goods landed from the vessels haying to be carried to a. store close to the post, office for delivery, and from that time Mr.' Biince assisted to make the wharf available for carts, and lent assistance at all times to bring about the present condition of things. In 1885 he was appointed to the responsible position of- wharfinger, and remained in. that office until December. 31, 1906, when ho retired from the service, almost exactly ten years ago.' -. For the best part of his life in Wellington Mr. 'Prince was prominent in the affairs of, the Methodist Church. He first became attached to Wesley Church when it was in Manners Street, and he'retained his connection with the church in Taranaki Street until he "removed to Island Kay about twelve years ago. He 1 was a a office-bearer in the Taranaki Street Church, and also one of its Sunday School teachers. By his death the Methodist Church at Island .Bay lias lost one of its best-known and most-respected members. Mr. Prince also belonged to the Loyal Britannia Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester. TJiiity, 1 having joined it early in his career. ' '■.' , '■'■..

During his residence" in Inland Bay Mr. Prince took-a keen interest in iocai affairs, and' his' successful efforts to. combat the mosnuito- pest in the district by spraying kerosene over the breeding places were much appreci-. atcrl. Mr. Prince has left a. ' widow (a daughter of the • late Mr. Edmund Spencer), a son (Mr. Frederick Prince, of'the Shaw. Snvill; and Albion Company's staff), and'twOidaughters: one of whom is Mrs. C. D. Pike, of Favelock North, and the other the wife of Mr. TV. F,. FTprron, Stores Manager of the. PnWic Works Department.-•' Mr. George Prince, the well-known hnwl«r, is the deceased's onlv. Brother, and the sisters are Mrs. Bobert TTosie. and Miss Prince (Wellington!.. Airs. Fr°nk Feist fCnrterton), and Mrs. W. Emniptt (Nelson). The funeral is to take place on Sunday 'fternnon. A service was held in the Tarn naki Street. Church yesterday afternoon. ■...-■•.••: