THE DEATH OF AN M.L.C.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3763, 2 May 1907, Page 3

THE DEATH OF AN M.L.C.

Hon. W.M. Bolt. Dunedin, April 29. The Hon. W. M. Bolt dropped dead to-day on his way back from W aipori, after the ceremony of turning on the electric power lor Dunedin City. The sad event occurred about 4. 45 p.m., the party being then about three miles from the powerhouse at Waipori. A long hill was encountered soon after the journey was commenced, and deceased, along with others, walked up the steep pinches in order to ease the load on the horses as much as possible. He evidently overexerted himself, however, as after he had walked about a quarter of a mile he collapsed. On getting into the trap he seemed to revive, but as soon as a start was made he fell back dead. Mr Bolt had responded to the toast ot ‘ ‘ Parliament ’ ’ at the luncheon earlier in the day, and was then apparently in the best of health and spirits. The deceased gentleman was about 69 years of age. The late Mr Bolt was born in 1838 at Berwick (Shetland Isles), where his father was the village blacksmith. In 1855 deceased shipped at Liverpool on a vessel engaged in carrying troops to the Crimea. He arrived in New Zealand in the ship Nelson, in 1863, settling at Dunedin, where he was in the service of Bing, Harris and Co. for about thirty years. Mr Bolt took an active partin politics, and became a prominent member of the Trades and Labour Council. He was called to the Legislative Council by the Ballance Government in 1892. He was an advocate of industrial co-operation and of cooperative settlement. Mr Bolt married in 1861 a daughter of Captain F. Lawson, of Lerwick. He leaves five sons and three daughters.