OBITUARY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 17, 18 January 1913, Page 6

OBITUARY.

HON. JOHN BRYCE, AETAT 83 *

The Hon. John Bryce, a one-tinio notable figure in New Zealand politics, died at ins residence, Guyton street, Wanganui, yesterday, at tJhe ripe old age of 83 years. He was elected to the I'rovincial Council in 1862, »and was twice subsequently re-elected. He was elected to trie House of Repre : sentatives as member for Wanganui, in 1866, was re-elected unopposed in 1871, and a few years later was elected member for tne Waitotara district,! Ids electorate then extending fronii Ttirakina to Patca. In 1671), at the, time when the natives on this coast ■were again giving a good deal of trouble, he joined Sir John Hall s Ministry as Native Minister. He soon resigned his portfolio however, owing to a difference of opinion, his views on the necessity of strong action against the Maori prophet To Whiti and his followers were not shared by his colleagues. A few months later, however, his views were adopted, and he rejoined the Cabinet as Native and Defence Minister. He organised the armed expedition to Parihaka, which resulted in the arrest of Te Whiti and, his lieutenant, Tohu, and the quelling' of the disturbance. He continued to] hold office in the Whittaker and Atkinson Ministries till 1884,. when hi« party was defeated by the Stout-\ ogel, combination.. / .After three years inj Opposition, Mr Bryce again contested the Waitotara seat in J. 887, but was defeated by Mr George Hutchison. Three years later, however, again saw him in the House, but he remained there less than a year, resigning his seat owing to a vote oti censure having- been passed upon him for certain expressions used in a de-j bate reflecting upon the Premier (Hon. John Ballance). Mr Bryce, who claimed that the expressions used were not unparliamentary, took the censure so much to heart that he thereupon retired completely from politics