Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Mr. William Bee

Mr. William Bee , who was for several years in Member of the Oamaru Borough Council, has long been prominently known as a leading merchant in the town. He was born in 1843, at Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland, where he was brought up to the grccery business. Mr. Bee landed, from the ship “Arima,” at Port Chalmers in March, 1863, and obtained employment as a counterman in Dunedin. A year later he removed to Oamaru, and worked for twelve months in connection with the business, which he has since so long conducted. Smitten with the gold fever, he went overland to the West Coast “rush” and after two years' experience returned to Oamaru to join his brother, the late Mr. James Bee, in business under the style of J. and W. Bee. Particulars of the large business now conducted by Mr. Bee are given in another part of this work. Mr. Bee has taken a deep interest in the Oamaru Caledonian Society, with which he has been connected for thirty-five years, during which he has not been absent from one of the annual gatherings, and has filled every office in the institution. He is a steward of the North Otago Jockey Club, and has held office as vice-president, and is also a trustee of the Oamaru racecourse. As a Freemason Mr. Bee was initiated in Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning,
Mr. W. Bee.

Mr. W. Bee.

page 504 S.C. He is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter, a past Z, and an ex-officer of the Grand Lodge. Mr. Bee was married, in 1869, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Stoddart, of Dalkeith, and has two daughters and three sons.