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

Mr. John Bryce Thomson

Mr. John Bryce Thomson , who was Mayor of Dunedin for the year 1883, and held a seat as a councillor for eight years, was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1840. He served an apprenticeship of five years to carpentry in Glasgow. In 1884, Mr. Thomson came out to Port Chalmers in the ship “Aboukir,” Immediately after his marriage to a daughter of the late Mr. Wm. Clough. With Mr. James McGill, he founded the firm of McGill and Thomson in 1866, the business being continued till 1893; many important buildings were erected by the firm, including part of Messrs Bing, Harris and Co.'s fine warehouse, the stone house of the late Mr. Robert Gillies—one of the best houses within the town belt—, Mr. A. Lee's house at Roslyn, and many others. Mr. Thomson was for four years a member of the Dunedin Harbour Board, of which he was at one time chairman; he also occupied a seat on the Hospital Board, and was a trustee of the Benevolent Society for one year. As a member of the order of Foresters, Mr. Thomson occupied office as district chief ranger at the time of the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, to whom he presented an address on behalf of the society. His family consists of two daughters—married respectively to two brothers and settled in America—and two sons, the elder of whom is associated in the business, to which reference is made elsewhere in this volume.