[2] After a short time in the Australian gold-fields in 1851, he purchased a farm near Wanganui and remained a farmer for the next fifty years.

By 1862 he was representing his area in the Wellington Provincial Council, and by 1866 was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wanganui, a position he held for only a year before resigning due to ill-health.

Bryce was proud of his commission, but an incident at William Handley's woolshed in November 1868 clouded his military career.

Initially, it was reported as an attack on a band of Hauhau warriors, killing two and wounding others, and where Bryce was "prominent and set the men a gallant example", according to his commanding officer.

In his last act, he proclaimed that Parihaka inhabitants had fourteen days to comply with the law or face confiscation of all their lands.

Bryce became Native Minister, and on 5 November 1881, he was at Parihaka at the head of 1,600 Armed Constabulary to arrest the leaders and disperse the village.

When Bryce refused to withdraw the words, "the House passed a vote of censure on him for not obeying the chair.