[7] William Reece received his schooling at the Christchurch Academy where he was head boy in Latin and French.

When his father died in 1887, he then shared the responsibility of managing it with his brother Charles Stewart Reece.

[8] For a time, the artist Charles Frederick Goldie lived at Reece's Bottle Lake Farm.

[10] Louisson was succeeded by Reece, who was elected unopposed on 20 November 1899[11] and installed as mayor on 20 December 1899.

Reece declared in December 1900 that he could not serve another term due to other commitments, and Arthur Rhodes received a requisition asking him to be nominated as mayoral candidate.

[8][13] On 28 April 1880, Reece married Eva Raine (born 1861) at Christ Church Cathedral in Nelson.