New Zealand Baronets

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1019, 9 July 1930, Page 8

New Zealand Baronets

OLD-ESTABLISHED TITLES

Sir Joseph Ward’s Successor

THE baronetcy, an hereditary British order, was created by -James I. in 1611, ostensibly for settling L’lster. in Ireland, but in reality as a source of revenue drawn from the fees. Those days have passed, however, and in later years the hereditary title was conferred as an honour for distinctive service to the State. On the death of a baronet his eldest son succeeds to the title, but, if he dies without issue, his nearest male relative is the next in line of succession.

It is not generally known that a number of baronets reside in New Zealand. Sir Cyril Ward, of Christchurch, is the latest baronet. He has succeeded to the title on the death of his father, Sir Joseph Ward, on whom the honour was conferred at the suggestion of King George V. Sir Cyril was born at Bluff and educated at St. Patrick's College. Wellington, and St. Ignatius College, Sydney. He served a brief apprenticeship on a newspaper before entering his father’s business at Invercargill. He is now manager of Kinsey and Company, Ltd., of Christchurch. The new Lad}- Ward was born in Queensland. Both she and Sir Cyril are very popular in Canterbury. They have five sons—Joseph (heir to the baronetcy), James, Bruce, David and John —and one daughter, Theresa, named after the late Lady Ward. The two youngest sons are twins. Occasionally baronets residing in New Zealand have not used their titles, possibly for reasons not unconnected with finance. It frequently happens that men in various parts of the Empire unexpectedly succeed to titles. This recently happened when a lift attendant in a town in Canada succeeded to a wealthy baronetcy in England. There is also the case of the heir to the Earldom of Egmont, who was living on a small farm in Canada and who disliked the idea of living in the family castle in England. One of the oldest baronetcies in the United Kingdom is that held by Sir Graeme Sinclair-Lockhart, of Auckland. This was created in 1636. He is also a baronet of Nova Scotia. Sir Graeme is the 12th baronet and succeeded liis father in ISIS. Another old-established baronetcy is held by Sir William Le Fleming, of Taranaki. This was created in 1705. Another baronet. Sir Nesbitt William Armstrong, resides at 52 Battery Road, Napier. The baronetcy to which he succeeded his brother in 1922, was created in 1841. The staff of the Bank of New Zealand a(K Wanganui includes a baronet —Sir Charles Coventry Burdett, the ninth of his line. The baronetcy was

created in 1665, and Sir Charles succeeded his father in 1918.

Canterbury numbers several baronets among its farming community. Sir Charles Clifford, of "Stonyhurst.” North Canterbury, succeeded his father. Sir George, some months ago. He is the third baronet and is still single. The Cliffords belong to a very old-established English family—the Cliffords of Chudleigh—many of whom have had distinguished careers. Another Canterbury baronet. Sir Charles Campbell, is the 12th of his line. The title was conferred on one of his forbears in 1628. in the days of Charles I. It is the oldest baronetcy in New Zealand. Sir Charles lives at “Davaar” near the home of the present Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes. Sir Bruce Stewart, of Pigeon Bay, near Christchurch, succeeded his father in 1920. He has lived in New Zealand for only a few years. When he and Lady Stewart arrived in the Dominion, they did not use the title; but lived on their farm simply as Mr. and Mrs. Stewart. However the title has beeh adopted during the past few- years. There is also a baronet on the staff of his Excellency the Governor General. Sir John Hanham is the 10th baronet to bear the title, which was created in 1667. English history relates that the first baronet ever to be created was Sir Nicholas Bacon, of Redgrave. Suffolk. The present holder of the title is Sir Hickman Bacon, who is the premier baronet of England. After the creation of English baronetcies in 1611. James I. created baronetcies of Ireland in 1619. and, later, those of Scotland and Nova Scotia, which were instituted by Charles I. in 1625. Until a few years ago baronets did not wear any distinguishing badge; but now their insignia is worn on a ribbon round the neck on all formal occasions. A baronet takes precedence over all knifehts except Knights of the Garter.