THE NEW KNIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1921, Page 8

THE NEW KNIGHTS.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES. SIR 'EDWIN MITQHELSON. The Hon. Sir Edwin Mitchelson, K.C.M.G., was born in Auckland, in 1846, his parents having been pioneer settlerri. He entered the House of Representatives as memiber for Marsden in 1881, and became member for Eden three years later, remaining in the House until 1897. He was Minister of Public Works and Railways in 1883 and 1884, and was Minister of Railways, Native Minister, and Postmaster-general from October, 1887, until January, 1891, He was Mayor of Auckland from 1903 to 1905, and has held many other public offices in the Auckland district. SIR JOHN LUKE. Sir John P. Luke, Knight Bachelor was born at Penzance, in 1858, and he arrived in Wellington with his parents in 1874. He took up his father’s trade of engineering, and was associated with his father in establishing the firm of S. Luke and Co., a firm which had much to do with many important engineering works in that part of New Zealand. Since 1898 until this year he has, with one interval of some three years, been associated with the municipal affairs of the city, first as member of the Ctiy Council, and latterly as Mayor, having established a record for the city by holding the office for eight years. He has also been a member of other local bodies. He was for two years president of the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association, several years chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, chairman of the New Zealand Ironmasters’ Association, and chairman. of the Wellington Technical Education Board.

Sir John Luke entered the House of Representatives as member for Wellington Suburbs in 1908, but was defeated in 1911. He was returned for Wellington North at a by-election in 1918, when the Hon. A. L. Herdman retired from politics to take a seat on the Supreme Courtbench, and he has held the scat since that time. Sir John Luke was Mayor of Wellington during the whole period of the war, and played a very important part in patriotic work and in many public duties arising from the war. He was actively and capably assisted by Lady Luke, who undertook an enormous amount of work for the soldiers, and was in the forefront of patriotic effort right through the war period. SIR DONALD M’GAVIN. Brigadier-General Sir Donald r - J. M'Gavin, D. 5.0., is Director-General of Medical Services in New Zealand. He is a prominent member of the medical profession, and he had a distinguished war record. The honor done him by the King is a tribute to the work of the medical profession generally in New Zealand as well as to the personal services rendered by the new knight. Sir Donald APGavin joined up with the New Zealand forces early in the war, and went to the front with the Medical Corps. He was three times mentioned in dispatches during 1916 and 19,17, and later was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He succeeded Surgeon-General Henderson as Director-General of Medical Services in New Zealand in 1919.

COLONEL SLEEMAN, C.M.G. Colonel J. L. Sleeman, C.M.G.; Imperial General Staff, was Director of Military Training in New Zealand during the greater part of the war. He retained the position until the early part of this year and took, an important part in the remodelling of the Territorial and Cadet training system. He is recognised to be an officer of exceptional ability, who assisted materially to secure the efficiency 6i the New Zealand reinforcements during the war. Colonel Sleeman first saw active service in the South African War in 1900-02. Later he became attached to the ImperialGeneral Staff and discharged important duties with the British Army. He specialised in cadet training, and many officers who distinguished themselves in the Great War had passed through his hands in pre-war days. He went to the front in the early days pf the war, and after being invalided he became Director of Military Training in New Zea-' land at the end of 1915.

MR. F. W. PLATTS, C.M.G. Mr. Frederick William Platts, C.M.G., was Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands from 1915 until 1920. He has since returned to the office of a New Zealand Stipendiary Magistrate, a posi. lion he had filled before his appointment to the Cook Island Administration,