NEW YEAR HONORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1922, Page 5

NEW YEAR HONORS.

NEW ZEALAND RECIPIENTS.

SIR JAMES COATES. Sir James Coates was born in Auckland in 1851. His father, the late James Coates, arrived, in. Auckland in 1840 with His Excellency Captain Hobson, R.N., who had been appointed Governor of New Zealand. The late Mr. Coates was His Excellency’s private secretary, but subsequently became of the Legislative Council, which position lie held until his death In 1854. Sir James Coates was educated at the Church of England Grammar School under the late Rev. Dr. Kinder, M.A. He commenced his banking career in the Bank of New South Wales in 1868, subsequently joining the staff of the National Bank of New Zealand on its establishment in New Zealand in 187'3. He was made general manager of the bank in 1893. The headquarters was then in Dunedin. Mr. Goates proceeded to London to consult with the directors, amt on his return to New Zealand, in 1894, he arranged the removal of the heart office to Wellington. He retained the position of general manager for 21 years, residing in Wellington during the whole of that period. In 1914 he decided to retire on pension, and proceeded to London. Shortly after his arrival there he was elected by the directors to a sea-t on the board in recognition, of his long service to the bank. Throughout! the war he remained in London, and, e along with other New Zealanders there became interested in the care and comfort of our soldiers. He was an active member of the committee and treasurer of the New Zealand War Contingent Association and of the London branch of the New Zealand Red Cross. He was also the New Zealand representative on the executive committee of the King George and Queen Mary’s Club for Overseas Forces at Peel House, of the Navy League Overseas Fund, and of the Belgian Orphans’ Fund. He was appointed by the late Mr. Seddon as one of the Royal Commissioners for Wellington during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. In 1901 Mr. Coates was selected by the London debenture-holders of the New Zealand Midland Railway to act as receiver and to arrange the settlement with the New Zealand Government of the company’s claims. In politics Mr. Coates has always been a Liberal. The value of Sir James Coates’ advice to the Government on the day of the occasion of the Bank of New Zealand crisis may be guaged by the fact that he was offered by Cabinet the position o-f first president of the bank in its new sphere as a semi-State hank. Mr. Coates, however, mainly out of loyalty to the institution with which he had already been so long connected, decided not to accept the offer. Sir James Coates returned to New Zealand in December, 1919, and is at present residing in Wellington.

SIR JOHN ROSS. Sir John Ross, a very well-known resident of Dunedin, is the chairman of directors of the warehouse firm Messrs. Ross and Glendining, which has branches in all four centres. He came to New Zealand from London about 20 years ago, and has been chairman of directors since the business was made into a company. Sir John Ross has four sons and three daughters, one of the sons being vice-chairman of directors or Hoss and Glendining. For some time Sir John Ross has not been taking an. active part in the affairs of the firm. He is widely known and esteemed in Otago, and indeed in all parts of the Dominion.

MR. J. H. GUNSON, C.M.G. Mr. J. H. Gunson, C.M.G., has been Mayor of Auckland for several years, since the retirement of the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education. He is very prominent in northern business circles, and has devoted . a great deal of his time to municipal and other public •affairs, besides having done a great amount of patriotic work during the war period. Mr. Gunson is a. son of the late Mr. W. Gunson, grain merchant, of Auckland. The recipient of the New Year honor is a member of the firm of W. Gunson and Co. ■