DEATH OF EARLY SETTLER.

<> MR. AUGUSTUS J. L. COATES. LINK WITH OLD AUCKLAND. Another citizen with a career stretching bade to the days when Auckland was in its infancy has passed away, in the person of Mr- Augustus John Ligar Coates, whose death occurred yesterday at his residence, Takntai Street, Parnell, at the age of 77 years. Mr. Coates was a brother of Sir James Coates. He was a sen of Mr. James Coates, a barrister by profession, who camo to New Zealand ,as private secretary to the then Governor., Captain Hobson, was the first clerk ot the Executive Conncil of the colony, and afterwards, for the remainder of his days, the first sheriff of Auckland. Throughout his lifetime Mr. "Gus" Coates was one of the best-known men in the city, and in the society -6f the "seventies" and the early "eighties" of last century he was a very conspicuous member. He married a daughter of the Rev. Archdeacon Maunsell, one of the leading figures in the Church of England of the early days of the settlement. The late Mr. Coates was born at St. George's Bay in 1849, and he was the first child baptised in St. Barnabjis' Church, Archdeacon Riesling officiating. Together with his younger brother, James Mr. Coates received his early education at the Parnell Grammar School, of which the Rev. Dr. Kinder was at the time headmaster. After leaving school he became a cadet in the Customs Department, where he remained for several years. Leaving the Government service, he entered the employment of one of the early brewing firms Messrs. Colman, Burke and Co., whose establishment, known as the Otago Brewery, was situated between Port Chalmers and Dnnedin. On their behalf he became one of the first commercial travellers in Now Zealand. Some years later he returned to Auckland, and joined the staff of Messrs. Hancock and Co., in connection with the Captain Cook Brewery, Khyber Pass Road. There he remained for tho rest of his business life ; retiring in 1923. Mr. Coates is survived by Mrs. Coates, and his son, Mr. R. J. Coates, solicitor, of Auckland, who is at present m England. There are four grandchildren, and the only other surviving relatives are his brother, Sir James Coates, and his sister, Miss Levinia Coates, or Parnell.