NEW CHAIRMAN

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 172, 16 April 1932, Page 10

NEW CHAIRMAN

Mr. O. Nicholson Appointed ' BANK OF NEW ZEALAND At a meeting of the board of directors of the Bank of New Zealand yesterday, Mr. Oliver Nicholson was elected chairman for the ensuing 12 months, on the motion of Mr. William Watson, retiring chairman, seconded by Sir Harold Beauchamp, a past chairman.

Mr. Nicholson was appointed by the Government as director of the Bank/of New Zealand in succession to the late Mr. J. H. Upton, of Auckland, who retired on account of advancing years in June, 1924. The new chairman is head of a leading legal firm in Auckland, and also a director and past chairman of the New Zealand Insurance Company, and trustee and past president of the Auckland Savings Bank. He has for many years been a prominent figure, in Freemasonry in New Zealand. During the periods when Lord Plunket and Sir Charles Fergusson held the office of Grand Master of New Zealand, Mr. Nicholson was Pro-Grand Master, and he had also served two- years’ terms of office as Grand Master on his own account. Apart from Craft Freemasonry, he also held the position of First Grand Principal in the Royal Areh branch of the institution. Born at Mangonui in August, 1864, Mr. Nicholson was educated at the Auckland Grammar School. Later'he entered the law office of Mr. A. E. McKechnie, one of Auckland’s early practitioners, as an articled clerk. In 18S5 he stood second on the list of candidates for the law examinations in the whole of New Zealand, and for tins achievement received a special certificate from the Canterbury Law Society. Shortly afterward Mr. McKechnie admitted him to partnership. After Mr. McKechnie died, Mr. Nicholson took other partners into what is now one of the leading firms in Auckland. Mr. Nicholson was Mayor of the borough of Mount Eden for the first 12 years of its existence, and he retired 'from that office in 191 S. On his retirement a purse of £250 was subscribed by the burgesses in recognition of his public services, but at Mr, Nicholson’s request the money was devoted to the formation of a fund ■ to assist necessitous children belonging to the district to obtain secondary education. In 1908 Mr. Nicholson contested the Grey Lynn seat in the Reform interest against Sir George Fowlds, but he was defeated by SB9 votes. f