SIR JOHN ROBERTS

Evening Star, Issue 17369, 3 June 1920, Page 7

SIR JOHN ROBERTS

Two Birthday honors have come to Now Zealand. The Governor-Genera! is advised that His Majesty has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of his birthday," to confer upon Mr John Roberts, C.M.G, of Dim-' edm, the honor of Knight Bachelor, and upon Mr Thomas Noel Brodrick, 0 B E Under-Secretary of Lands and Survey Department, Wellington, the honor of "Companion of the Imperial Service Order. Sir John Roberts was born a* fielkhk m 184 a. In 1852 he entered hi- fathers woollen manufacturing hrm. lie arrived in Victoria in 1854. where he was for four years. ' l a 1864 he left for Melbourne, where he was for four years in the employment of Sanderson and j Co. In 1868 he came to New Zealand and j opened business in Otauo under tho style ot Murray, Roberts, and Co. Though his business was such as to take a great deal jof his time, Mr Roberts realised'his duty ;to the cninnunitv from the earliest of his days m New Zealand. The following summary oi__ his public activities illustrates this:—Be was a member of the last Pro- | vmcial Council, representing Kaikorai; 1 he was one of the first members of tha I laieri County Council, and was for some ; time chairman ; was president of the New j Zealand and South Seas Exhibition •in 1 and was Mayor of Dunedin : 1839-90; he and Mr Wm. Souter are the ! only survivors of the founders of the Otago ,A. and P .Association: lie was a member ■ ot the Federation Commission and a member oi the Alien Enemies Commission. He ;was appointed to the University Council j m 1885, and held office till 1891. lie was I reappointed in 1907 and still holds a- seat. : He has been Yice-Chancellor for the past : seven years. In regard to public companies, he_was an original director of the j Mosgiel Woollen Company, and has conj tinuously held a seat on' the board, and | for the past years has been chairman. | He was an original director of the New I Zealand Refrigerating Company, and held ;a seat on the board no to the" time when . the company was absorbed by the Christchurch Meat Coinramv. Since the absorp- ; lion of the New Zealand Refrigerating i Company he was railed to a seat on the I board of the Christchurch Meat Company, ; and_ occupied that position for eome years : until he retired about a year ago. The | Christchurch Meat. Company changed j name, about thrre_ years ago' to that of the I A.".- /.e,'! 1 ';■!.;-! H-'ti ijf':"at birr Cnmonnv, J which was the pivneer of the frozen meat jiu.-.'-- .. ■■;, I • • • .; ~-,,.,,.. ~ ?,,,. tiv _ ; ;past 17 years ot the Union S.S. Company, j and ha.- l,ee;- u': ii i: - inaiima.n for Jive I years. He is abo .T'dneotor and chairman lof the New Zealand Hardware Company, \ a director of Mil-urn Lime and Cement r-Cornpany, a director of Donnghv and Co., : and of Trustees and Executors and Agency ! Company. Sir John was married in 1870 ; to a. daughter of the late Mr C. 11. Kettle, j and celebrated his golden wedding a few j months ago.