NEW YEAR HONOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17979, 3 January 1922, Page 4

NEW YEAR HONOURS.

THREE NEW ZEALAND?®, | MR. J. COATES KNIGHTED, | 'pjy. C.M.G. FOR MR M N^OX j Br T«'l<'JT»ph--rr«''a AM^idtmn—f "might, ijls*-r;vc>! 1 X p t. jA. and NZ. UA'IXj.N, ,i« a . j. ! The list of New Wir h wr* :n,-|<idfj j the names of three New Zfai.tnd'"' I James Coste?, lat* i the ' National Bank of N"« ZeaUi d r,) Mr John Itasj. of Dunedm, *■" Krights Bachelor, and Mr. J H U :nson, | Mayor of Acckiand, is create % Com j panion of the Order of St Michael ir.d I St. George. Four new peer? aro announced, and a i large number of business rr"n *nd Ur.aa ciers receive honours for service* rendered during the war. SIR J AMI'S COVIj Sir James Coates was horn at Airk(had in 1851. His father, an hr. s i„h | lurr.ster by profession, hor-i 13 • 1.42 as private secretary to (.apt.r, Hob's, n, K-N , tho fust Governor of N * | Zealand. Ho was afterwards »pp n«J j tho first clerk of the Kxecutiv* ( • ncil 'of New Zealand and euhjoquentlj *' i sheriff at Auckland, a pos.Ui-n h<- \ cid ■ until his death 111 1863 M r 1 "Hej was educated at the of hii?,and .Grammar School, and at St. John f Col- > lrjo under tho late Dr. Kinder 1" 1869 ft ... j ho commenced his raiwr as .i l-at <er in ! the Bank of New South W.»K ,v. I after | serving four years with that n-s' tution 111 this city and at Thames, Mr ' aiea was appointed teller in 'he .W »lani I bianrh of the National Bank of I'and. Ho was subsequently promoted, bocoining accountant 111 187b. and \ j manager eiyht years later !• " many years ho successfully tilled that impTtant I and responsible office, and on tie u-tire-jment of Mr. W. Dymock as penoi.il manI ager of the Kink in 1893, Mr f- a'cs wjj j e!eited by the board of direct.-.-* to sue ' feed him. The headquark-rs of the hanii | were then in Dunedm At llie request !of the directors Mr. fnates pf.nl a v„j t ( to London to consult with then l as to the policy and conduct of the business of the bank in New Zealand, and on Irs return I in 1893 entered on his duties as general I manager, with headquarters at Wiling j ton He continued in that position until March, 1914, when lie went to London as a director of the bank. He returned to New Zealand in December. 1019, and has since acted as an honorary director of the bank in New Zealand. Sir James Coates has had a long and intimate acquaintance with New Zealand and its history, and has earned a reputation for abilitv and courtesy as a hinker. He has always taken a leading interest in all nth'etic sports, and was one of the founders of tho Auckland Amateur Atb- 'j,letio Association, of which lie was for several years president up to the time ot his taking up his residence in Wellington. He was elected a Fellow of Urn Bankers' Institute of London in 1889. Sir James was one of the Royal Commissioners for Wel'ington during the visit of the present King and Quee i as Duko and Duchess of Cornwall and 'i ork in ISOI. He was selected by the London debenture holders of the New Zealand Midland Railway Company to act. ns receiver and to arrange the settlement with the New Zealand Government of th* company's claims. In politics Sir James has always been a Liberal, and enjoyed the confidence of Sir George Grey, Mr. Seddon, and Sir Joseph Ward. His ad vice on financial matters was often Bought by the leaders 01 the party. Especially was this the oaso during tho Bank of New Zealand crisis nearly 30 years ago The value of his advice on that, occasion may be gauged bv tbe fact that he was offered bv the Cabinet the po&ition of first president of the bank in its now sphere as a semi-State bark. Mr. Coates, however, mainly out of loyalty to the in stitution with which he had a'ready bsen so lone connccted, decided not to accept the offer. Tho welfare of New Zealand solders claimed the active support of Sir James during liis residence in London, v?liioh covered the whole of the war period. Sir James returned to New Zealand in December, 1919, and is at present- residing in Wellington, '"■0 SIR JOETN ROSS. Sir John Ross, the present head of the firm of Ross arm Glendining, whose headquarters are in Dunedm, is a well-known resident of that city. Ho was born in Scotland over 87 years ago, and about the age of 20 ho betamo manager of a small drapery business n a Scottish village. He held this position for a short period, and then entered into partnership with his employer and the iatter's brother. There was a New Zealand branch of the business, and Mr. ißoss came to this country. He shortly afterwards disposed of his interest to nit partners and joined the late % Mr. R. Glendining in founding the present firm of Ross and Glendining. The business was gradually developed, and a small woollen milling plant which was purchased becamo the genesis of the present Roslyn Mills, which are sti;l conducted by the firm, Mr, RO6S was married iu 1870 and on his wedding day he left for London, where he established the firm's London office. He remained in charge of this branch for over 50 years. He then returned to New Zealand, but after remaining here for a year or two hfl went back to London, eventually again returning to the Dominion and making his home permanently in Dunedin. Sir y.. John and Lady Ross celebrated their golden wedding eiehteen months ago. Sir .% John is a prominent member of Knox ; Church, Dunedin, and Knox College, and many other Presbyterian institutions in tbe southern city havie benefited considerably from his benefactions. t MR. J. H. GUNSON, C.M.G. Mr. J, H. Gunson, C.M.G., Mayor of Auckland, is a native of Auckland. He was born m,1877, being the eldest son of the late Mr. W. Gunson, who was a resident of Auckland for over 30 years, and v. ho, for a number 01' years, was a "ber of the Auckland Harbour Board and chairman of the same body for a termMr. Gunson was educated at tho Auckland public schools, and at the Auckland Grammar School during tho hcadma<stership of Mr. C. F. Bourne. On leaving school in 1892 Mr. Gunson entered tho | business of his father, which, after tbe ft latter's death, he himself conducted for saveral years, until it was acquired by Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. Th« present Mayor mado his first entry into pub]io life in 19CJ, when he was elected ) | ir.ember of Jie council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, of which body h« became president two years later. His ierm of oftice in this position—l9lo—is ■memorable for the activity of the chamber in regard to ocean mail services, the inauguration of the present Vancouver ser- .'| vjee being largely due to Mr. Gunson'* energy during that period. In 1909 Mr. Gunson was elected h member of ths Auckland Harbour Board, and two yeS» ;|5 later he became chairman of the board, and held that office until 1915, when he was elected Mavcr, defeating Mr. R. Tndehope. In 1917, 1919, ard 1921, Mr. Gunson wag re-elected to the mayoralty without opposition. During Mr. Gunson's term as chairman M|of the Harbour Boani many important Tindertalrings were carried out. As Mayor - for the past six and a-half years he b&f /a done yeoman service for the citizens. S e Si took a leading part in war activitif*. H hiving l>een president of the Auckland || Provincial Patriotio and War Relief As* sociation since its inception, also chairman of the joint committee of the British iM Red Cross Society and St. John Ambolance Association, and in addition h® pjfc served on the National Efficiency Board- ||§ In 1918 he was made an officer of the :|f Most Excellent Order of tha Briiish Q®" pire, »'%S 1