RECORD OF SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19608, 9 April 1927, Page 13

RECORD OF SERVICE.

DEATH OF MR. J. O'DONOVAN. FORMER. POLICE COMMISSIONER. A CAREER OF DISTINCTION. I" B7 TELEGRAPH. <>WN .it-es|'i»Nl»EN "WELLINGTON. Friday The death occurred in Wellington this afternoon of Mr. John O'Donovan, formerly Commissioner of Police for New Zealand, and a member of the force for 42 years. Mr. O'Donovan, who was 70 years of age, was Commissioner of Police for the Dominion from 1916 to 1921, when he retired voluntarily before reaching the age for compulsory superannuation, in order to make room for the promotion of other men. Born in County Cork and educated with a view to entering the Roman Catholic priesthood, circumstances made him a teacher under the Irish national schools system up to 1878, when he came out to New Zealand to join his brother, who was in business as a contractor on the West Coast. In 1879 Mr. O'Donovan joined the police force, and in the course of a few years was transferred to Wellington, where he was for a long period orderly in the Magistrate's Court. His next transfer was to Stratford, and while there ha was given the rank of sergeant, and sent to Hawera. Long before this he had qualified as a solicitor, and when the Police Training Depot was established in Wellington he became its first instructor. In 1902 he was promoted to be sub-inspector. Six years later, when the then Governor, Lord Plunket, took up his residence in Palmerston North, Mr. O'Donovan was placed in charge of the town. On being made an inspector, in 1911, he was removed to Invercargill, then to Napier, and in 1915, with the position of superintendent to Dunedin. When Superintendent Ellison retired in November, 1915, Mr. O'Donovan was brought back to Wellington, and on Mr. J. Cullen vacating the position of commissioner he was placed at the head of the department.

Twice in the course of his career Mr. O'Donovan came into personal contact •with the Royal Family. When lyng George and Queen Mary, then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, visited New Zealand in June, 1901, he had charge of the special detachment of police who attended their movements. Again, as Commissioner of Police, he had control of the arrangements connected with the visit o! the Prince of Wales in April, 1920. For the last-mentioned service he was invested with the cross of membership of the Royal Victorian Order, fourth class, by His Royal Highness. The ceremony took place on board H.M.S. Renown, at Lyttelton, on the eve of the departure of the Royal party from this country. Mr. O'Donovan leaves a widow, three sons and one daughter.