NATIONAL BANK CHANGES

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 890, 16 December 1916, Page 10

NATIONAL BANK CHANGES

MR A. FERGUSON RETIRES. A very prominent figure will be mised from financial circles in Canterbury when Mr Alexander Ferguson retires, toward the end of February, from the position of manager of the National Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch. Mr Ferguson has had a remarkably long experience of banking. Fifty-two years ago he joined the staff of the British Linen Bank, one of the oldest banks in Britain—it was established in 1746—and he was in that bank's service in the North of Scotland for some three years. In 1868 he joined the Oriental Banking Corporation in London. For a time, subsequently, Mr Ferguson was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Liverpool, but in February, 1874 he joined the National Bank of New Zealand in London, so that when he retires he will have been in that bank's service for 43 years. Coming to New Zealand in 1877, Mr Ferguson was for a little while on the Christchurch staff, but in 1878 he was appointed manager of the Balclutha branch. In 1880 he was transferred to Timaru, and in 1885 he came to Christchurch, where he has been ever since, except for a trip to the Old Country. When Mr A. Macintosh retired from the position of auditor of the Bank of New Zealand, the late Mr R. J. Seddon personally offered that position to Mr Ferguson, but as the latter was then contemplating making a trip Home he did not see his way to avail himself of the opportunity. Twentyone years ago, Mr Ferguson met with an accident which has been a handicap to him ever since, but he has retained all his business acumen. Mr Ferguson will be succeeded by Mr C. J. Ronaldson, who was in the bank's service in Central Otago when Mr Ferguson was at Balclutha, and who is now manager of the Invercargill branch. Mr Ronaldson has been in Invercargill for close on nine years, and has been actively associated with several aspects of public life there. He was president of the Southland Chamber of Commerce, and is now president of the St. John Ambulance Association's branch at Invercargill. Mr Ronaldson is an enthusiastic golfer. The new manager of the Invercargill branch will be Mr F. S. Seamon, who is at present on the bank's inspecting staff.