OBITUARY

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15104, 27 November 1922, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR JAMES SHINER BOND. Tile death occurred at his home, at Remuera, Auckland, last evening, of a prominent figure in the life of the province, of Hie Waikato, and particularly of Hamillon, in tile person of Mr James Shiner Bond. The deceased gentleman had been connected with public and semi-public bodies in liamilion for a long period of years, and the progress which many of these institutions can lay claim to • to-day was in a very material measure contribulecl to by the foresight and business acumen of the late Mr Bond. . His death removes from, our midst a gentleman of untiring zeal, of scrupulous integrity, and one who, in short, was esteemed and respected by all sections of the community, both in the Waikato, where lie had laboured so long, and in other parts of the province and of the Dominion. /Pile lale Mr Bond was a native of Dorsetshire (England) and was a printer by trade. Coming to New Zealand m 1878, he had charge of the job printing department of the Rangitikei Advocate. In 1880 he removed to Cambridge, where he took charge of the printing department of Hie publication which was then known as the Waikato Mail. A year later, when that paper ceased to exist, lie opened a general printing establishment, and later entered into a similar business in Hamilton, which is still carried on by his sons, and to which was added a book and stationery business, enjoying a large and extensive connection throughout the district. It was in July, 1805, that the late Mr Bond started the Waikato Advocate, a weekly journal, which was merged into the Waikato Times, when he purchased Hie latter paper. lie carried on the publication eff the paper for some years on the site of the present stationery establishment until lie sold out to Messrs Pauli and Venables. Later the deceased took over |he Public Trustee Office operations in Hamilton, which lie carried on for a number of years until his retirement a couple of years ago when he removed to Remuera to reside.

In public life the deceased gentleman took a very prominent part. On first coming to the Waikato he was one of the first members of tile Cambridge Borough Council, and served on that body for nine years, retiring in 1895. During that period he was Mayor for three consecutive years. His municipal activities found continued scope when he removed to the then rapidly-expanding township of Hamilton, which was commencing the growth which was lo make it the largest and most progressive inland town in the Dominion, lie was first elected lo the Borough Council in 1901, and gave his valued services to the for about ten years, being .Mayor over the period from 1905 to 1909. Daring his regime many progressive schemes were launched for the advancement of lhe borough, including tire first extensive lot of operations concerning street works. He was always found to be a keen and persistent advocate of any movement that had for its object Hie "progress of the district, and his repeated agitation for the establishment of a Waikato-Manukau canal is quite fresh to memory. There were several other public institutions to which the late Mr Bond extended his valued services during his lengthy period of residence here. These included the. Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the Winter Show Association, occupying the, presidency of the latter institution for a term. He was a member of the Waikato Hospital Board for some years, ancl occupied the position of ils chairman for a term. When the Hamilton High School Board of Governors was first constituted in 1911, he took a seat on the Board, and served continuously throughout the period until he removed from the town. He was a member of the Auckland Harbour Board ever since the districts of Hamilton, Waikato and Raglan were granted representation, being returned unopposed on every occasion except the first, when he successfully contested the election. On the Auckland Board of Education, Mr Bond also rendered valuable service to his con-t stituents; and to educational matters in general. Ho .was chairman of directors of the Theatre Royal Company, Ltd., for some time, and several other concerns had liis support and his valued advice.