James Alexander Bonar MLC VD (1840 - 1901)

Born 12 Jun 1840 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Elliot Margaret (Bell) Bonar — married 1875 in Victoria, Australia

Died 7 Nov 1901 at age 61 in Wellington, New Zealand

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Biography

James Bonar MLC VD is Notable.

Birth
James Alexander Bonar and his twin sister, Anne, were born in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, 12 June 1840. Their parents were Sophia Robertson andArchibald Bonar. James was educated at the Edinburgh Academy.

Emigration
In 1854 the family emigrated to Victoria Australia where James was employed in Melbourne as a shipping clerk by James Henty and Company, general merchants. James and his father emigrated to New Zealand in 1863 and James set up a business in Invercargill with the name Henderson and Bonar.

James Bonar MLC VD migrated from Australia to New Zealand.

Marriage
James Bonar married Elliott (Ella) Margaret Bell 19 October 1875 in Victoria, Australia and they had four sons and one daughter.
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Businessman
In 1863, James set up business as a general merchant in Invercargill with the name Henderson and Bonar and two years later, in 1865, moved with his father to Hokitika ^[2] where he became a shipping and commission agent and merchant. ^[3] James Bonar held the agency for the McMeekan, Blackwood and Company's steamships which sold out to the Union Steam Ship Company for which Bonar also held the agency. He was the Lloyd's agent at Hokitika and a licensed custom house agent. Interested in ships, James took a personal interest in the 'Waipara' .

In 1869 James had been appointed as a trustee of the Hokitika Savings Bankand later was manager of the bank after his father died in 1872. He invested in mining ventures in Ross, Hokitika and Reefton and was director of several companies.
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Community Affairs
James Bonar was a Justice of the Peace in 1867, a visiting justice at the Hokitika jail, official visitor to the Hokitika Lunatic Asylum, president of the Hokitika Hospital, chairman of the School Commissioners for the Westland Provincial District, chairman of the Hokitika Harbour Board, chairman of the Hokitika Gas Company and president of the Hokitika Cricket Club.

In 1878 the Honourable James Alexander Bonar, Superintendent of Westland, boarded the SS 'Tararua' in Wellington to accompany the ten pioneer Sisters of Mercy from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, to their destination in Hokitika. ^[5]

Politician
During the entire time of the existence of the Westland County Council, James Bonar was a member and the second chairman of the Council. He was the first Mayor of Hokitika his term of office being from 16 November 1866 to 23 October 1867.

He represented Hokitika on the Canterbury Provincial Council, was a member of the Legislative Council from 27 June 1868 - 7 November 1901 and he was also the only Superintendent of Westland Province.
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Jackson Bay Special Settlement
James Bonar was responsible for persuading the general government to provide funds to establish a disastrous and unsuccessful special settlement at Jackson Bay in 1874 - 75.

Award
The Imperial volunteer Officer's decoration was awarded to James Bonar in 1895.

Death
James Alexander Bonar died in Wellington 07 November 1901 and is buried in the Hokitika Municipal Cemetery 10 November, with his sons Vivian M (1877 - 1960) and Archibald (1838 1868). Crowds attnded his funeral and a parliamentary tribute was paid to him by Prime Minister Richard Dick Seddon. His wife died in 1913.
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Sources

1. ↑ Marriage Registration: "Victoria Marriages 1836-1942", Registration Number: 2704, FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 28 October 2022), James Alexander Bonar marriage to Elliot Margaret Bell in 1875 in Victoria, Australia.
2. ↑ Archives New Zealand: R8763671 BONAR James Alexander - Hokitika - Merchant
3. ↑ May, Philip Ross, 'The West Coast Gold Rushes', Pegasus, Christchurch, 1967.
4. ↑ Bonar, James Alexander by Francis Minehan [1] (Accessed 06 May 2023)
5. ↑ 'Mercy in Westland 1878 - 1978', Centennial Booklet, Guardian and Times Co Ltd, hokitika, 1978.
6. ↑ Wikipedia: James Bonar (politician)[2] (Accessed 05 May 2023)
7. ↑ James Alexander Bonar [3]
8. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #186555751 (accessed 5 May 2023)
   Memorial page for James Alexander Bonar (12 Jun 1840-10 Nov 1901), citing Hokitika Municipal Cemetery, Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast, New Zealand (plot: Block 187, Plot 4405 [No Headstone]); Maintained by Chris G (contributor 49162771).

Also

• May, Philip Ross, 'The West Coast Gold Rushes'. Pegasus, Christchurch, 1967. pp 308, 328, 336, 384, 400, 428, 432, 433-4, 437, 491.