James Bonar (politician)

James Alexander Bonar (12 June 1840 – 7 November 1901) was a New Zealand merchant, shipping agent, company director and politician. He was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland on 12 June 1840.^[1] He was a member of the Westland County Council during the whole time of its existence, and was the county council's second chairman.^[2] He was the first Mayor of Hokitika, represented Hokitika on the Canterbury Provincial Council, a member of the Legislative Council (27 June 1868 – 7 November 1901), and the only Superintendent of Westland Province.^[1]

James Alexander Bonar
Portrait (1894)
Born	James Alexander Bonar (1840-06-12)12 June 1840
Died	7 November 1901(1901-11-07) (aged 61)
Resting place	Hokitika Cemetery
Occupation(s)	Merchant, shipping agent, company director and politician
Spouse	Elliott Margaret Bell
Relatives	4 sons and 1 daughter

He married on 19 October 1875, Elliott Margaret Bell; they had four sons and one daughter.^[3] He is buried at Hokitika Cemetery.

References

1. Minehan, Francis. "James Alexander Bonar". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
2. Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. pp. 241f.
3. *Burke, Bernard (1970) [1891]. Burke's Colonial Gentry (2 ed.). Baltimore, Ohio: Genealogical Publishing Company. pp. 530, 531. ISBN 0-8063-0415-4.