James Coates (parliamentary official)
James Coates was a prominent pioneer settler of Auckland, New Zealand. He was also a senior official within the administration of the newly-established colony of New Zealand, following the proclamation of sovereignty by William Hobson and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
Coates served in various roles, including as sheriff of the colony, magistrate, chief clerk in the Office of the Colonial Secretary, clerk of the executive and legislative councils, first clerk of the Auckland Provincial Council and, for five weeks prior to his death, as the first Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives.
From Jamaica to New Zealand, marriage and settling in Auckland
Coates was born in Montego Bay Jamaica in 1815, the second son of John and Mary Coates, plantation owners. He is described as being "liberal minded", with a "tall, slim, gentlemanly demeanor, and no want of office ability". Coates practiced law in Jamaica and worked within the government of the British West Indies before leaving to settle in New Zealand.On 2 March 1840 Coates arrived in Australia, having sailed from Bristol on the ship Chelydra. The Colonist newspaper reported rumours that Coates was related to Governor Sir George Gipps, and that Gipps had appointed Coates as the Colonial Secretary for New Zealand. Coates denied both rumours, stating that he had not had the honour of meeting the governor until after his arrival in Australia.
At 25 years of age, in July 1840, Coates arrived in New Zealand on the ship Chelydra. Also arriving from England via Sydney on the Chelydra that day was Sarah Anne Bendall who subsequently became Mrs Coates in the second recorded wedding in Auckland. The wedding took place in the drawing room at Government House on 24 June 1841, with the bride being given away by William Hobson, the Governor of New Zealand. After the wedding one of Hobson's five children was christened, with the newly married couple serving as godparents. These ceremonies were then followed by Auckland's first ball.
Coates was a signatory to both the original Waitangi Sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi and the deed recording the purchase from Maori in 1840, by George Clarke on behalf of the British Crown, of the 3000 acres on which central Auckland now stands. On 19 April 1841, in the first public land auction in what was to become Auckland City, Coates purchased two of the initial 119 sections put up for sale. Then in the first sale of suburban and country land on 1 September 1841, he purchased a small farm in partnership with captain William Cornwallis Symonds.
Career
Coates' career in New Zealand began on 12 July 1840 when he was appointed as a clerk in the office of the colonial secretary, reporting to the Colonial Secretary Willoughby Shortland through the Chief Clerk James Stuart Freeman. On 16 November 1840 Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson appointed Coates as his private secretary, a role which had previously been performed by Freeman as chief clerk.On 3 May 1841 Coates relinquished his role as private secretary when Hobson appointed Coates as clerk of the executive and legislative councils. Hobson also appointed Coates as one of a small number of "Magistrates of the Territory of New Zealand" On 1 July 1841 Coates was appointed by Hobson to be the "Sheriff of the Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies". From 10 January 1842 until his resignation effective on 23 September 1843, Coates was sheriff of the Central District of New Ulster. On 7 March 1842, as Sheriff of Auckland, Coates was required to oversee the first capital punishment in New Zealand. He held the roles of magistrate and sheriff at the same time as the position of clerk of councils.
When Robert FitzRoy took office as governor in late 1843 he appointed Coates, together with the newly appointed Colonial Secretary, Andrew Sinclair, and Registrar of Deeds, Robert Appleyard Fitzgerald, as "Commissioners, pro tempore, to examine the public accounts of the colony". Coates performed this role for about a year, without additional pay, while continuing to hold the position of clerk of councils.
Governor George Grey appointed Coates as chief clerk in the office of the colonial secretary on 1 March 1846. After this appointment Coates relinquished his position as clerk of councils for a period, but was reappointed to it again on 1 October 1848, while still retaining the position of chief clerk. He continued to hold the positions of Chief Clerk and Clerk of councils until 1853, occasionally acting as colonial secretary when Andrew Sinclair was absent. When the Auckland Provincial Council met for the first time in October 1853, Coates became its first clerk.
First Clerk of the House of Representatives
Coates was the acting Clerk of the House of Representatives when it assembled for the first time on 24 May 1854. His permanent appointment was proposed by Samuel Revans, who said that "No man could be found in the country so well qualified for it as Mr Coates". After some debate about whether it was appropriate for the House to appoint its Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms, it was decided that the Administrator of the Government should be asked to make appointments to these positions. The Speaker Charles Clifford subsequently recommended the appointment of Coates for the position of Clerk of the House, stating "I have the honour to recommend Mr Coates for the office of Clerk, that Gentleman having already proved his great efficiency".
Although Coats was only Clerk of the House of Representatives for five weeks, and died before his appointment was published in the Government Gazette, he oversaw the development of the House's first Standing Orders, which were adopted by the House on 9 June 1854.
Following Coates' death the House resolved that "200 pounds be appropriated as a donation to the widow and children of Mr James Coates, Clerk of the House of Representatives".
Children
Coates' firstborn William Hobson Coates, born in 1842, was the first child to be entered into the baptism register at Auckland's first church St Paul's. Governor Hobson and Lady Hobson were his godparents. WH Coates was an ensign in the Auckland Militia and the 1st Regiment of Waikato Militia. He died on 16 March 1879, aged 36, and is buried in St Stephens Cemetery Auckland.Coates' second child Lavinia Coates, born 1844, was president of the Victoria League and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her services in connection with the First World War. For several years she acted as chaperone and companion to Minnie Horton, daughter of The New Zealand Herald proprietor Alfred George Horton. She toured England and the Continent with the Hortons during the 1890s. For a brief period in 1896 she served as aide to Sir George Grey. Lavinia never married. She died in 1929 and is buried at Purewa Cemetery Auckland.
Coates' third child Georgiana Sophia, born 1846, married Canon Charles Moseley Nelson, who was the Vicar of St Paul's Church, Auckland for 38 years. The National Library of New Zealand holds a sketch by Charles Heaphy which depicts Rev Nelson proposing to Georgiana at the Freemason's picnic. Georgiana was president of the Ladies' Benevolent Society for 30 years, one of the founders of the SPCA, the Parnell Orphans' Home, and the Plunket Society. She was also a vice-president of the Girls' Friendly Society and an active member of the Mothers' Union. She died on 9 October 1919 and is buried in St Stephens Cemetery Auckland.
Coates' fourth child Augustus "Gus" John Ligar Coates, born 11 November 1849, married Jane Maunsell, daughter of the Venerable Robert Maunsell who was one of New Zealand's first missionaries and was instrumental in framing the Treaty of Waitangi and encouraging Maori chiefs to sign it. AJL Coates was one of the first commercial travellers in New Zealand. He died on 25 October 1926 and is buried at Purewa Cemetery Auckland. AJL Coates' Great-great-grandson Barry Coates became a New Zealand Member of Parliament in 2016.
Coates' fifth child Sir James Hugh Buchanan Coates, born in 1851, was not quite three years old at the time of his father's death. He remained unmarried, and became a prominent banker. He died on 11 October 1935.