{{Short description|New Zealand businessman and mayor of Hamilton}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = John William Ellis | order = 20th [[Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand|Mayor of Hamilton]] | image = File:John Willliam Ellis 1854-1918.jpg | caption = | predecessor = [[John Robert Fow]] | successor = John Robert Fow | birth_name = | birth_date = 1853 | birth_place = [[Guildford]], [[Surrey]], England | death_date = {{Death date and age|1918|08|06|1853|||df=y}} | death_place = [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]], New Zealand | spouse = {{marriage|Kauki Tauira| 1877}} {{marriage|Manawa Francis|1889}} | relations = | occupation = | honorific_prefix = | honorific_suffix = | term_start = 1917 | term_end = 1918 }} '''John William Ellis''' [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (1853 – 6 August 1918) was a New Zealand businessman and [[Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand|mayor of Hamilton]] from 1917 to 1918.
His progressive mother encouraged him to integrate with local [[Māori people|Māori]] from an early age, which later facilitated his trading on the borders of the [[King Country]] and go on to gain rights to fell and mill timber. That led to formation of one of the largest timber companies, [[Ellis and Burnand|Ellis & Burnand]], with its head office in Hamilton, where he became a councillor, then mayor.
== Early life and family ==
John William was born to early feminist, [[Ellen Elizabeth Ellis]] (née Colebrook), and Oliver Sidney Ellis (a builder) in 1853 at [[Guildford]]. His two younger brothers died in their childhood. They emigrated to [[Auckland]] in 1859, where his mother encouraged her sons to learn [[Māori language|Māori]] and play with Māori children, so that John became an interpreter, then a teacher. He and his mother returned to England in 1864. She left him at boarding school when she returned to Auckland in 1865. [[File:John_William_Ellis.jpg|thumb|John William Ellis in military uniform in 1870s]] John returned when he was 14 and worked in a stationer's shop in Auckland.<ref name=":04">{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19180806.2.27|title=Obituary|date=6 August 1918|work=Waikato Times|access-date=10 February 2018|pages=4}}</ref> Around 6 years later (in 1900 he said he'd been in the [[King Country]] for 26 years, so about 1874) he opened a general store at [[Moawhango]].
By 1875 he had Motakotako store, just north of [[Aotea Harbour]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18750611.2.19|title=Aotea.|date=1875-06-11|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=2018-06-10|pages=3}}</ref> That seems to coincide with a report of a post office, with a courteous postmaster, reopening to serve Aotea.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 Dec 1875|title=COUNTRY NEWS. NEW ZEALAND HERALD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18751201.2.26|access-date=2021-05-22|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> Much of the trade exchanged goods for pigs, which he shipped to Auckland, at one stage owning a schooner,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/cemetery-services/about/Documents/Hamilton%20East%20Cemetery%20Heritage%20Walk.pdf|title=Hamilton East Cemetery one hour Heritage Walk|website=Hamilton City Council|access-date=19 May 2018|archive-date=9 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209065232/https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/cemetery-services/about/Documents/Hamilton%20East%20Cemetery%20Heritage%20Walk.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> which was wrecked in 1877.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18770821.2.3|title=Shipping - WRECK OF THE SCHOONER ECHO AT RAGLAN.— TWO MEN DROWNED.|date=1877-08-21|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=2018-06-10|pages=2}}</ref> In 1880 he was described as, "''acquiring a reputation for honour and probity, alike from European and Maori, which a prince might envy; and his sleek teams of ten or more bullocks drawing his heavily laded American waggon (an innovation which caused much needless speculation as to its usefulness), as seen winding along the ill-formed roads of the unkempt wilderness''".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18800124.2.47|title=Raglan as a Wateringplace.|date=1880|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=2018-06-10|pages=6}}</ref> John sold the Motakotako store in 1882.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18820425.2.16|title=Raglan|date=1882-04-25|work=Waikato Times|access-date=2018-06-10|pages=2}}</ref>
At Motakotako John taught Wiremu Tauira's daughter, Te Remi Kauki Tauira, European ways and, despite attempts to discourage a romance, in 1877, he and Kauki seem to have been approved in a [[Marriage in New Zealand#Historical background|Māori hui 'marriage']]. A daughter, Lucy, was born in 1879. John and Kauki separated in 1885 after she was called home by her family.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_806440/Wai%20898%2C%20A025.pdf|title=Maori and the Forestry, Mining, Fishing, and Tourism Industries of the Rohe Potae Inquiry District 1880–2000|last=Cleaver|first=Philip|date=February 2011|website=Waitangi Tribunal}}</ref> She died at [[Rukumoana Marae]] in 1922. Lucy married John, son of Rev. J. H. Gray.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PiGwGwAACAAJ|title=Te Mata - Aotea|last=Vernon|first=Robert Thomas|date=1973|publisher=A.O. Rice|language=en}}</ref>
John's father, Oliver, died on 12 March 1883 and his mother, Ellen, on 17 April 1895. John burnt most copies of his mother's 1882 feminist novel, believing his father to be an occasional drinker,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-RosEver-t1-g1-t1-body-d1-d3.html|title=II. An Overview of the Life of Ellen Ellis — "A sad life bravely endured for honour's sake"22|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz|access-date=2018-05-22}}</ref> rather than the drunkard portrayed in the novel.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz//tm/scholarly/tei-RosEver-t1-g1-t1-body-d1-d1.html|title=Introduction — "[W]oman is slowly beginning to realise her power"|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz|access-date=11 February 2018}}</ref> [[File:1880s_Motakotako_Marae.jpg|thumb|Te Tokanganui-a-noho originally stood at Motakotako, with Ellis (right of centre) and his first wife (right)]] The sources are sometimes not quite in agreement as to dates, or people over the next decade, but it seems that in December 1882<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.waipadc.govt.nz/agendasandminutes/heritage%20-%20arch%20appendices%20scanned.pdf|title=Waipa District Proposed Plan Submission 66116 BUILDING ASSESSMENT REPORT J. W. Ellis House Location: 37a Whittaker Street, Kihikihi|last=Alexy Simmons, Simmons & Assoc Ltd|date=2012|website=Waipa District Council}}</ref> (or 1883),<ref name=":04"/> John and Kauki moved to [[Kihikihi]], where John built a new store.<ref name=":6" /> J.W. Ellis House is now a heritage building at 37a Whitaker Street, Kihikihi<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.waipadc.govt.nz/AgendasAndMinutes/2016%20February%2029%20Heritage%20Committee%20Agenda.pdf|title=Heritage Committee agenda|date=February 2016|website=Waipa District Council}}</ref> and he continued with the store until at least 1893.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 1893 |title=Waikato Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18930418.2.36.7 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> [[Henry Valder]] joined as a partner in 1884.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3v2/valder-henry|title=Valder, Henry|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=10 February 2018}}</ref> The old store and home at Motakotako burnt down about 1885.<ref name=":1" />
John's first venture into timber milling seems to have started at [[Invasion of the Waikato#Ōrākau|Ōrākau]], near Kihikihi in 1884,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18840226.2.29.6|title=Page 3 Advertisements Column 6|date=26 February 1884|work=Waikato Times|access-date=19 May 2018|pages=3}}</ref> though other sources say it wasn't until 1886.<ref name=":04"/> He then employed 4 men on 2 saw benches, powered by an 8 hp [[Portable engine|portable steam engine]].<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/31196835|title=1953 jubilee year: half a century of progress in the timber industry of New Zealand, 1903–1953. {{!}} National Library of New Zealand|website=natlib.govt.nz|language=en-NZ|others=Mccracken, A.E.|access-date=19 May 2018}}</ref>
John moved to [[Ōtorohanga]] in 1885, where he became postmaster and opened another store<ref name=":6" /> with Valder<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19260312.2.141|title=Otorohanga's Past.|date=12 March 1926|work=Auckland Star|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=12}}</ref> and John Taonui Hetet,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19060414.2.16|title=Presentation to Mr and Mrs J. T. Hetet.|date=14 April 1906|work=Waikato Times|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=3}}</ref> of [[Ngāti Maniapoto]] descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/ngati-maniapoto/page-3|title=3. – Ngāti Maniapoto – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref> J T Hetet & Co<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19110628.2.31|title=Old Te Kuiti.|date=28 June 1911|work=King Country Chronicle|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=7}}</ref> built the first building in [[Te Kūiti]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19230307.2.160.4|title=History of the King Country.|date=7 March 1923|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=2}}</ref> then joining with John,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19110909.2.38|title=Old Te Kuiti.|date=9 September 1911|work=King Country Chronicle|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=7}}</ref> also just before the arrival of the [[North Island Main Trunk|railway]] construction gangs, though still there when a raid at the store resulted in a police invasion in 1890.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18901023.2.24|title=The Te Kuiti Affair|date=23 October 1890|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=5}}</ref> Between the mid-1880s and mid 1890s Ellis Bros & Valder stores<ref name=":7" /> were set up at [[Tokaanu]], [[Taupō]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19061102.2.23|title=Old Recollections.|date=2 November 1906|work=King Country Chronicle|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=3}}</ref> and followed the navvies up the [[North Island Main Trunk|North Island Main Trunk line]] as it was built, with stores at [[Hunterville]],<ref name=":7" /> [[Ohingaiti railway station|Ōhingaiti]] and [[Taihape railway station|Taihape]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzjh.auckland.ac.nz/docs/1977/NZJH_11_1_04.pdf|title=Some New Zealand Navvies CO-OPERATIVE WORKERS, 1891—1912|last=GIBBONS|first=P. J.|website=NZ Journal of History 1977 Volume 11 No. 1}}</ref> Valder sold his interest in the stores in 1900 and returned to England, but was soon to reappear in John's business life.<ref name=":7" />
In 1888,<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/waikato-times/20120416/281788511047328|title=The dead tell tales|via=PressReader|access-date=10 February 2018}}</ref> or 1889<ref name=":1" /> (though his obituary said he was 33)<ref name=":04"/> John married his second wife, Manawa Hinewai (her obituary said she was born in Tauranga, daughter of Major F Francis<ref name=":5" />), of Kihikihi (a close relative of [[Ngāti Maniapoto]] chief, [[Rewi Maniapoto|Rewi]])<ref name=":04"/> and they had 4 children, Stanley, Percy, Marjorie<ref name=":1" /> (Mrs Rickets)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS19180807.2.11|title=Obituary|date=7 August 1918|work=Thames Star|access-date=18 February 2018|pages=2}}</ref> and Sidney.<ref name=":1"/> Sidney, was wounded near [[Egyptian Expeditionary Force#Eastern Frontier Force|Cairo]] in 1916<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19160118.2.79.2|title=Lieut. Oliver Sidney Ellis, Auckland Battalion, Wounded and Sick in Hospital at Cairo. He Is a Son of Mr. J. W. Ellis, Muriaroha, Hamilton.|date=1916|work=Auckland Star|access-date=12 February 2018|pages=8}}</ref> (or in the [[Gallipoli Campaign|Dardanelles]] in 1915)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C42776|title=Oliver Sydney Ellis Born 3 September 1894|website=Cenotaph record}}</ref> and returned later that year<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM19160710.2.44|title=Back from the Front|date=10 July 1916|work=New Zealand Times|access-date=12 February 2018|pages=6}}</ref> to be a timber merchant.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19190415.2.4|title=Aftermath of an Accident|date=15 April 1919|work=WAIKATO TIMES|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref> Stanley became an engineer, Percy a farmer at Puketarata, near Ōtorohanga,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19170317.2.15|title=Efficiency Board|date=1917-03-17|work=Waikato Times|access-date=2018-06-10|pages=4}}</ref> and Sidney, who was back by 1919,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19190415.2.4|title=Aftermath of an Accident|date=1919-04-15|work=Waikato Times|access-date=2018-06-10|pages=2}}</ref> stayed in sawmilling.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTR19231208.2.21|title=Ellis Veneer Company.|date=8 December 1923|work=NZ Truth|access-date=23 March 2018|pages=5}}</ref> Stanley died on 3 February 1946, aged 58.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamilton.govt.nz:443/our-services/do-it-online/cemetery-search/Pages/default.aspx?surname=ellis&forename=stanley|title=Cemetery search - Hamilton City Council|website=www.hamilton.govt.nz|language=en-NZ|access-date=2019-06-09}}</ref>
== Sawmilling == Having started in 1884, John seems to have left further expansion in milling for a few years. Coulthard Bros had a mill at [[Ohaupo railway station|Ohaupo]], which they moved to Rahu, [[Te Awamutu]] in 1882.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18820318.2.23.5|title=Page 3 Advertisements Column 5|date=18 March 1882|work=Waikato Times|access-date=17 February 2018|pages=3}}</ref> Graham joined the mill in 1883,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18830512.2.21.2|title=Page 4 Advertisements Column 2|date=12 May 1883|work=Waikato Times|access-date=17 February 2018|pages=4}}</ref> Stephen N Westney in 1885,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19320908.2.17|title=Obituary.|date=8 September 1932|work=Auckland Star|access-date=21 February 2018|pages=3}}</ref> then John seems to have joined them at [[Rangiaowhia|Rangiaohia]] from 1889<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18890406.2.34.5|title=Page 3 Advertisements Column 5|date=6 April 1889|work=Waikato Times|access-date=17 February 2018|pages=3}}</ref> to 1890.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18900612.2.2.3|title=Page 1 Advertisements Column 3|date=12 June 1890|work=Waikato Times|access-date=17 February 2018|pages=1}}</ref>
=== Ellis and Burnand === In 1889 railway engineer, [[Harry Burnand]], and John spent 6 days<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WH18891228.2.7|title=Saturday, December 28, 1889. the Brazilian Revolution.|date=28 December 1889|work=Wanganui Herald|access-date=22 March 2018|pages=2}}</ref> taking a canoe down the [[Ongarue River|Ongarue]] and [[Whanganui River]]s from [[Poro-O-Tarao railway station|Poro-o-tarao]] tunnel, where Harry was inspector of works.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18891223.2.19|title=New Zealand Herald|date=23 December 1889|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=4}}</ref>
Henry Lewis and John started building a sawmill at Ōtorohanga early in 1890,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18901003.2.56|title=Country News.|date=3 October 1890|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=24 March 2018|pages=6}}</ref> with a daily capacity of {{Convert|10,000|ft||abbr=on}}, mostly of [[Dacrycarpus dacrydioides|kahikatea]], and probably including plant from John's 1884 Kihikihi mill.<ref name=":10" /> By the end of the year they were seeking tenders<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18901003.2.56|title=Country News.|date=3 October 1890|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=6}}</ref> for a short tramway.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18901225.2.28.2|title=Page 3 Advertisements Column 2|date=25 December 1890|work=Waikato Times|access-date=23 March 2018|pages=3}}</ref>
John and Harry Burnand became business partners in 1890<ref name=":42">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/cemetery-services/about/Documents/Hamilton%20East%20Cemetery%20Heritage%20Walk.pdf|title=Hamilton East Cemetery one hour Heritage Walk|website=Hamilton City Council|access-date=19 May 2018|archive-date=9 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209065232/https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/cemetery-services/about/Documents/Hamilton%20East%20Cemetery%20Heritage%20Walk.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> (or, more probably, in 1891),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18910702.2.10|title=Waikato Times|date=2 July 1891|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=2}}</ref> when Harry bought Henry Lewis's interest in the Ōtorohanga mill<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18910826.2.45|title=Country News.|date=26 August 1891|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=22 March 2018|pages=6}}</ref> and left his railway job.<ref name=":64">{{Cite web|url=https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_806440/Wai%20898%2C%20A025.pdf|title=Maori and the Forestry, Mining, Fishing, and Tourism Industries of the Rohe Potae Inquiry District 1880–2000|last=Cleaver|first=Philip|date=February 2011|website=Waitangi Tribunal}}</ref> John's partnership with Henry was dissolved on 12 August 1891,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18910822.2.35.3|title=Page 3 Advertisements Column 3|date=22 August 1891|work=Waikato Times|access-date=23 March 2018|pages=3}}</ref> the first reference to 'Ellis and Burnand' being later that month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18910825.2.3.6|title=Page 1 Advertisements Column 6|date=25 August 1891|work=Auckland Star|access-date=24 March 2018|pages=1}}</ref>
Becoming the confidential adviser of [[Tāwhiao|King Tāwhiao]], helped John acquire timber rights over large areas of bush at [[Manunui]], Ōtorohanga and [[Mangapehi River|Mangapehi]],<ref name=":04"/> which influenced him to focus on the timber trade and sell his Te Kuiti and Ōtorohanga stores about 1897<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19060614.2.24|title=Progress in the King Country|date=14 June 1906|work=Waikato Times|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=3}}</ref> (he was still described as a store owner in 1894).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1894-I.1.1477|title=AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1894 Session I — D-09 Page 2|website=atojs.natlib.govt.nz|language=en-NZ|access-date=2018-05-23}}</ref> Ellis and Burnand Ltd<ref name=":04"/> was [[Incorporation (business)|incorporated]] in 1903.<ref name=":64" />
In 1898, John secured timber rights over {{Convert|30,163|acre||abbr=on}} at [[Rangitoto Range|Rangitoto Tuhua]], also known as Te Tiroa. By 1901, they had a small portable mill at Tiroa, with some of the timber used for building the larger Mangapehi mill<ref name=":6" /> started in 1902<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19020303.2.65|title=News from Country. Districts.|date=3 March 1902|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=7}}</ref> and opened in 1903,<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> or 1904.<ref name=":10" /> At the same time demand for [[Podocarpus totara|totara]] sleepers was high for completion of the new railway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1901/I/2767|title=Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1901 Session I PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. HALL-JONES, MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, 22nd OCTOBER, 1901|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref>
In 1903, the capital value of Ellis and Burnand's operations was about £30,000. In order to meet development costs at Mangapehi, the company appears to have negotiated with the [[Kauri Timber Company]], which in 1904 secured a 47.5% stake in Ellis and Burnand.<ref name=":6" />
Ellis and Burnand's headquarters moved from Ōtorohanga to Hamilton<ref name=":04"/> in 1905<ref name=":7" /> (or 1906)<ref name=":4" /> after they bought Coyle & Jolly's Hamilton sash and door factory in 1904<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIGUS19040702.2.12|title=Messrs Ellis and Burnand, Limited.|date=2 July 1904|work=Waikato Argus|access-date=16 February 2018|pages=2}}</ref> and then expanded it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19050125.2.8|title=Local and General.|date=1905|work=Waikato Times|access-date=17 February 2018|pages=2}}</ref> By January 1905 the factory had begun production and was employing 40 staff.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19050110.2.13|title=An Important Industry.|date=1905|work=Waikato Times|access-date=17 February 2018|pages=2}}</ref>
After extension of the railway to [[Taumarunui]], a timber mill and box factory was opened at Manunui in 1907<ref name=":10" /> and a plywood<ref name=":1" /> and veneer factory in 1911.<ref name=":7" />
John was still an active director of Ellis and Burnand in 1906,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19061006.2.19.6|title=Page 4 Advertisements Column 6|date=6 October 1906|work=Waikato Times|access-date=19 May 2018|pages=4}}</ref> but after Henry Valder became managing director in 1908,<ref name=":7" /> John seems to have turned his attentions away from timber, except that in 1910 he investigated veneer making<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19220506.2.136|title=Three – Ply.|date=6 May 1922|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=19 May 2018|pages=11}}</ref> and set up Ellis Veneer Co Ltd at Manunui in 1911.<ref name=":10" />
== Mayoralty == John's first experience of local government was his election to [[Karioi|Karioi Highway Board]] in 1876.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18760712.2.23|title=Highway Board Meetings.|date=1876-07-12|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=2018-06-10|pages=6}}</ref> The family moved to [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]] in 1905,<ref name=":04"/> where John and Manawa lived in a large villa, Muriaroha, on the corner of Lake Rd and Tainui St, in [[Frankton, Hamilton|Frankton]] borough. He got permission for a boathouse in 1906.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19060113.2.15|title=Hamilton Borough Council.|date=1906|work=Waikato Times|access-date=18 February 2018|pages=3}}</ref> He was on Frankton Town Board from 1912 and then on its Borough Council.<ref name=":5" /> In the words of Councillor John Fow, John William Ellis "was one of those who made the Empire great".<ref name=":4" /> During the war Mr Ellis gave generously to patriotic movements, including a Returned Soldiers' Club, resulting in his Order of the British Empire award.<ref name=":04"/> In March 1917 he accepted nomination as mayor<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19170326.2.12|title=Hamilton Mayoralty|date=26 March 1917|work=Waikato Times|access-date=12 February 2018|pages=4}}</ref> and on 4 May was elected Mayor of Hamilton,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19170505.2.20|title=Mayoral Installation|date=1917-05-05|work=Waikato Times|access-date=2018-05-25|pages=4}}</ref> but died after only 15 months in office.<ref name=":1" /> Ellis Street was named after J.W. Ellis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hamiltonheritagecollections.co.nz/nodes/view/1133|title=Ellis Street|website=Hamilton|access-date=10 February 2018}}</ref> [[File:John_William_Ellis_grave.jpg|thumb|John William Ellis grave in [[Hamilton Gardens#Landscape Garden Collection|Hamilton East Cemetery]], with timber theme]]
== Death == John died at Muriaroha on 6 August 1918. He had been ill for some months, and in his last fortnight was confined to his room, suffering carbuncles and diabetes.<ref name=":04"/> The funeral cortege had over 60 motor vehicles.<ref name=":4" /> He is buried in Hamilton East Cemetery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamilton.govt.nz:443/our-services/do-it-online/cemetery-search/Pages/default.aspx?surname=ellis&forename=john+william|title=Cemetery search - Hamilton City Council|website=www.hamilton.govt.nz|language=en-NZ|access-date=2019-06-09}}</ref>
Manawa stayed at Muriaroha until<ref name=":4" /> 1926,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://braemarhospital.co.nz/news-items/braemar-turns-90/|title=Braemar turns 90 {{!}} Braemar Hospital, Hamilton|website=braemarhospital.co.nz|language=en-US|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=22 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122182415/https://braemarhospital.co.nz/news-items/braemar-turns-90/|url-status=dead}}</ref> when the house became [[Braemar Hospital]], demolished after the hospital moved in 2009. Manawa died at [[Rotorua]]<ref name=":5" /> on 23 July 1955 aged 91,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamilton.govt.nz:443/our-services/do-it-online/cemetery-search/Pages/default.aspx?surname=ellis&forename=manawa|title=Cemetery search - Hamilton City Council|website=www.hamilton.govt.nz|language=en-NZ|access-date=2019-06-09}}</ref> outliving all their children.<ref name=":5" />
== References == {{Reflist}}{{s-start}} {{s-off }} {{S-bef | before = [[John Robert Fow]] }} {{s-ttl | title = [[Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand|Mayor of Hamilton]] | years = 1917–1918 }} {{s-aft | after = [[John Robert Fow]] }} {{end}}
== Further reading == *Ellis & Burnand. 1953 jubilee year: half a century of progress in the timber industry of New Zealand. Hamilton, 1953
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, John William}} [[Category:1853 births]] [[Category:1918 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century mayors of places in New Zealand]] [[Category:Politicians from Guildford]] [[Category:Mayors of Hamilton, New Zealand]] [[Category:Burials at Hamilton East Cemetery]] [[Category:19th-century New Zealand businesspeople]] [[Category:Military personnel from Guildford]] [[Category:19th-century British Army personnel]] [[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]