LAZAR, JOHN (1801-79) was born at Edinburgh, and arrived in New South Wales by the Lady McNaughten (1836). There he engaged in the theatrical profession till 1851, leasing and managing theatres in Australia and playing in his own productions. He then went into business as a jeweller in Adelaide, was an alderman of the City Council (1853-55 and 1857-59) and mayor (1855-57). In 1863 Lazar left for New Zealand, having lived for 24 years in South Australia. He was clerk of the Dunedin town board (1863-65) and town clerk (1865-66), and on resigning to live in Hokitika received a gratuity of £200. He was town clerk of Hokitika (1866), county treasurer (1873), and eventually provincial treasurer. Lazar was very prominent in freemasonry, into which he was initiated in Sydney in 1838. In South Australia he was deputy provincial grandmaster; and he was provincial district grand-master for Westland (1871-79). He was a member of the Jewish community. His death occurred on 8 Jun 1879.

City of Adelaide Municipal Yearbook (1920); Barclay; Grey River Argus, 9 Jun 1879.

Reference: Volume 1, page 262

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