COSTER, JOHN LEWIS (1838-86) was born at Exeter, Devon, the son of a medical practitioner; educated there and came to Sydney at the age of 16. There he entered into commercial life and showed a striking faculty for business. In 1859 he was sent by the Union Bank of Australia as its agent at Lyttelton, and he was shortly afterwards appointed manager of the branch at Christchurch. His enterprise, boldness and tact soon placed the business of the bank in Canterbury on a flourishing basis. In particular Coster negotiated important loans for the Provincial Council. He was also associated in the management of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., especially in their shipping department, and thus conceived the project of founding the New Zealand Shipping Co., which he successfully carried through (1873). He was chairman of directors from the commencement and in 1881 resigned from the Bank to accept the dual position of chairman and managing director. In 1883 he proceeded to England to inaugurate the new services of the company. On his return to the Colony in 1884 he was elected M.H.R. for Heathcote. Coster died on 17 Dec 1886.

Lyttelton Times, 18 Dec 1886. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 106

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