O'DONOVAN, JOHN (1858-1927) was born at Ross Carbery, County Cork, the son of Florence O'Donovan, farmer. Educated at a primary school there, he served for a while as assistant teacher at Ross Carbery under the commissioner of national education. In 1878 he came to New Zealand and joined his brother Richard (who was contracting on the West Coast and represented Okarito in the Westland Provincial Council in 1875). In 1879 O'Donovan joined the police force, in which he served for 20 years before reaching the rank of sergeant (1898). In that year he was appointed to have charge of the depot established by Commissioner Tunbridge at Wellington for the training of recruits. In 1908 he became sub-inspector, being stationed afterwards at Palmerston North (1908); as inspector in charge at Invercargill (1911); at Hawke's Bay (1912); superintendent at Dunedin (1915); and at Wellington (1915). In 1916 he succeeded John Cullen as commissioner. O'Donovan was in charge of the detachment which escorted the Duke and Duchess of York in New Zealand in 1901, and in 1920 (as commissioner) he controlled the arrangements for the visit of the Prince of Wales. (M.V.O. 1920). He retired in 1922 (I.S.O.), and died on 8 Apr 1927. O'Donovan married (1892) Josephine, widow of Richard Whitaker, of the Railway department.

Who's Who N.Z., 1924; personal information.

Reference: Volume 2, page 69

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