DescriptionMoss Jonas arrived in New Zealand in 1860 and settled in Timaru in 1868. He established a furniture and crockery business, later also becoming an auctioneer. In 1871 he married Emma Symondson.
Jonas served on the Timaru Borough Council for seventeen years, holding the office of mayor from 1886-1891. In 1882 while he was mayor he purchased 'Turnbull Hall', a stone store that had been repurposed as a meeting hall and theatre. After further alterations Moss renamed the building 'The Theatre Royal'.
He was also a member of the Harbour Board for sixteen years.
(See The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District])Date of Birth1839Place of BirthEnglandDate of Death5 Nov 1907Place of DeathTimaruSubjectBiographyEarly SettlersLocal Government
'A framed portrait of M Jonas, Timaru Borough Council mayor from 1886 to 1888'.
Image courtesy of the South Canterbury Museum, item 2016/011.054. Please contact the museum for more information.