On 2 March 1840 Coates arrived in Australia, having sailed from Bristol on the ship Chelydra.The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 March 1840, page 2 The Colonist newspaper reported rumours that Coates was related to Governor Sir George Gipps, and that Gipps had appointed Coates as the Colonial Secretary for New Zealand.The Colonist, 13 May 1840, page 2 Coates denied both rumours, stating that he had not had the honour of meeting the governor until after his (Coates') arrival in Australia.The Colonist, 16 May 1840, page 2The Australian, 14 May 1840, page 2
