OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2317, 26 November 1914, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR. JOHN'RUfHERFURD BLAIR. A well known and highly-esteemed citken passed away yesterday ill the person of Mr. John Rutherfufd Blair, a former Mayor of the City, and a gentleman whose name will always bo associated with the. history of educational , progress in Wellington. For some months past he had been poorly in health owing to heart trouble, and he had been critically ill for a week past. Death ensued at o a.m. yesterday.

The late Mr Blair was a native of Lanarkshire, in Scotland, and began his commercial career on the etaff of a, big firm of papor merchants in the city of Glasgow, in which business' he was associatpd with Mr. Lumsdea, who afterwards became Baron Lumsdon. Seeking a wider field for his energies, Mr. Blair came out to Otago in 1860/ and then under the influence of- the great gold rush, went across to Melbourne, where instead of going on tho diggings ~he was. appointed to take,'charge ,of the business, of Sands and 'M'Dougall, printers and publishers. After serving a few years in Melbourne, ho waa appointed the firm's representative in New Zealand, and came to Wellington in 1869. Later ho severed his connection with the Melbourne firm, and went into partnership with the late.Mr. William Lyon, and under the style of Lyon and Blair, printers and publish-, ere and s&tionora, conduoted the business for many years in premises which occupied a portion of tho site now covered by Meesrs. Whitopmbe and Tombs's warehouse (which wae the freehold property of the late Mr. Blair: at his death). After Mr. William Lyon died, ho was succeeded by the late Mr. Horatio M. 'Lyon, but not long afterwards the latter gentleman was bought out of the business by Mr. Blair, who continued to carry om until .;it was purchased by Messrs. , Whiteombe and Tombs,'

The. late Mr. Blair was keenly interested in public affairs, but his particular hobby was education and being naturally a very, well-informed man, and a great reader, ho was able, after his letirement from active business, to devote much time to the affairs of the Wellington Education Board, the Technical Education Board, and tho -Wellington College Governors from about 1880 up till some ten years ago. He was chairman of the Education Board from 1882 up till.comparatively recently, was chairman of the College Govornors, and was one of the School Commissioners until they were done away with. Ho was Mayor of Wellington in 1898 and 1899, succeeding Mr. (now the Hon.) H.vD. 8011, and as such became an oxofficio member of the Harbour Board. Ho was also a visiting justice to the Wellington gaols, and a member of the Prisons Board. Ho was also largely

interested in financial and commercial companies in Wellington. He became tho first chairman of the Bank of New Zealand after its reorganisation in 1899, and held the position until 1902, when for personal reasons ho resigned. At the time of his death be was chairman of the Wellington Investment, Trustee, and Agency Company, the Paparoa Coalmining Company/ and a director of the AVellington Woollen Company, the Gear Meat Company, E. W. Mills and Co., .Guardian Insurance Co., the Now Zealand Shipping Company, and chairman of directors of Messrs. Turnbulr and Jones, Ltd. ■ The lato Mr. Blair ie survived by his widow, and his 6on,- Mr. Robert Blair, sheep-farmer, of Tc Horo. The deceased was 71 years of ago.. At the meeting of the Harbour Board held last evening the chairman stated that it was probably well known that they, had sustained a loss of an old and esteemed citizen in the death of Mr.

J. R. Blair. He was a member of the board for two'years by" virtue of tho fact that ho was Mayor of the City. Mr..Fletcher moved that, a vote of deep sympathy and condolence be conveyed to the widow and relatives of the deceased, and that the board place on record ■ appreciation of tho services rendered to it duringv the term of . Mr. Blair's membership. The motion waa passed, tho mom.bers standing.

The Sailors' Friend Society Institute was. well'filled last evening when Miss Kirk provided a most delightful concert. Mr. j. Moore, missioner, occupied the, chair. The following contributed vocal, and elocutionary items to , tho programmo: —Mrs. Kirk, Misses Thane, Kirk, Greenish, Messrs. Gilmour. Dovino (s.s.'Zeahmdic), Roberts (H.M.S. Torch), Diguan (s.s. Zealandin). A mouth-organ contest was won by Mr. Smith (s.s. Zealimdic), and Mr. Dovuio (Zcalandio) won the prize for the best s,ong. During a short interval Mr. Moore gave a helpful temperance address, resulting in several men taking the pledge of total abstinence. Tho performers wore accorded a hearty Vote of thanks at the- conclusion of tlie concert, and light refreshments wero dispensed. Continued interest is shown in the debates held each week. Tho subjects discussed on Tuesdny evening wero, "Women's Influence in the i World," ond "The Present Pewits, pf : • :-.