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John Rutherford Blair (1843 – 25 November 1914) was the Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand from 1898 to 1899.

Biography

He was born in Balphuock, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was a paper merchant. His career started with a large Glasgow paper merchant firm. In 1860 he migrated first to Otago and then to Melbourne, Australia. In Melbourne he was appointed in charge of the printers Sands and McDougall. He came to Wellington as the company's representative in 1869. In Wellington he entered into partnership with William Lyon opening a premises called Lyon and Blair on Lambton Quay. When William Lyon died, Lyon's son Horatio joined the business. Blair brought Lyon out and continued the business under the name of Lyon and Blair. Lyon and Blair were then purchased by Whitcombes and Tombs. Blair went on to pursue his education interests and directorships of various businesses and institutions.^[1]

In 1880 he was appointed to the Education Board, becoming its chairman in 1882. This led to involvement with the Technical Education Board, and his eventually becoming chairman of the Wellington College board of governors until 1899. He was also a member of the school commissioners.

From 1899 to 1902 he was the first chairman of the reorganised Bank of New Zealand. At the time of his death he was chairman of the Wellington Investment Trustee and Agency Company, the Paparoa Coal Mining Company, and the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company. He was also a director the Gear Meat Company, E W Mills and Company, and the local director of the New Zealand Shipping Company.

From 1898 to 1899 he was elected Mayor of Wellington and a member of the Wellington Harbour Board. He was visiting Justice to Wellington gaols and a member of the Prisons Board.

Blair died at his residence of The Terrace, Wellington aged 71 years old after a fairly long illness. He was survived by his wife and son.

Blair Street in Wellington is named after him.^[2]

External links

John Blair; photo, his business interests, and his involvement in the development of Kelburn

Notes

^ Death of Mr J R Blair, Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 127, 25 November 1914, Page 8
^ Irvine-Smith 1948, p. 109.

References

Irvine-Smith, F. L. (1948). The Streets of My City. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed.
No Mean City by Stuart Perry (1969, Wellington City Council) includes a paragraph and a portrait or photo for each mayor.

Political offices
Preceded by Francis Bell	Mayor of Wellington 1898–1899	Succeeded by John Aitken

[1] Death of Mr J R Blair, Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 127, 25 November 1914, Page 8

[FOOTNOTEIrvine-Smith1948109-2] Irvine-Smith 1948, p. 109.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
 {{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}
+[[File:John Rutherford Blair.jpg|thumb|Undated portrait of Blair]]
 '''John Rutherford Blair''' (1843 – 25 November 1914) was the [[Mayor of Wellington]], New Zealand from 1898 to 1899.
+==Biography==
 He was born in Balphuock, [[Lanarkshire]], [[Scotland]], and was a paper merchant. His career started with a large [[Glasgow]] paper merchant firm. In 1860 he migrated first to [[Otago]] and then to [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]. In Melbourne he was appointed in charge of the printers [[Sands and McDougall]]. He came to Wellington as the company's representative in 1869. In Wellington he entered into partnership with William Lyon opening a premises called Lyon and Blair on [[Lambton Quay]]. When William Lyon died, Lyon's son Horatio joined the business. Blair brought Lyon out and continued the business under the name of Lyon and Blair. Lyon and Blair were then purchased by [[Whitcoulls|Whitcombes and Tombs]]. Blair went on to pursue his education interests and directorships of various businesses and institutions.<ref>Death of Mr J R Blair, ''[[Evening Post (New Zealand)|Evening Post]]'', Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 127, 25 November 1914, Page 8</ref>
@@ Line 9: / Line 11: @@
 From 1899 to 1902 he was the first chairman of the reorganised [[Bank of New Zealand]]. At the time of his death he was chairman of the Wellington Investment Trustee and Agency Company, the Paparoa Coal Mining Company, and the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company. He was also a director the Gear Meat Company, [[William Cable & Company#Briscoe and E W Mills|E W Mills and Company]], and the local director of the [[New Zealand Shipping Company]].
-From 1898 to 1899 he was elected Mayor of Wellington and a member of the [[Wellington Harbour Board]]. He was visiting Justice to Wellington gaols and a member of the Prisons Board.
+From 1898 to 1899 he was elected [[Mayor of Wellington]] and a member of the [[Wellington Harbour Board]]. He was visiting Justice to Wellington gaols and a member of the Prisons Board.
 Blair died at his residence of The Terrace, Wellington aged 71 years old after a fairly long illness. He was survived by his wife and son.
+Blair Street in Wellington is named after him.{{sfn|Irvine-Smith|1948|p=109}}
 ==External links==
 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090220135104/http://www.hitormiss.co.nz/index_files/Page775.htm John Blair; photo, his business interests, and his involvement in the development] of [[Kelburn, New Zealand|Kelburn]]
+==Notes==
+{{Reflist}}
 ==References==
+*{{cite book |first=F. L. |last=Irvine-Smith |authorlink=Fanny Irvine-Smith |title=The Streets of My City |year=1948 |publisher=[[A. H. & A. W. Reed]] |location=Wellington}}
 *''No Mean City'' by [[Charles Stuart Perry|Stuart Perry]] (1969, [[Wellington City Council]]) includes a paragraph and a portrait or photo for each mayor.
-{{Reflist}}
 {{s-start}}