LUNDON, JOHN (1829-99) was born at Caherelly, County Limerick, and came to New Zealand with his parents in the Westminster in 1842. In 1852 he visited the Victorian diggings, and for some time after returning was engaged in shipping potatoes to Australia. He built the Harp of Erin hotel (1857), erected the first grandstand at Ellerslie and inaugurated horseracing there.

In 1860 he joined Nixon's Volunteer cavalry, with which he served in the field. He was also engaged in transport and road work. In 1863 he raised the Manukau Rifle volunteers (of which he was captain) for service in the Waikato. He lived for some years at Onehunga and Awanui. He represented Raglan in the Auckland Provincial Council (1863) and Onehunga (1870-75). In 1868 he settled at Thames, but soon returned to Onehunga. He was elected M.H.R. for Mangonui and Bay of Islands (1879-81) as a follower of Grey.

In 1883 Lundon was appointed as the representative in Samoa of the South Sea Island Produce Co. While there he conceived the idea of annexation, and proposed to Sir R. Stout (then Premier) that the New Zealand Government should take action so as to forestall German annexation. He returned to Apia to treat with the chiefs for the transfer of sovereignty and the recognition of Malietoa as paramount chief. The Samoan Parliament, on his recommendation, passed a bill favouring annexation to New Zealand (9 Feb 1885) and appointing Grey and Lundon agents of Samoa to carry the measure into effect. The Germans had meanwhile hoisted their flag, and the action of Lundon was officially disavowed in London. During the war scare in the eighties he raised two volunteer companies and a cadet company in Onehunga. In 1886 he launched a scheme of land settlement in north Auckland. Lundon died on 7 Feb 1899.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; App. H.R., 1884, ii, A, 1885 A1, 4D; Auckland Star, 8 Feb 1899. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 271

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