BLAIR, JOHN RUTHERFORD (1843-1914) was born at Balphurock, Lanarkshire, Scotland. After receiving the usual Scots education, he entered the office of a wholesale paper merchant in Glasgow, and was later employed in the same trade in several other towns. In 1860 he came to Otago, but soon left for Australia and became associated with Sands and McDougall, printers and publishers. In 1869 he came back to Wellington and entered into partnership with William Lyon (q.v.) as Lyon and Blair. Later he became sole proprietor and eventually sold the business to Whitcombe and Tombs. Blair was a member of the Wellington education board from 1880, and chairman for many years from 1882. He was chairman of the technical education board and of the Wellington College board of governors (to 1899), and was a Wellington school commissioner until their abolition. In 1899 he was appointed the first chairman of the Bank of New Zealand under the reorganisation, holding that position till 1902. He was mayor of Wellington (1898-99) and a member of the harbour board (1897-99). He was a visiting justice, a member of the prison board, and a director of several important companies in Wellington. He died on 25 Nov 1914.

Cycl. N.Z., i; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Evening Post, 25 Nov 1914.

Reference: Volume 1, page 52

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