The death is announced of Mr John Blundell of the “Evening Post” proprietary
John was born in Dublin where his father Henry was manager of the “Evening Mail”. The family went to Victoria in the 1860s then on to New Zealand where Henry Blundell started the “Evening Post” in 1865. It was the first daily newspaper in the country.
When Henry senior died in 1879, control of the newspaper passed to his sons John, Louis and Henry. The newspaper was later formed into a company with various members of the Blundell family sitting on the board.
The late Mr Blundell “had no taste for public life”. He was a vestryman and one of the oldest congregation members of St Peter’s church. He was a foundation member of the Wellington Bowling Club.
“Kindliness and consideration were outstanding characteristics of Mr Blundell in his business and private life”. Among his many bequests were £500 for a memorial window in St Peter’s church, £500 to WCC for a clock for the clock tower of the Town Hall and £500 to be divided among the staff members of Blundell Bros who had served more than 30 years.
John married Kathleen Willis in New Zealand in 1867. She was the daughter of James Fabian Willis, an early Wellington settler. They had seven children, two of which took over the running of the newspaper.
Ch Eng 2/D/376
