OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 290, 5 November 1934, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR L. P. BLUNDELL.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. The death has occurred of Mr Louis Proctor Blundell, senior proprietor of the Evening Post. He was in his 85th year.

Mr Blundell was one of the bestknown figures in the Dominion’s newspaper world. He was born in Dublin in November, 1849, being a son of Mr Henry Blundell. He married in 1879 Miss Annie Elizabeth, a daughter of Mr P. E. Coker, of Christchurch, and they had two sons and one daughter. Mr Blundell was educated in Melbourne and at a private school in Dunedin, of which the late Sir Robert Stout was an assistant master. In 1864 he moved to Havelock, then an important mining centre, with his father, who with a partner founded the Havelock Mail. The prospects being unsatisfactory, the paper closed down shortly and the plant was shipped to Wanganui. Owing to the Maori War then raging, it was not landed but taken to Wellington, where, in partnership with Mr David Curie, Mr Henry Blundell established Wellington’s first daily paper, the Evening Post, on February 8, I 860: Mr Curie selling out a few months later, Mr Henry Blundell and Ids three sons carried on. After the death of Mr Henry Blundell the business was formed into a private company of which Mr L. P. Blundell became manager after tlie death of Mr John Blundell, and later chairman of directors. As a matter of policy Mr Blundell had always held aloof from public bodies and companies, but he had been vice-president of many institutions which he had helped liberally. He was a life member of the Star Rowing Club, a foundation member of the Wellington Bowling Club, and a life member of the Wellington Aero Club (to which his firm presented an aeroplane) . Mr Blundell donated the largest bell for the Wellington carillon, in addition to the largo one presented by his firm. Mr Blundell was also a life member of the New Zealand' Newspaper Proprietors’ Association; he had been a director of the United Press Associa.tion since 1894, being several times chairman. He was a member of tlie first cadet corps in Wellington and afterwards of Artillery under Colonel Pearce having 22 years volunteer service and receiving a service grant of land. .. , Mrs Blundell was an active worker in connection with the Red Cross from the beginning ,of the war and received the M.B.E. in 1919. She is still active in this and other movements.

SIR ROBERT McALPINE

LONDON, Nov. 3

The death has occurred of Sir Robert McAlpiiie, who built Wembley. He was head of the firm of McAlpine and Sons, Government and public woiks contractors.

Sill ALFRED GILBERT.

Received November 5, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 3. The death has occurred of Sir Alfred Gilbert. M.V.0.. D.C.L., the sculptor. He sculptured Eros, the famous London statue.

Born in 1854, Sir Alfred Gilbert leaves many splendid examples or his work. He was professor of sculpture at the Royal Academy from 1900 to 1909.