DEATH OF MR F. J. BLUNDELL

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7062, 13 July 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

DEATH OF MR F. J. BLUNDELL

(From 'The Colonist,' June 20.) It was with deep sorrow we learnt yesterday morning that Mr. Francis Ja». Blundell had passed away, after a short illness. The deceased gentleman had for over twenty years occupied the position of edi'or of the ' Evening Mai ,' and ha was well known and respected throughout the whole district He was, too, one of the earlier aettlera, and had experienced many of the hardships of early Colonial life, although ho arrived in Nelson whilst still a youth. Born in Somersetshire, he was educated at Bath, and in 1851 ho left the Old Country, with his parents, and arriTed in Nelson on Christmas Day of the year mentionod. Shortly after his arrival here, the late Captain P. H. Blundell, of the 11th Light Dragoons, purchased land at Waimea West, and that gentleman's eldest son, whose death we now deplore, soon became initiated into the art of driving bullocks, foE horses and carriages were then unknown on the rough track, which wa3 the forerunner of the present good road, After a time, Mr Praneis Jame3 Blundell took np a sheep run in tha Wairau, where he experienced further hardships, and his recollections of this period in his career were not unpleasant. Subsequently he accepted the position of Clerk of Committee of the House of Representatives, and it was there he acquired the art of reporting. It was about the year 1868 that hebecaraa editor of our evening contemporary, » posiiion he continued to hold with credit till the time of hia death. A fortnight ago last night he was attending & meeting of the City Council, bat the cold he was then Buffering from took a more severe hold, and inflammation of the lunga set in. Until Thursday it was understood that ha was progressing favorably, but on Thursday night he grew worse, and at 20 minutes past ten yesterday morning death trinmphed. Hia work as a journalist ia well-known, and hia social virtues were sneh that he enjoyed the friendship of a large circle of friends, by whom he will be greatly missed. He took ft keen interest in all matters appertaining to hia Church, and for many years was a Churohwarden of the Cathedral Churoh of the Diocese, hia efforts on behalf of whioh will not soon be forgotten. The tribute paid to hia memory by ths representatives of the eitijseas at the meeting of tke City Council l&3t night give 9 further evidence of the eatettn in which he was held, and we can add no more, save to say that his Worship the Mayor, who is at present in Wellington on Municipal business, telegraphed last night endorsing the general feeling. He said : " Truly sorry to hear of the death of Mr Blundell —one bo much respected. Hia loss will be greatly felt." The deceased gentleman had never married, but he leaves a widowed mother and numerous relatives, with whom we deeply sympathise in their great sorrow. At a meeting of the City Council held on June 19, after the ordinary business had been disposed of, Cr Webster thought it would not be oat of plaoe at this stage if ha referred to & reosnt death that had occurred in Town. That nigbt they had missed from tbs Chamber a very familiar face, the fans of one who had beea constant in his attendance there as long at ha, the speaker, had beea a member of tha Coaecil, and who had been accustomed to ba present many years before that. Ha was sure that Mr Blandell bad enjoyed their atmost respeot, and he would bs greatly miaaed by them. His reports of their pro eeediogs had be -a given in a manner very satisfactory to the Conocii and to the public. Hs was eorry no Councillor mora able than himself had risen to refer to the death, bet he hoped others would snpplemem what he had aaid. He {would move that a letter of condolenoe ba sent to the friends of the late Mr Blundell. Cr Piper seconded the motion, and said they all missed the familiar faoe. Mr Blundall was a man who did not do his work in a merely perfunctory manner, for he was deeply interested in all that took place in the city. The Chairman said he quite eonenrred in what had bean said. Hs had been a member of that Council coma 17 years, and during all that period tha late Mr Blundell bad reported their proceedings, and, as Cr Webster had justly observed, in a very satisfactory manner. He could but say that he was deeply affected when he heard of Mr BlundelPa death, he bad not been aware of his illness. He very muoh sympathised with his friends. Mr Blundell's death would be a loss to the public generally ; he had been with them many years, and on all occasions had taken a lively interest ia the affairs of Nelson. Cr Akersten said he, too, would lika to add hia testimony to the deep regret that was felt. Few men had taken a mora earnest interest in the welfare of the place than the late Mr Blundell. Hia reports had always been on the side of law and order, and ho was a man that could scarcely be replaced. His long acqaintance alone enabled him to ba of general servio9, and he had been the means of politically educating a number of people. He thought the city bad Buffered great lors by the death of Mr Blandell, and he deeply sympathised with the relations of that gentleman. Tha motion was then carried unanimously.

(From ' The Colonist, 1 June 22.) j At the Nelson Cathedral yesterday! Morning, the Boy. J. P. Kempfchorne in preaohing from part of the 25th verse of the 11th chapter of St. John's Gospel, "Thy brother BbaU rise again," made a feeling reference to the late Mr Blundell. He said God in his providence had seen fit to remove their late brother who, for a period of .twentyone years last April, had been connected with tber Church, either as a Churchwarden or a member of the Vestry. For the last three years it had been the privilege of him (the treaober) to be associated with the deceased, and he therefore felt it his duty to make more than a passing observation upon bis many virtues. He had found him a most loyal assistant, and now [the place, whioh he had so regularly and for so long a period ooonpied, would know him no more. His regular attendance at Church Sunday after Sunday, his, keen and active interest in the services, his sympathy with their efforts to render a CatheOrel service, in the introduction of which be

im t nally assisted, were well known. Hisonos familiar form, assisting his aged mother up the bill, placing her in her seat, and then returning to the door to meet the varioaa members of the congregation, will be looked for in vain. To the Choir boys he was especially kind, bat with all his kindness to them, he endeavored to teach them, both by p eeepfc and example, that in their services in the Choir they were rendering praise to God. He was always kind to children, and he (M» Kempthorne) well remembered him addressing the children from that pulpit. Thtf burden of his address on that occasion was that he wished them to love the Church to which they belonged. He had a distincS recolleotion how he interested the children by describing his old Parish Church at Home, and also how he turned to advantage for the benefit of his eager listeners the verse written on the tablet opposite the seat he occupied aa a boy, " Thou shalt show me the path of life ; in Thy presence ia the fullness of joy, and at Thy right hand there is pleasure for ever more " He had a public spirit, and it will be hard to fill his place but he will be more missed as the friend and adviser. All speak of his kindness and sympathy for those in trouble. In the last stages of his illnes3 hia mind dwelt upon his Heavenly Father, and he requested one of the friends in attendance upon him to repeat a verse of that hymn which they had just sung — his favorite hymn — " Just as I am, without one plea." A good son, a kind brother, a firm friend, hia life afforded an example that all might follow. They might have consolation in the thought that death did not destroy him, but called him to a sphere where his noble qualities would be enlarged. At the Cathedral yesterday it was strikingly iianifest that lovingrsympathetic, a"s well as a-teful hands, bad been at work to give its aUay* pleising interior an appearanoe fitting she nal occasion of a funeral sermon. Tha <lrapi g of the Church, if it can be so called (*e should prefer to call it the appropriate drpssing), was evidently meant to give material exorassion to a feeling of irreparabla os ■ suffered by the whole congregation. It will serve to give some idea of what had been done in the short time available if we mention that ia Ihe reredos its centre vesioa enclosing a "Cross Calvary" in white on black sr mnd was formed by sprays of oypress, and a sim lar bordering surrounded the panel, while in the wing panels the sacred mono* gram? were enclosed in diamonds under a canopy, also formed of sprays of cypress. The altar was draped in black, but brightened >y hiving the super frontal fringed with white, and white fleur-de lys on the whita bordered orphray bands, and suspended in the osmre of the frontal was a wreath of beautiful fresh flowers. The screen, too, presents i a tasteful appearance, the panels at its base being filled in with dossals in black, having in the centre of each a wreath of ever* greens and everlastings, while the dividing styles were covered with hanging drapery in back. The reading desk and litany stool were hung with appropriate ante-pendiuma, and the pulpit hanging bore the inscription ' I am the resarreotion and the life," worked! in gold on a biack velvet pile ground. Tha organ and veatry soreens on each side of the centre screen were draped in black. The funaral hymns sung during the service were Nos. 140, 290, 399, and 255 from Hymns Ancient and Modern At the close of the service the " Dead March in Saul " was played on the organ by Mr Morrish, the organist. Funhral.— The mortal remains of the late Mr F, J Blundell wera consigned to their lesS resting place yesterday. At half past nine in the morning the coffin was borne from the residence <.f Mrs Blundell, Nile street east, by members of the Committee of the Nelson Club and was placed in the hearse, when a piocession of sorrowing friends followed to the Cathedral, »t tha door of which the Rev J. F Eempthorne awaited the remains of his late warden. The ooffin was then taken up the aisle, its bearers being the vestrymen of Chri9tohurch. There was a large attendance at, the Church, and the portion of the service performed therein was very impressive. Tha special psalms being ohanted in monotone, and the singing of the choir was solemn bat beautiful. After the bymn " For ever with the Lord " had been sang the ooffin waß carried back to the hearse, which then prooeeded to Waimea Wesfe, being followed by several carriages. It was about one o'clock when S--, Michaels, Waimea West, the Church erected to the memory of the fathei of the late Mr F. J Blundell, Captain Blundell, was reached. Around the grave yard were assembled a very large number of the residents of the locality, where the deceased spent much of his life, and who, with uncoverv-d heads followed tbe coffin as it was borne from the hearse by Messrs 0. H Ford, Jas. Kerr, Challiea, Fairhall, Ford, Palmer, Newtb, and Buss. At the Churoh yard gate tha Rev J. P Kempthorne and the Cathedral choir in their aurplicea were in attendance, and tho procession thanee to the grave at the southerly corner of the ground was a most mournful one. The concluding service at the grave was performed by the Yen. Arch* deaaon Mules, assisted by the Rbv J. P. Kemptho/ne, and a small organ having previously been taken to the grave&ide, Mr Mo/riah acted as organist. Amongst those present at the funeral waa a representative of the Biahop of Nelson, who being unable himself to attend had requested the Bey Adooak ts represent him.- .' The Colonist/ Jaoo 23.

We aye pleased to l«arn that it has been decided to erect a suitable memorial to the memory of the late Mr F. J. Blandell, the Vestry of Christ Church having, at a meeting of that body held on Friday last, unanimously passed the following resolution :— " That the members of the Vestry desire to mark the great regpeot, whioh they feel every member of the Church must entertain in common with themselves, for the memory of their late much beloved and universally respected Churchwarden, Mr Francia James Bland«ll, by erecting to his memory a suitable memorial, and it ia felt that to be most in keeping with his own feelings as an earnest Churchman, it I should take tha form ol a stained glass ■ window, to be ereoted in the apse to the west I of, and adjoining, that already erected, largely I by hifl exertions, to the memory of hia friend 1 and co-worker in Church matters, the late Dx W. B. Scaly, and thus appropriately complete the series of three stained glass apse windows, | with the initiation of whioh he himself was so ; intimately connected." The memorial will certainly be a most appropriate one, seeing that the deceased gentleman was not only a 1 most esteemed citizen, but a devoted member I of the Church which now desires to perpetuate his memory. We may add that subscrip. tions will be received by the following gentlemen, who have been appointed a Committee to give effect to the above : — Rev J. P. Kempthorne, Dr Cressey, Mr Wilson Heaps, and Mr J. P. Harris.

; MR GEOBGE FLEMING. '. Death of a Citizen. — Many will regret to learn of the death of Mr George Fleming, principal of the firm of Mc93ra Fleming and Sons, of this city. Deceased had been one oi our prominent tradesmen for many years, and had won the respect of all with whom he was brought into contact. He passed peacefully away at an early hour on Saturday morning, after suffering some sis months from an affection of the heart. Deceased never aspired to any public position, but he took a keen interest in the affairs of the City and Colony, ! and maintained the credit of Nelson at several of the International Exhibitions, at which he won prizes for his artistic cabinet work. Hi* funeral was largely attended.

MRS ANN BIED. Tke announcement of the death of Mrs Ann Bird, which tcok place early yesterday morning, was received with a w'faepread feefing of deep regret. In her loss yet another of the firas of the Nelson settlers has left a vacant place, and the small circle of survivors of the passengers by the fust vesael after the arrival of the expedition ships is materially narrowed by her death. It was on the 31st January, 1842, that Mrs Bird armed in Nelson by the ship Fifesbire, and on the Ist of February she stepped foot on New Zealand soil, being one of the first white women to land in Nelson. By the same vessel there arrived, amongst others, Mr I. M. Hill, Mr J. Poynter, and Mr J. Simmonds, all of whom have departed this life, as well as Mr Alfred Sanndets, and a few other anrvivors. Mrs Bird, with her husband and the two children she then had, had their first home in New Zealand in a building of raupo and toi toi, which stood a little northerly of fad Bank of New South Wales, and subseqaefetty 'they lived hear the Bite, of the .j»resew Jaim Faocpryi'jbht their residence there; wasicarnecl laway by the Maitai River in a time' of 'flood. After (hat they lived in Bridge etreetj bat

or over forty years the deceased had lived within a tor feat of the tame spot in central Trafalgar street. Having experienced her fall Bhaie of the trials, hardships, and difficulties of the early settlers, Mrs Bird lost her husband some nine years after- arriving in Kelson, bat being courageous and active she toiled on for herself and children, and for fiome forty years carried on the butchers shop which was gradually improved as time proceeded. Until quite recently fhe continued to take an active part in the burinesp', but with all the claims on her time and attention she never forgot those in siokness and distress. Born at Handswortb, near Birmingham, in 1818, the deceased bad attained tbe honorable age of 73. and she left surviving her two Boos and two daughters, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren. For the Borrowing ones very general sympathy Will be felt.-Colonist,' June 26. Funeral. — The funeral of the late Mrs Ann Bird took place yesterday afternoon, and tbe esteem in whioh the deceased was held was testified to by the large numbers who followed the remains to tbe New Cemetery, and who gathered round the grave. There ware over forty carriages alone in the procession, ' The Colonist,' June 29.