Mr. George Talbot Birch , “Helenswood,” Kapuka, was born at Comber, County Down, Ireland, in 1833. When fourteen years of age he went to sea as a midshipman on one of the vessels of the firm of Messrs Smith. After being two years at sea, in the course of which two trips were made to India, he went to Scotland for four years, in order to learn farming. In 1855 he came out to New Zealand, and settled in Canterbury for five years, at the end of which he made a flying visit to the Old Country. On his return, in 1862, he settled at One Tree Point, Southland, where he took up 800 acres of land, which he sold in 1877. He then settled in the Oteramika district, where he took up various areas of land, now mostly in the possession of members of his family, who hold about 1,500 acres around Kapuka. Mr Birch made the district his home, and now resides in the handsome homestead at “Helenswood.” His tastes do not lead him in the direction of public life, and his connection with local bodies has been limited to some years of service on the school committee. Mr Birch was married, in 1861, to a daughter of Mr R. Johnston, of Georgetown, British Guiana, and has a family of five sons and five daughters