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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Mr. William Baird

Mr. William Baird , who acts as Postmaster at Otapiri Gorge, holds 384 acres of land near the mouth of the Gorge. He took up this farm about 1886, and has since then greatly improved it. Mr Baird was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1861, and came out to New Zealand with his mother by the ship “City of Dunedin” in 1863, his father having arrived by the ship “Lady Egidia” during the preceding year. He was educated at Invercargill, and worked on his father's farm until taking up land on his own account at Benmore. This he sold in 1886, and acquired his present holding at Otapiri Gorge. Mr Baird was a Government land valuer during 1901–2; and he has been a member of the Otapiri Gorge school committee since its inception. At one time he competed in wrestling, hammer throwing, stone-putting and vaulting, at sports held in various parts of Southland. Mr Baird was married, in 1881, to a daughter of Mr Peter Bryce, of Benmore, and has two sons and nine daughters.