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

Mokotua

Mokotua.

Mokotua is thirteen miles from Invercargill, on the Seaward Bush line of railway. It forms part of the electoral district of Mataura, is in the Waihopai riding of the county of Southland, and had, at the census of 1901, a population of forty-seven, with fifty-two additional at Mokotua Bush. Dairving is the staple industry, and the farms are mostly of fair size. The district is connected by roads with Invercargill and Woodlands, in addition to having the railway line. Mails are received and despatched daily, and there is also a telephone bureau. A portion of the district known as Oteramika Hundred is a very old settlement. The local public school is about two miles from the railway siding, and is known by the name of Oteramika.

Birss, John , Farmer, “Westfield,” Mokotua. Mr Birss was born, in 1838, at Glenbervie, Scotland, where he was educated and brought up on a farm. He arrived in Tasmania in 1862, and came to Otago on the outbreak of the gold rush in the following year. He worked for the New Zealand and Australian Land Company for a time, before buying his present property of 232 acres of freehold, where he carries on mixed farming. Mr Birss was contracting for a few years, but, finding the farm required all his attention, he gave that up; and, lately, he has devoted much time to dairying. He has been a member of the Oteramika school committee, and also of the local road board. Mr Birss married a daughter of the late Mr W. Shaw, of Oteramika, and has a family of eight sons and two daughters.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. J. Birss.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. J. Birss.

Cock, James , Farmer, Mokotua. Mr Cock was born, in 1835, in the parish of Fintray. Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was educated, and brought up on a farm. He farmed on his own account for about twelve years, before coming to Port Chalmers by the ship “Ben Lomond,” in 1863. Shortly after his arrival, Mr Cock bought his present farm of 154 acres, and at that time the only means of access to the ground was along a survey line. Mr Cock has cultivated his land, and now carries on mixed farming. He was a member of the Oteramika Road Board from 1877 to 1881, has served on the local school committee, and has been for many years secretary of the public library.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. J. Cock.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. J. Cock.

Collett, Charles , Farmer and Firewood Merchant, Mokotua. Mr Collett was born in 1862, at
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. and Mrs C. Collet.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. and Mrs C. Collet.

Invercar- page 896 gill, where he was educated, and was for twenty years with Messrs McCallum and Company, saw millers. Mr Collett has a farm of about 130 acres, but his time and attention are principally devoted to the firewood business. His plant consists of an eight horse-power traction engine for cutting and hauling the fire wood, and a large sawbench with two saws, one three feet and the other four feet six inches. He sends from 400 to 500 cords of wood to Invercargill annually. Mr Collett married a daughter of Mr W. Hamilton, who came to New Zealand over forty years ago, and there is a family of seven sons and three daughters. Mrs Collett's brother, Dr. Hamilton, is settled at Petone, near Wellington.

Henderson, David Melville , Farmer, Mokotua. Mr Henderson was born, in 1847 St. Andrews, Fifeshire, Scotland, where he was educated. He came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Silistria,” in 1868, and for many years worked as a farm labourer in the Dunedin district. Mr Henderson engaged in sawmill work and contracting in Southland for a short time, and about the year 1881 took up his present farm of 233 acres, most of which he has now brought under cultivation. Mr Henderson was married, in 1890, to a daughter of Mr James Henderson, of Oamaru, and has four sons and three daughters.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. And Mrs D. M. Henderson And Child.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. And Mrs D. M. Henderson And Child.

Kerr, William Laing , Farmer, Mokotua. Mr Kerr was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1846, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand in 1819, in the ship “Mariner,” which landed at Port Chalmers. He went to school at Green Island, and, in 1862, left for Southland with his father, who bought the farm now owned by Mr Kerr. Mr Kerr's father afterwards settled in Invercargill, and let the farm for fourteen years to his son, who bought it at the end of the lease. Mr Kerr was married, in 1869, to a daughter of Mr Warden, of Rimu, and six sons and two daughters
Mr. W. L. Keer.

Mr. W. L. Keer.

were born of this union. In 1902 he took, as his second wife, a daughter of the late Mr Forsyth, of Milton, and there is one daughter by the marriage. During his residence in the district Mr Kerr has closely identified himself with its local institutions, and has been for many years a member of the Oteramika Road Board, and of the school committee. He is session clerk for the district, and was for many years superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school. His farm has an area of 450 acres, and is one of the best in the district.
Lawson, James , Farmer, “Woodside,” Mokotua. Mr Lawson was born in the parish of Hoharm, Banffshire, Scotland, in 1836, and was brought up on a farm, and afterwards trained as a mason. He came to Port Chalmers in January, 1863, and for three years followed his trade in Otago. In 1866 he took up his present property of 125 acres near Invercargill, and has drained and enltivated his land. Mr Lawson carries on mixed farming, chiefly dairying, and the milk is sent to the Kapuka Creamery. He is now turning his attention to the breeding of Hereford cattle. He has been a member of the Oteramika Road Board for about fifteen years, and except for three years, has served on the school committee since the school was opened,
Gerstenkorn. photo. Mr. J. Lawson.

Gerstenkorn. photo.
Mr. J. Lawson.

and is now chairman. Mr Lawson is also on elder of the Presbyterian church. He married a daughter of Mr James Brown, of Echt, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and has, surviving, a family of six sons and three daughters.

Munro, James , “Newfield,” Mokotua. Mr Munro was born, in 1841, in Abbey parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and came to Port Chalmers, in 1862, by the ship “Lady Egidia.” He spent the first two years after his arrival in farm work and at the Nokomai diggings, and was contracting in Southland for two years before 1866, when he bought “Newfield,” in the Oteramika district. This property consists of 337 acres, and Mr Munro also owns two other farms in the district, now occupied by his sons. Mr Munro served on the Oteramika Road Board for many years, and was for some time a member of the school committee. He was married, in 1867, to the eldest daughter of Mr Alexander Leith, one of the earliest settlers in the Taieri district, and has a family of seven sons and six daughters. Mr Leith arrived at Dunedin by the ship “Mary,” in April, 1849.