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.
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.
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. J. Lawson.
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.