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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Mr. John Mouat
Mr. John Mouat was born on the 10th of November, 1830, in the Shetland Islands, where he was educated at the local parish and high schools. In 1852 he came out to Victoria, where he followed gold mining till 1861, when he crossed the Tasman Sea and settled in Otago. During his first four years in New Zealand he was engaged in mining at Gabriel's Gully. Mr. Mouat entered political life, as a member of the Otago Provincial Council for the goldfields, in 1864, and during Mr. Julius Vogel's administration in 1866, became provincial secretary and secretary for public works. He resigned in 1867 to become barrister's pupil to the late Mr. B. C. Haggitt, and, after serving three years, was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court. He practised his profession at Lawrence, and afterwards removed to Dunedin. In 1893 he took his eldest son, the late Mr. C. M. Mouat, into partnership with him. Mr. Mouat was a Freemason, an Oddfellow, and a Druid of long standing. In 1857 he married a daughter of Mr. Macnamara, of Melbourne, and at his death, on the 1st of July, 1902, left a surviving family of three sons.