Mr. John Macpherson , Manager of the Totara Estate, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1850. He was educated by his father, the late Mr. W. Macpherson, F.E.I.S., at Daniel Stewart's Free School, Strathtay, and brought up to a country life. For six years prior to coming to New Zealand, he served under a civil engineer in the slate quarries of North Wales. In 1876 Mr. Macpherson arrived at Lytteiton by the ship “Desdemona,” under engagement to the company, in whose service he still continues. After a short time on the company's Pareora, Levels and Hakataramea estates, he was, in 1879, appointed to “Totara,” and for a number of years he also managed the Ardgowan property, acquired by the Government in 1895, for close settlement. Mr. Macpherson has been an active member of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and at one time page 471 held office as vice-president. He has represented the Waitaki Council for a number of years on the Oamaru Harbour Board, and now represents Kakanui riding in the Waitaki County Council; and in the early days he served as a member of the Kakanui Road Board. Mr. Macpherson was married in April, 1889, to a daughter of the late Mr. W. S. Trotter, of Roslin, Southland, and has three sons and two daughters.