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

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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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.