Mr. John McWhirter was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in the year 1838, and sailed for Australia in 1860, in the ship “Prince of the Seas.” A year later, he came to New Zealand, and, beginning at Gabriel's Gully, he followed the various “rushes” in the Otago fields. At Wakamarina, he opened a store, and also owned a good claim there, but sold these properties on the outbreak of the West Coast goldfields. For a time he worked at Ross, and afterwards at Okarito; and then went to Kanieri, where he conducted a store for twelve months. In 1866, Mr. McWhirter established a store at Goldsborough. He and Mr. Seddon, the Premier of New Zealand, were fellow-members of the Arahura Road Board, and he ever remained one of Mr. Seddon's staunchest supporters. On the formation of the Westland County Council three members were elected to represent the Arahura riding-namely, Messrs Seddon, McWhirter and Beale, and the election was one of the most exciting that ever took place in Westland. Mr. McWhirter was chairman of the Westland Education Board, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hokitika High School, chairman of the Westland Charitable Aid Board, and chairman of the Goldsborough school committee. He was also chairman of the Westland County Council for four years. Mr. McWhirter entertained Governor Bowen at a banquet when he visited Goldsborough. He was a Freemason, and an Oddfellow. He was also one of the largest gold buyers in the Waimea district. Mr. McWhirter married a daughters of the Rev. Mr. Hogg, Presbyterian minister, and three sons and two daughters were born of the union. He died in the year 1901.