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

Mr. William Burnett

Mr. William Burnett , one of the members of the Drainage and Sewerage Board, was born in New South Wales on the 14th of November, 1843, is father being a cadet of the ancient
Mr. W. Burnett.

Mr. W. Burnett.

Scottish family of Burnett of Barns, in Peebleshire. He was educated in England at Blackheath school, and was captain of the famous Blackheath Football Club for the first two sessions of its existence. Mr. Burnett was brough up to mercantile life in the office of Messrs Dalget and Co., London. In 1863 he came out to Melbourne, by the ship “Suffolk”, and was on the Lima station for two years. when he page 124 came to Otago. Shortly after his arrival Mr. Burnett bought an interest in the Waikaka and Wendon stations, and sixteen months later went to visit an uncle on the Peak Downs station in Queensland. He returned to New Zealand in 1868 and sold his interest in the Otago stations, and bought the freehold of the Poraiti station in Hawke's Bay where he resided for three years. Mr. Burnett served as ensign in the New Zealand militia and as lieutenant of the Hawke's Bay Yeomanry during the native war. Having disposed of his Poraiti property to great advantage, Mr. Burnett went to England, but returned to the colony in 1873. Five years later he was appointed manager of the Hawkdun station. At that time he was in a very delicate state of health, but the change to the dry and bracing climate of Central Otago which he considers the best in the world worked wonders, and probably added twenty years to his life. Mr. Burnett has held the appointment of Justice of the Peace since 1866, He became a member of the Maniototo County Council in 1887, and was twice elected to the position of chairman, While in the St. Bathans district, he generally took a great interest in local affairs, and served in connection with several societies and clubs. Mr. Burnett was married in December, 1870, to the only child of the late Mr. Alexander Alexander, the first European settler in Hawke's Bay and has four sons and five daughters. He now resides at 58 Royal Terrace, Dunedin.