The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Otokaia
Otokaia.
Otokaia is situated nineteen miles south-west from Dunedin, and is in the county of Taieri. The Taieri river runs through the township, and in the summer time is a source of great pleasure to the residents and visitors. Otokaia is so situated that it has the shelter of the hills on one side, while on the other, the plains spread away for miles in the distance. Cyclists wheeling on the main south road pass through the township, and although there is no licensed house, light refreshments and accommodation can be obtained at moderate prices. Otokaia has a post and telegraph office, railway siding, and a public school. page 655 Wild ducks and pukaki (swamp hens) are numerous, and trout are plentiful in the river.
Mr. T. K. Blair.
Mr. James Buchanan Blair , sometime of Brighton, Otago, was born at Colmonell manse, Ayrshire, Scotland, where his father was parish minister, and came to New Zealand in 1849, by the ship “Cornwall.” Mr. Blair first started farming at Green Island, but afterwards sold out, and took up land at Otokaia, where he went in for cattle raising. Mr. Blair subsequently bought a large property at Brighton, where he resided up to the time of his death, in November, 1873. He left a widow, one son, and two daughters. Mr. Blair at all times took his share in public affairs, and was for a number of years a member of the Seaside Road Board.
The Late Mr. J. B. Blair.
Wrigglesworth and Binns, photoMr. A. Fleming.
Robinson, Robert , Junior, Farmer, Leecreek Farm, Otokaia. Mr. Robinson is the eldest son of Mr. Robert Robinson, an old resident of Berwick. He was born at Forbury, Caversham, Dunedin, and educated first by a private tutor and subsequently at a public school. After leaving school he was engaged in farming with his father, but afterwards carried on a successful butchery business at Berwick. From this business he retired after two years of success, and was then contracting for over six years in the neighbourhood of Berwick. In 1892 he resumed farming, and now farms about 300 acres of the rich fertile flat land at Leecreek, Otokaia, and has, also, a sheep run of 3000 acres on the adjoining hills. Mr. Robinson has always taken an active interest in the local affairs of the district, and is chairman of the Henley River Board, and the Berwick Drainage and Domain Board. He is also president of the Berwick Caledonian Society, and was formerly a member of the Taieri County Council. Mr. Robinson was for fourteen years a member of the Berwick school committee, and for some years a volunteer in the Taieri Rifles. He married Miss Beattie, an old resident of Maungatua, who died in 1902, at the age of eighty-six years.