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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Mr. John Dempster was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1878, and was brought by his father to New Zealand in 1880. He was educated at Nightcaps, and was employed as a blacksmith by the Nightcaps Coal Company until joining Mr Jaggers in 1904.

Clapp, John Osborne, General Storekeeper and Saddler, Nightcaps. Mr. Clapp, who conducts his business in a commodious and substantial brick store, is a leading man in the district. He was born at Flint's Bush, Southland, and received his education at the District High School, Riverton, and was afterwards apprenticed there to the saddlery trade with Mr Ireland. Subsequently, he took charge of the saddlery department of Messrs. Whittingham Bros, and Instone's business at Thornbury. In 1883, he commenced as a saddler at Nightcaps and seven years later added the business of a general storekeeper. Mr. Clapp acts as treasurer of the cricket club, and is an office-bearer of the Presbyterian church. He was initiated into Freemasonry in Lodge Aparima, No. 77, N.Z.C., in June, 1894, but owing to the distance from Riverton, is unable to take a prominent part in the working of his lodge. Mr. Clapp was married in 1882 to a daughter of Mr. William Johnston, of Annandale, who was formerly chairman of the Wallace County Council and a member of the Southland Provincial Council, of which page 975 he was the Speaker at the time of Southland's reunion with Otago.