BURNS, ARTHUR JOHN (1830-1901) was born at the manse at Monkton, Ayrshire, the son of the Rev Thomas Burns (q.v.), and was educated there and at Wallacetown Academy. Being apprenticed to the sea, he had experiences with pirates in the Arafura sea, and during the China war (1845-46) was called upon with other merchant seamen to assist the bluejackets. Coming to Otago with his father in the Philip Laing (1848), he took up land at Grant's Braes and was practically the founder of Mosgiel.

Burns was a member of the Provincial Council for Central (1855-59) and for Taieri (1863-66, 1867-70), and was on the executive (1865-66, 1867-68 and 1868-69), being several times leader of the government. Burns was member of Parliament for Bruce (1865-66), for Caversham (1866-70) and for Roslyn (1876-78). He strongly opposed the abolition of the provinces. He was keenly interested in manufacturing and was the founder of the Mosgiel Woollen Co., for which he bought the machinery in England (1869). Burns resigned from Parliament to promote the Westport Coal Co. (1880), of which he was manager for many years. He supervised the development works, spending four or five years on the West Coast and then returned to live in Dunedin. He again contested a parliamentary election (for Taieri) in 1890. Burns was a justice of the peace from 1850 and was a strong supporter of the Burns Club of Dunedin. He died on 15 Sep 1901.

Otago P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; Cycl. N.Z., iv; N.Z.P.D., 15 Sep 1901; McIndoe; Hocken, Otago; Otago Daily Times, 16 Sep 1901. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 77

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