BARR, JOHN (1809-89) was born at Paisley, Scotland, and was for many years a member of the engineering firm of Barr and McNab, of Paisley, who were engaged in connection with the Clyde shipbuilding. In 1852 he emigrated to Otago in the Dominion, and was for many years a familiar figure in the settlement. He settled at Halfway Bush, and later took a place at Kaihiku, which he named Craigielee. There he lived for a number of years and then sold the farm and lived at Water of Leith, Dunedin. Barr was regarded as Otago's first poet. He had a talent for composing songs, and wrote verse of good quality, including satirical and humorous poems for every occasion. For many years he contributed regularly to the Otago Witness and the Saturday Advertiser. In 1861 he published his first volume of Poems and Songs (many in the Scots dialect), and in 1874 they were republished with some additions. Barr inaugurated the Burns Club and was laureate to the Caledonian Society. He died on 18 Sep 1889.

Hocken, Otago and Bibliog.; Barr, op. cit; The Press, 5 Jun 1907; Otago Daily Times, 19 Sep 1889.

BARR, WILLIAM (1831-87) arrived in Otago with his parents in the Philip Laing. He sat in the Otago Provincial Council as member for Green Island and Caversham (1861-70), and for Kaikorai (1871-73). He died on 10 May 1887.

Otago Daily Times, 12 May 1887.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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