CUTHBERTSON, JOHN ROBERT (1834-82) was born in Glasgow, educated at the Academy and University there and entered commercial life. In 1854 he came to Melbourne and in 1860 to Southland, where he took up land at Waiau. In the following year he was joined by his brother, R. F. Cuthbertson (q.v.), with whom he carried on as sheepfarmers till 1876. In 1876 Cuthbertson became a member of the firm of Macrorie and Cuthbertson, auctioneers and land agents.

He was a member of the Southland Provincial Council, representing Longwood (1865-67) and Oreti (1867) and was a member of the executive in 1866, as secretary for works. He was deputy-superintendent on one occasion. The provincial finances being in a highly precarious condition, creditors sought to put the bailiffs into the offices, but Cuthbertson had the windows barricaded and eventually compounded by issuing land orders in settlement of the debts. He represented Invercargill in Parliament (1873-75). Cuthbertson was for some time editor of the Southland Times, for which he wrote with considerable effect. He died on 9 Oct 1882.

Cycl. N.Z., iv; Southland P.C. Proc.; Southland Times, 10 Oct 1882.

Reference: Volume 1, page 110

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