Mr. John Cunningham, sometime of “Westburn,” Brookside, and now of 34, Park Road, Addington, was born at Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland. He came to New Zealand in the ship “Mystery,” in 1859, and in 1861 he took up the first 100 acres of “Westburn,” which now consists of about 1300 acres. Mr. Cunningham's origina' selection was, when he bought it from the Government, all in its native state of heavy swamp, covered with flax and raupo. After draining and clearing his land, Mr. Cunningham stocked it with dairy cows, and obtained as much as two shillings and sixpence per pound for butter and one shilling per pound for cheese. The land would not carry crops till it became solidified, but after that it gave heavy yields. “Westburn” is now chiefly devoted to rearing Shorthorn cattle, and to fattening sheep for the export trade. The Shorthorn herd was established in 1863 by the purchase of the bull “Lord Nelson, who was directly descended on both sides from imported stock, and was mated with cows purchased from Mr. Pavitt, of Fendalton. Mr Cunningham also bought a cow, out of “Can ary,” from Mr. W. Boag, and with these he laid the foundation of a valuable herd. None but purebred sires have been used, such as “John o' Groat,” “Prince Gwyne,” and a son of “Ruby Knight,” “Blyth's Duke 7,” bred by Mr. John Deans, and bulls bred in the herd, and by other eminent breeders. Hence members of the “Westburn” herd have come to be noted as prize-winners. Mr. Cunningham has served on the local road board and school committee, and the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He was married, in 1862, to Miss Boag, who came to the Colony in the ship “Glentanner, in 1857, and has two sons and two daughters.