Bert De Maus was born in Levuka, Fiji, and educated at schools in Scotland and New Zealand before going to work at the Lyttelton Times in Christchurch.
[5] The New Zealand cricket historian Dick Brittenden described him thus: "Tall and handsome, this stylish batsman was one of the best in the country ... By instinct, Demaus [sic] was a careful, correct player" but able to take risks when the situation demanded.
[7] In Canterbury's match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve in March 1891, 31 wickets fell for 242 on the first day.
De Maus, batting at number three, made 3 and 25, which was Canterbury's top score of the match.
[9] He was included in the team a few days later for New Zealand's first first-class representative match, against New South Wales in Christchurch.